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Fully Fund Medicaid Waivers for the Developmentally Disabled

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmentally_disabled

***ALERT: Make sure your VOTE counts. Click on the number to the left with "Vote" under it � it will change to �Voted�. Registering on this site and posting a comment is not a vote!***

National Priority for the Economic Stimulus Package: Fully Fund Medicaid Waivers

Funding health care and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, disabilities and the elderly creates jobs, careers, business opportunities while filling a critical need.

I propose that the federal government:
1. Fully fund the Medicaid Waiver Program as part of the next Economic Stimulus Package.
2. Consider this as an increased federal match so that states are not put into an impossible situation.
3. Create portability of services across states and counties as is allowed with Medicare and Social Security.

Facts:
*Across America, an estimated 300,000 people cannot obtain essential support to live and work in the community because of lack of funding.

*Institutional care costs $88-$225,000 per person per year depending on the level of care. Community-based care costs $20-$75,000 per year (varies by state and level of care).

* Waivers are not portable. Families cannot move out of state or even out of their current county in some places for military duty, to accept jobs, or to live closer to family because they must go to the bottom of decades-long waiting lists at their new location.

Benefits of this proposal:
1). Job creation in the form of service providers. $12-$15B per year would create an estimated 244,000 jobs.
2). Community living costs less than institutionalization.
3). Parents and affected individuals can return to their careers, earn income, pay taxes and obtain health insurance.
4). Some families will come off public assistance which reduces overall tax burden.
5). Families will be able to move to accept new jobs or military assignments.
6). Improved health of affected people and caregivers.
7). Reduced financial burden on aging parents.

Stay involved in this issue: Email noewait@noewait.net

Fully Fund Medicaid Waivers for the Developmentally Disabled

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmentally_disabled

***ALERT: Make sure your VOTE counts. Click on the number
to the left with "Vote" under it � it will change to �Voted�.
Registering on this site and posting a comment is not a vote!

National Priority for the Economic Stimulus Package: Fully Fund Medicaid

Funding health care and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, disabilities and the elderly creates jobs, careers, business opportunities while filling a critical need.

I propose that the federal government:
1. Fully fund the Medicaid Waiver Program as part of the next Economic Stimulus Package.
2. Consider this as an increased federal match so that states are not put into an impossible situation.
3. Create portability of services across states and counties as is allowed with Medicare and Social Security.

Facts:
*Across America, an estimated 300,000 people cannot obtain essential support to live and work in the community because of lack of funding.

*Institutional care costs $88-$225,000 per person per year depending on the level of care. Community-based care costs $20-$75,000 per year (varies by state and level of care).

* Waivers are not portable. Families cannot move out of state or even out of their current county in some places for military duty, to accept jobs, or to live closer to family because they must go to the bottom of decades-long waiting lists at their new location.

Benefits of this proposal:
1). Job creation in the form of service providers. $12-$15B per year would create an estimated 244,000 jobs.
2). Community living costs less than institutionalization.
3). Parents and affected individuals can return to their careers, earn income, pay taxes and obtain health insurance.
4). Some families will come off public assistance which reduces overall tax burden.
5). Families will be able to move to accept new jobs or military assignments.
6). Improved health of affected people and caregivers.
7). Reduced financial burden on aging parents.

Stay involved in this issue: Email noewait@noewait.net

>
>This idea is currently in 20th Place and
>needs 1653 more votes to be part of the
>final 10 ideas presented at the inauguration
>event in Washington, DC

Please ask your local parent group, regional and national advocacy organizations to list themselves as supporters of the Medicaid Waiver Funding and Portability idea as well as voting for it.

Thanks!

Pam W
SE of Seattle

In 2006, there were over 280,000 individuals with disabilities on waiting lists for community living services also know as Medicaid Home and Community Based Services in 31 states. Other states do not keep official waiting lists so the true number of individuals with unmet needs is much higher and growing with the aging of the U.S. population. There is no entitlement to adult services as in education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) so many individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities leave school with no job opportunities or supports to live in the community independently.

A group of parents have been conducting a national campaign to end the waiting list. They are asking people to vote for Medicaid waivers for individuals with disabilities as a top health care issue.

It is very important to shed light on the critical problem to the new Administration. We encourage members to vote on this health care initiative and if you have a personal story about an individual you know who is on the waiting list, please follow the directions received given below by the noewait organization.

>...nothing against vegan lunches for school children but can anyone really say that this is one of the ten most needed ideas in the country? ... I was looking at the website a bit more. Read through the top 10 or 20 ideas and see what you think of the ranking.

Well, we'll see how effective this campaign is over the next few years: the number one idea with over 19,000 votes (5,000 more than second place) is to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational use. Second place was for the President to establish a Department of Peace and Non-violence with a Secretary of Peace.

With one more day of voting (Thursday January 15) the Medicaid Waiver Portability and Funding / End the Waiting List idea is 18th - looks like it won't make it to the Top Ten but thanks for your support. Please keep posting comments ~ and don't give up working on these very important issues.

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmentally_disabled



Read more at Terri Mauro's blog,
http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2009/01/14/another-chance-to-vote-for-a-special-needs-cause.htm

Thanks again,

Pam W
SE of Seattle