Disabled Seniors File Suit Against Northern Bridges
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SUPERIOR - Northland seniors with developmental disabilities are filing a lawsuit against a major long term care organization.
Officials say Northern Bridges cuts to long term care has resulted in more than 100 eviction notices to residents.
"They take care of me, real good," said Dorse Youngblood who received a 30 day eviction notice.
Youngblood stays in a community based residential home, where he's able to live independently and receives 24 hour care for his cerebral palsy.
"It's a good place, good home, good people here," said Youngblood.
But just a week ago, he was told he had 30 days to find a new home.
"Made me feel bad," said Youngblood.
The discharge is a result of huge cuts made by Northern Bridges, a company that pays providers to care for seniors and adults with disabilities.
"The rate cuts have gone from 40 percent as much as 70 percent," said Attorney Rock Pledl of Pledl and Cohn Law Firm.
Northern Bridges used to pay providers $233.76 a day to care for Youngblood.
Under the new rates they will only pay $94.
"They're illogical," said Pledl. "The cost of caring for folks with significant needs is much higher than that.
Youngblood has joined other individuals being put out of their homes in a class action lawsuit against the company.
"This is my home," said Youngblood. "I wanna stay here, my home."
Pledl says its unlawful discrimination since the group being targeted for rate cuts have disabilities.
"They're getting the brunt of the rate cuts and they are getting the brunt of the service cuts and people with other disabilities aren't being affected," said Pledl.
Pledl says the ultimate goal is to get the rates back to where they were in January and force organizations like Northern Bridges to come up with a better rate system.
"We're going to be having experts look into how those rates are set," said Pledl.
That will hopefully help Youngblood and other adults with developmental disabilities stay in the community instead of institutions.
"I hope it works out," said Youngblood.
The lawsuit is also being filed against Care Wisconsin and Community Health Partnership.
We reached out to Northern Bridges and they had no comment.
