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brain injury are already eligible for
Medicaid home and community based waiver supports, the overwhelming majority of
these individuals are served in nursing homes and other congregate care
facilities. Also, the New York State Department of Housing and Community
Renewal has not yet addressed the need for affordable, accessible housing for
people with disabilities, especially in some of our more affluent communities
where Section 8 housing is almost nonexistent.
Two bills are circulating in Congress that
have the power to remove the institutional funding bias in the Medicaid system
and effectively help people with disabilities escape lives confined to nursing
homes. These bills, amendments to the Social Security Act, are the Money
Follows the Person Act, S.1394, which would give states additional resources
for home and community based waivers that fund long term care services in most
integrated settings and the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports
Act (MiCassa), S.971 and H.R. 2032, that would require states to provide
community based attendant services that are appropriate to the needs of the
individual and that are managed by that individual. MiCassa is awaiting hearing
in the Senate's Finance and House Energy and Commerce Committees. Senators
Schumer and Clinton are co-sponsors of the Senate bill, but not all New York
representatives have signed on to the House bill. Related bills have been
introduced in Albany - A.5482 introduced by Assemblyman Cahill and S.5804
introduced by State Senator Spano. These bills require the Department of Health
to develop Medicaid waiver programs for people with disabilities of any age who
are not eligible for existing community based waivers that would fund services
in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs.
So while we're waiting, what is WILC doing?
We're keeping the pressure up in Albany to adopt an Olmstead Plan that
addresses the issues and includes the recommendations identified by the
Coalition to Implement Olmstead in New York (CTIONY - an advocacy group, of
which WILC is |
a member). We are also working to identify
people with disabilities who are living either in the Northern Care Center in
Kingston or the Westchester Medical Center's Taylor Care Institute who would
like to return to living in the community.
What can you do? Let your
representatives know that we've waited long enough. Tell them in Washington
that you want MiCassa and the Money Follows The Person Act passed during the
current Congressional season. And tell them in Albany that it's time to comply
with the Olmstead decision by putting a plan on the books that favors people
over nursing homes and provides the services and resources that will enable
them to live productive, satisfying lives in their communities.
 Websites For Your Favorites List
www.OlmsteadinNY.org - This site has been developed by
the Coalition to Implement Olmstead in New York (CTIONY) to keep New Yorkers
aware of and involved in the implementation of Olmstead in NYS.
www.ILUSA.com - The Independent Living USA website.
Developed by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, ILUSA is an
up-to-the-minute news source and directory of resources.
Use the following websites for a quick and easy way to
contact your representatives in Albany and/or Washington. Each website has
e-mail links that you can use to send a direct message to your representative.
www.assembly.state.ny.us
www.senate.state.ny.us
www.congress.org  |
