221 children with severe disabilities are living in Florida nursing homes, state regulators said Wednesday.
In a conference call, they disputed accusations by the U.S. Department of Justice that they're violating the civil rights of these children by keeping them in nursing homes.
Federal officials say they could be cared for at home, if the state provided enough support for their parents and caregivers.
Instead, the state has cut the budget and turned down $40 million in grants designed to help people live in their own homes.
State health officials say they're simply doing what is necessary to meet the children's medical needs.
Liz Dudek, chief of the Agency for Health Care Administration, said, “Hearing that there are concerns from parents, I have sent staff out from the agency to visit every nursing home that is housing a child at this point in time, and then we are reaching out to every parent with a child in a facility so that they can be aware of what’s available to them, and to see if they’re decision has been the best decision for their child.”
The state's response to federal prosecutors must be in by Friday.