Action Alert: Tell Congress to support the Community Choice Act
SSAN Action Alert
August 21, 2007
Community Choice Act
ISSUE:
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and House of Representative member Danny Davis (D-IL) have introduced the Community Choice Act of 2007 (S.799/H.R.1621). Formerly known as MiCASSA, this legislation would increase access to community-based services and other supports for Americans with disabilities and older Americans. The Community Choice Act of 2007 is being co-sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL).
The Community Choice Act builds on the Money Follows the Person initiative, paving a way 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 through various 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.
ACTION:
Both NY Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer have signed on as co-sponsors of the Community Choice Act of 2007.
As of August 21, 2007, Representative James Walsh is the only New York Congressperson signed on! Congress is heading home for the month of August. Now is the time to urge our Congressional Representatives to support Senator Tom Harkin’s Community Choice Act of 2007. We need the rest of New York’s delegation to understand the importance of this issue and become co-sponsors of the Community Choice Act! Urge your Congressional Representative to sign on!
Use the Center for Disability Rights’ advocacy website to take
action:
• Go to this link: http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=10155901&type=CO&show_alert=1
• Type in your name and e-mail and mailing address.
• Click on “send message.” You can send the message as is or enhance the letter by inserting additional text after the second paragraph. Include personal stories or share any facts you may know about the issue.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Original Sponsor:
• Danny Davis (D-IL)
Current co-sponsor Total: 27 (last sponsor added 08/02/2007)
• 19 Democrats
• 8 Republicans
RA’s Note: Please respond to this Action Alert, even if you don’t live in New York. As you can see from the numbers, many more members of Congress and the Senate mst see the importance of the Community Choice Act and sign on!