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The Westchester
Independent Living Center, Inc. (WILC) is a not-for-profit, community-based
advocacy and resource center that serves people with all types of disabilities.
It is part of a national network of centers that provide a wide spectrum of
non-residential and non-medical services. These services are designed by,
directed by, and in most cases, delivered by qualified disabled individuals.
The scope of the services is directed by individual and community needs.
WILC's mission is
two-pronged: 1) to assist individuals with disabilities become as
independent as they can be and 2) to work within the community to
provide Education, Disability Awareness, and Advocacy for the Removal of
Barriers.
WILC’s main office is
located in White Plains, NY -
Westchester County’s County Seat. WILC’s satellite office, Putnam
Independent Living Services (PILS), is located in Carmel, NY - Putnam County’s County
Seat.
This website is designed to provide information
about WILC, its Programs and Services, Independent Living in general, and
legislation and issues that concern people with disabilities. It also contains
hundreds of links to disability-related publications, webzines, and
organizations, also government sites, national media sites, holiday sites, etc.
Your reactions are welcomed. Please feel free to send us your comments and
questions
Attention
Medicaid Beneficiaries |
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If you are a Medicaid
beneficiary, you will be required to join a health plan to receive health care.
This is called Medicaid Managed Care. Click on the following link to learn
important information about your rights under NY's new Medicaid Managed Care
system and how to continue your treatment while transitioning into a health
plan.
More medicaid info |
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Westchester Independent Living Center
(WILC) promotes the Independent Living philosophy of CHOICE, SOCIETAL INCLUSION
and EMPOWERMENT for persons with disabilities.
ALERT
WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW IF YOU RECEIVE BOTH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS UNDER MEDICAID MANAGED LONG TERM CARE IMPLEMENTATION
Medicaid managed care in New York State
is continuing to be phased in on an aggressive schedule. Dual eligibles - low
income elderly or disabled Medicare recipients who qualify for Medicaid - who
need long term care services for more than 120 days are now subject to
mandatory enrollment in Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) in New York City, Long
Island, and Westchester, with expansion planned for Upstate New York this
year.
Legislation sponsored by Assembly
member Gottfried, A.4996, seeks to clarify due process protections for dual
eligibles and ensure they are mandated into the MLTC Program and have the same
procedural rights to notice and fair hearings as other Medicaid recipients.
Specifically, the bill addresses the differences in the protections afforded
enrollees that have emerged during the implementation of the Managed Long Term
Care program:
- A.4996 guarantees that dual eligibles have the same
fair hearing rights as other managed care enrollees and are not required to
exhaust internal appeals first.
- A.4996 also clarifies that MLTC plans may not
arbitrarily reduce long term care services at any time without the consumer
having the right to seek review with services continuing pending that review.
IF YOU RECEIVE BOTH MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID, ENSURE YOUR RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for A.4996 by calling or
emailing:
Assembly member
Gottfried: 518.455.4939, GottfriedR@assembly.state.ny.us
Assembly member Sandy Galef:
914.941.1111, galefs@assembly.state.ny.us
Assembly member Amy
Paulin: 914.723.1115, paulina@assembly.state.ny.us
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A WILC SYSTEMS
ADVOCACY VOUNTEER, CALL: Lisa Tarricone @914.682.3926 ext. 2112 |
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links
to sites that are designed to assist you with your personal preparedness.