Incitement
Volume 20 No. 4 A Publication of
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S’ No
Joke . . .
In February
More and more, states add to their
control of Medicaid long-term care. With the President Bush victory and a
Republican majority in both houses of Congress, the states rights trend will
continue. Congress and the states want the federal government to
turn over control to the states.
In addition, Congress and President
Bush are vowing to cut the Federal budget. Medicaid has taken the lead as the
largest piece of the budget, passing even education last year. Medicaid appears
firmly in the sites of the federal budget cutters according to spokespeople in
both parties. Rep. George Radanovich R-CA told Lawrence O’Rourke of McClatchy
Newspapers in a December 12th article/- “Republicans
are real sincere about cutting the budget, and that makes Medicaid vulnerable…
The big entitlements, including Medicaid, are vulnerable.” Rep Anna Eschoo D also of CA, told O’Rourke
“Medicaid could be on the table next year, including cuts in program services…”
Both Eschoo and Radanovich sit on the House Energy
and Commerce Committee, which is the committee that handles Medicaid
legislation, and therefore are in a prime position to know what is in the
wings. (Energy and Commerce is also where MiCASSA has become hung up the past
few legislative sessions.)
Many proposals are being tossed around,
including Medicaid block grants that completely turn control over to the
states. States are writing mega-waivers that will do much the same thing.
Another approach is turning the program over to HMOs.
The Governors will have a major effect
on what Congress ultimately does with Medicaid Reform.
With Social Security reform being
rushed forward, attention will be diverted.
On the brighter side, GOP pollster told
O’Rourke in the same article, that “Americans, while
supporting deficit reduction, are overwhelmingly against targeting Medicaid for
big cuts...”
Even when we get MiCASSA passed, states
will have a big part in designing the services. We can’t ignore the states!
Money Following the Person pays for
existing state community-based programs with institutional funds.
Who
Leads the States?
The
Governors.
So… neither snow, nor rain, nor dark of
night will stay
Where
Does Your Governor Stand on the Resolution?
Have you asked your Governor where
he/she stands on the NGA Rendell Resolution? Has she/he answered you yet? Time
is of the essence! Contact your Governor today!
Long
John
Want to support
Dollar donations are also welcome.
Send
to:
National
201 S Cherokee
Around
the Nation
More Help
Getting Folks Out
For a long time for folks moving out of
nursing homes, getting first and last months rent as deposit, was a big
problem. Now, here’s some good news!
A clarification by CMS of the Medicaid
rules will help transitioning folks move out of nursing homes. Check it out at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/transitions.pdf
In CMSese
this clarification allows states to bill Medicaid as a security deposit paid by
transition funds. States can bill for the security deposit and up to the total
of the first month’s rent, and all will be kosher in the legal offices of CMS.
In the past this was thought to be a problem, since you can’t use Medicaid
money for ongoing room and board. The amount,
up to two months rent, is billable under Medicaid transition services, as a
security deposit.
For CMS information: Susan Hill 410/786-2754.
The
NM Governor Bill Richardson has signed
and endorsed the National Governor’s Association (NGA) resolution!
NM ers and
their supporters were the first to get their Governor to sign on to the
Resolution that National
The Resolution will be introduced and
voted on in the NGA February meeting and the more Governors we have supporting
it, the better.
Has your Governor signed on?
In mid September
Don’t mourn... ORGANIZE!
Your
Governor and “Reforming”
Medicaid
- the
Excerpted
from Steve Gold
The New York Times front page
story on
The Governor of your State is an
important player, and therefore your disability community MUST know the facts
and be ready to hold your Governor accountable.
What
Advocates Should Do:
1. Join
2. Get to your Governor NOW. Demand a
meeting directly with the Governor - not bureaucratic intermediaries. Tell your
Governor about specific folks who want to live in their community and tell your
Governor to stop wasting Medicaid funds on expensive and unwanted nursing
homes. Tell them to start a Money Follow the Person initiative, to develop true
community based services, and to contract with Independent Living Centers to go
into each nursing home and offer persons a real community program.
3. Know the facts about your State and
its Medicaid funding. Don’t let your Governor’ office talk around you. We have
the facts on our side!!
The full bulletin and back issues of
other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com
Around
the World
Disabilities
Act
After many years of work, by Mexican
disability rights activists,
The following website has a press
release in Spanish: http://www.el-universal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=258969&tabla
Make
In 2005
Hans Filipsson, Organizing Committee of the March for Accessibility
Passages
Elaine Wilson
Pioneer advocate of the “Olmstead
Case” died free.
Elaine Wilson, the EW of Olmstead v. LC
and EW, advocate and plaintiff died on December 5th.
If you knew Elaine, you knew a person
who understood struggle, hope, and the willingness to try anything regardless
of the odds. She was 53.
Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson of the historic Olmstead
v. L.C. and E.W. decision.
On
“The State’s treatment
professionals determine that such placement is appropriate,”
“The affected persons do not
oppose such treatment,” and
“The placement can be
reasonably accommodated, taking into account the resources available to the
State and the needs of others with mental disabilities.”
The Court also held that
“unjustified isolation . . . is properly regarded as discrimination based on
disability.”
Utah
Wedding News
Roxan Perez
and Tobie Tyler were MARRIED on
Tony Perrone
Tony, the
Debbie Steward
From Laura Glozier
SWPA
It is with great sadness that we let
our
“Yesterday morning as I was having
breakfast I had not taken my daily shower yet. For some reason I felt more
soiled than usually and could not wait to get in my shower. When I was in the
shower soaping myself, my thoughts turned to people in nursing homes. I thought
I bet those poor older persons has not showered in weeks, maybe months due to
lack of personnel or worse, nobody including family members gave a damn about
these people. I thought to myself we got to get MiCASSA passed before it is too
late. For it is already too late. Taking a simple shower is a right and a gift
everyone should have. — Deb Stewart”
We will miss you Deb!
A great activist, Donald (
Maryland
Evelyn Riley
From Shona
Eakin
Erie
She was proud of her arrest in
Free Our People
Debra Selman
From Mark Johnson
Debra Selman, local
“I wish (
Selman’s activism focused on access to
public transportation, businesses and government buildings. She also helped
folks move out of nursing homes through a local church group called the
Storytellers. Selman was also a protector of the
She will be missed!
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