Inclusion Daily Express -- Advocates Testify For Community Choice

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Advocates Testify For Community Choice
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 18, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC--Giving Americans that receive Medicaid long-term care benefits the ability to choose community-based services would not only shift the current institutional bias in the system, but would also allow more people to be served.

That was the message that Stephanie Thomas, an organizer with the national disability rights group ADAPT, told members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

"Sixty-seven percent of Medicaid long-term funds go toward institutions, and just 33 percent are left for community services," she said.

"We could be serving three people for every two we are serving now, and doing it more humanely," Thomas added.

According to the Congressional Quarterly, dozens of people with disabilities packed the committee's hearing room to show support for HR 1621, the "Community Choice Act". The measure would change Title 19 of the Social Security Act to allow people receiving long-term care funds to have equal access to community-based, in-home services as an alternative to nursing homes and other institutions.

"Many individuals living in nursing homes do not want to be there, nor would they need to be there, if attendant services and supports were available in a community-based setting," said Celine Fortin, of The Arc of New Jersey.

Other legislation discussed at the hearing included legislation that would provide a national insurance program for adults with disabilities, and a bill that would change Medicaid to allow states to pay higher wages to disability support specialists.

On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule that would allow Medicaid beneficiaries to be in direct control of their own personal assistance services, instead of having those services delivered through an agency.

Related:
"Medicaid Program; Self-Directed Personal Assistance Services Program State Plan Option" (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo/Downloads/CMS2229P.PDF
"Harkin Introduces Community Choices Act Into Senate" March 13, 2007 (Inclusion Daily Express Archives)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/07/03/13/031307uscommhark.htm

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