Inclusion Daily Express -- Disability Groups Say Proposed Medicaid Rule Could Set Back Community Efforts

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Disability Groups Say Proposed Medicaid Rule Could Set Back Community Efforts
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
February 1, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC--As of Friday, more than 100 national, state and local disability groups and individual advocates had joined opponents of a proposed federal rule that would cut funding to help people leave nursing homes or other institutions.

According to statements from the grassroots disability rights group ADAPT and the Center for Disability Rights, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed interim rules that would reduce funding for case management services so that people transitioning to community settings would only receive 60 days of service if they have been institutionalized for six months or longer, or 14 days if they have been institutionalized for less than six months.

"Transition into the community requires a great deal of work to coordinate the services and supports individuals need to be successful," CDR wrote in a letter to Dennis Smith, Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations.

"Based on the collective experience of advocates and service providers in our coalition, we know that institution-based staff is unfamiliar with the complex array of community-based housing options, services, and supports that must be navigated to transition into community living."

Advocates can join the coalition and send a letter to CMS to express their concern through the CDR website.

Related:
"Help prevent changes in CMS case management rules which reinforce the institutional bias!" (Center for Disability Rights)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0131a.htm
"Have you signed on to the Stop the cuts in Case Management" (ADAPT)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0131b.htm

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