The Roving Activist’s Blog

I heard the buzz a few days ago from Nick Dupree and others, and couldn’t believe it, so I checked for myself. here’s what I found:

Promote Access to Community Living Services

Too many people who need assistance with activities of every day life are faced with a difficult choice. They can move into a nursing home and face safety and quality of care problems or risk injury or death by staying in the community without adequate services to take care of personal needs. The President believes that more can be done to encourage states to shift more of their services away from institutions and into the community, which is both cost effective and humane.

This is a far cry from what was on his disability policy page even a few short weeks ago. Here is a link that shows the side-by-side comparison:

http://versionista.com/pub/15881/1/14/2:1/

Now, am I gutted? Do I feel betrayed? Hell YES!!! Am I surprised? Hell NO!!! That new statement couldn’t have been more vague if they tried. And given the fact that this was done right after ADAPT hit the White House?!? Yeah, Obama Admin, you’ve shown your true colors!

National Call-In Day – Ensure Long-Term Services and Supports are Included in Healthcare Reform!
Background

In coming weeks, the Senate will finalize legislation to reform America’s health care system.  Now is the time for our country to address the institutional bias in Medicaid.  Long-term services and supports must be included in health care reform.

There is an institutional bias within Medicaid that denies Americans with disabilities an equal choice for home and community services.
Nearly half of all funding for long-term services is provided through Medicaid that requires individuals to impoverish themselves to receive supports.  Hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities and their families are on waiting lists for Medicaid home and community-based services.

Proposals exist to help address these issues.  However, they will only be included within healthcare reform legislation if Congress hears from you.

Aging and disability organizations across the country have joined together to host a national call-in day on Wednesday, May 13th.  Please join thousands of others across the country in calling your Senators to tell them how important it is to include long-term services and supports.  Your calls make a difference!

Call-In Information

When: Wednesday, May 13 (Between 8AM and 6PM EDT)

Call-In Number: 1-866-459-9232 (Toll Free)

You will be asked which state you are calling from and will be connected to your Senators’ offices.  Below is a sample script to leave a message.

“Hello.  My name is _________ and I’m calling from (the state you are
from) to ask the Senator to help make sure the Community Choice Act and long-term services and supports are part of health care reform.
Long-term services and supports are essential to the health, well-being, and community participation of individuals with disabilities and seniors.  We must address the institutional bias and give people a REAL CHOICE.  Please ensure that the Community Choice Act and long-term services and supports are included in legislation to reform health care.
Thank you.”

Please, PLEASE call in! When talking to Senator Schumer’s office let it be known that you know that he is on the Senate Finance Committee, which has a lot of say-so in what is going in the health care reform legislation. Tell his office that it is vitally important that, since he is a supporter of the Community Choice Act, that it is included in health care reform!