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The Community Choice Act will support "individuals who are eligible for nursing home services or other institutional care with equal access to community-based services and supports." This initiative has been previously known as MiCasa which has failed to get out of Congress for over ten years. When a person with a disability is ready or required to move away from their home or rehabilitation facility (depending on their circumstance), the "simplest" solution has usually been to move directly to a nursing facility. Personal care services that could be provided in the home is sometimes a long and difficult process to initiate. It is important that you learn about the Community Choice Act and urge your Senators and Representatives to support this Act.
Talking Points on the Community Choice Act
(Thanks Alan, from the Dayton CIL)
1. The demographics of our country are changing. More and more people with disabilities are living, and could be thriving! Reasons for these changes include: a) we’re all getting older and many of us will develop disabling conditions as we age; b) children born with disabilities are living, c) young adults, who previously would have died from accidents or illnesses, are living -- thanks to medical technology and other advances.
2. Our long-term service system must change. Created over forty years ago, it is funded mainly by Medicare and Medicaid dollars; medical dollars not originally meant to meet people's long-term care needs. We must think out of the box to empower people and allow REAL choices.
3. The money should follow the individual, not the facility or provider. A national long-term care policy should not favor any one setting over the other. It should let the users choose where services should be delivered. Our current system is not neutral, and it doesn't reflect people's choices.
4. The current system is needlessly expensive. We must explore cost-effective ways to meet people's needs. Community services have been shown to be less expensive on average than institutional services, and better liked by individuals. In FY 2005, 63% of our total $94.5 billion long term care Medicaid dollars ($59.34 billion) were spent on nursing homes and other institutional services, leaving only 37% ($35.16 billion) for all community services (waivers, personal care, home health, etc.)
5. People with disabilities -- both old and young -- even those with severe mental and/or physical disabilities want services in the most integrated setting possible. Overwhelmingly, people prefer community services so they can stay in their own home.
6. People with disabilities and their families want REAL choice, which means: a) equitable funding opportunities, b) no programmatic or rule disincentives to community services, and c) options for services delivery which include agency based services, vouchers, and fiscal intermediaries. Empower people with disabilities and families.
7. Family values keep families together: a) children belong in families b) grandparents in their homes c) Mom and dad together with the kids d) communities take care of their own.
8. Money following the individual can eliminate overburdening government rules and regulations.
9. A functional system based on need instead of medical diagnosis could end FRAGMENTATION of the service delivery system.
10. Keeping people in the community allows the possibility for individuals with disabilities to train for work so they can become TAXPAYERS instead of TAX USERS.
11. The federal government needs to work in partnership with the states to create flexible delivery systems that give people REAL choice.
12. Change can cause fear of the unknown. Some long time providers of services and families believe REAL choice would threaten what they have. We cannot continue the system as it is today; it is expensive, fragmented, overly-medical and disliked by almost everyone.
Please write that letter today!
On May 17th, Senator Sherrod Brown becomes co-sponsor of the Community Choice Act of 2007.
Community Choice Act Introduced in the House
Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) have introduced HB 1621, the Community Choice Act, in March of 2007. Please contact other representatives to ask for their support. You can read ADAPT's MiCasa Alerts for more information.
MiCASSA has become SB 799, the Community Choice Act of 2007.
To better reflect what the bill really does and to alleviate some of the misconceptions that led to previous negative cost scorings, ADAPT and other groups (including NCIL and CCD) worked with Congressional leaders and named the bill the Community Choice Act. The Community Choice Act builds on Money Follows the Person, which is after all only a step (though an important one) on the road to Real Choice in long term care. The bill will allow people who are eligible for nursing homes or other Medicaid funded institutions to have the choice of living in the community with consumer directed services and supports.
HARKIN INTRODUCES BILL TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES
Legislation would increase access for people with disabilities and older Americans
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2007
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced the Community Choice Act of 2007. The legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), would increase access to community-based services and other supports for Americans with disabilities and older Americans.
"I strongly believe that it is important to level the playing field and give eligible individuals equal access to community-based services and supports," Harkin said. "This legislation is needed to truly bring people with disabilities into the mainstream of society and provide equal opportunity for employment and community activities."
Specifically, the Community Choice Act of 2007 gives individuals who are eligible for nursing home services or other institutional care equal access to community-based services and supports. The legislation also provides enhanced federal matching funds to help states develop their long-term care infrastructure and grant funds to help states increase their ability to provide home and community-based services. Finally, this bill creates a demonstration project to evaluate service coordination and cost sharing approaches for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare services.
"This vital legislation will open the door to full participation by people with disabilities in our neighborhoods, workplaces, economy, and our American Dream," Harkin said.
The following Senators co-sponsored the Harkin-Specter legislation: Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Christopher Dodd (D-CT).
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