Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
State Rep. Bill Ruppel (R - North Manchester) recently met with a group of Kosciusko residents to discuss ways to improve welfare and healthcare options for Indiana's special needs individuals.
During a session with Tara Puckett, Naaman Van Meter Jack Redman, and parents and caretakers Sue Puckett, Wanda Manheart, Thomas Van Meter and Mark Hirshey, Ruppel heard concerns the group had regarding how the state handled various issues with the mentally disabled.
Such topics as caretaker funding, medical support, and welfare assistance during part-time employment were brought up, with many at the meeting saying the state needs to further categorize funding for individual cases.
Ruppel agreed a more detailed program could help remedy present complications in the program.
"I feel that there are certain lines that people fall into. It's like we have shoeboxes, and if someone fits in one box, then that is what they're assigned," he said. "That's not how it should work."
For the past month, Ruppel and Tara Puckett have participated in the Walk-a-Mile program, which allows a policy maker and low-income resident to experience the daily responsibilities of their partner.
Currently Tara is finding complications with foodstamp support while she holds a part-time job, and Ruppel said the current welfare aid appears to penalize individuals who try to establish themselves.
"If someone really wants to get out on their own, they shouldn't be slapped back down," Ruppel said. "I've seen that when you give a helping hand it gets slapped away until you can completely establish yourself."
Sue Puckett, Tara's mother, also said she was having problems finding medical coverage for her daughter. Under Medicaid, Kosciusko County has a limited amount of organizations that accept the coverage.
Currently no dentists in the Warsaw area accept Medicaid coverage, she said.
"At times I feel that if we don't ask the right questions then our loved ones have to suffer because of it," Sue said.
Ruppel hoped to take what he heard from the meeting and further discuss the matters with legislators. He also invited the group to Indianapolis to meet other state representatives and tell them about their complications.
"I'd like to have everyone down in the statehouse," he said. "You can get to the heart of these legislators, because they rely mainly on paperwork.
"It's more important for the people to be heard."
