Word in Albany is that a budget deal may be decided by tomorrow. We've been pressing the Legislature and Executive nonstop on our priority issues. We already got a huge victory with the State's commitment to implement the Community First Choice option! With one day left, let's do one last push to protect home and community based supports and services.
· Call the Governor at 518-474-8390 and leave the following message:
"The disability rights community put $90 million annual Medicaid savings on the table through the Community First Choice option, so we urge you to protect essential community based programs that keep people out of costly institutions by exempting CDPAP and the NHTD and TBI waivers from the 2% across the board cuts."
· Call the two health committee chairs with the same message and add our message about protecting the personal care program! Call Senator Hannon at 518-455-2200 and Assemblyman Gottfried at 518-455-4941, and leave the following message:
"The disability rights community put $90 million annual Medicaid savings on the table through the Community First Choice option, so we urge you to protect essential community based programs that keep people out of costly institutions by exempting CDPAP and NHTD and TBI waivers from the 2% across the board cuts and removing the unfettered administrative controls on the personal care program.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Gov. Pledges to Implement the Community First Choice Program
Great news ... the Governor has committed to supporting home care, including Consumer Directed Personal Assistance. Read the linked Press Release for more details.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Important Action Alert! Medicaid Redesign Proposals Risk the Independence of People with Disabilities
Issue: Support Disability Advocates in Albany - Urge your legislators to Defend Our Freedom!
Action: Click on "TAKE ACTION" and send a message to your representatives to ensure they are aware of your concerns in the 2011-12 State budget using the message below. Feel free to edit the message and make it more personal by including stories as to how some of the proposals would affect you and / or the people you serve.
Please distribute this alert far and wide to ensure a large volume of messages while we are in Albany!
TAKE ACTION!
Background: Over 250 people with disabilities and attendants are rallying in Albany on Tuesday, March 15, to DEFEND OUR FREEDOM! The disability rights community is united in the face of harmful proposals and cuts to the services and supports needed to maintain our independence in the community.
We are urging our legislators to make a commitment to implement the Community First Choice (CFC) Option available in the Affordable Care Act and carve out the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) from being placed in Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC).
People with disabilities who use home care depend on the stability of those services for their day to day independence. Even small cuts or caps in service, changes in how programs are managed, addition of co-payments, or other limitations can tip the delicate balance and force people into nursing homes and other institutions ... which in the end are more costly to Medicaid.
We believe the State must ensure that the right to receive services in the most integrated setting is not threatened by enrollment in Medicaid Managed Long Term Care. The State should also advance affordable, accessible, integrated housing and should publicly commit to steps for substantive involvement of people with disabilities and disability rights advocates in the planning process for implementing all the recommendations of the Medicaid Redesign Team, including Managed Long Term Care.
Supporting and promoting greater independence is the right way to control Medicaid Long Term Care costs, not arbitrary caps.
Action: Click on "TAKE ACTION" and send a message to your representatives to ensure they are aware of your concerns in the 2011-12 State budget using the message below. Feel free to edit the message and make it more personal by including stories as to how some of the proposals would affect you and / or the people you serve.
Please distribute this alert far and wide to ensure a large volume of messages while we are in Albany!
TAKE ACTION!
Background: Over 250 people with disabilities and attendants are rallying in Albany on Tuesday, March 15, to DEFEND OUR FREEDOM! The disability rights community is united in the face of harmful proposals and cuts to the services and supports needed to maintain our independence in the community.
We are urging our legislators to make a commitment to implement the Community First Choice (CFC) Option available in the Affordable Care Act and carve out the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) from being placed in Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC).
People with disabilities who use home care depend on the stability of those services for their day to day independence. Even small cuts or caps in service, changes in how programs are managed, addition of co-payments, or other limitations can tip the delicate balance and force people into nursing homes and other institutions ... which in the end are more costly to Medicaid.
We believe the State must ensure that the right to receive services in the most integrated setting is not threatened by enrollment in Medicaid Managed Long Term Care. The State should also advance affordable, accessible, integrated housing and should publicly commit to steps for substantive involvement of people with disabilities and disability rights advocates in the planning process for implementing all the recommendations of the Medicaid Redesign Team, including Managed Long Term Care.
Supporting and promoting greater independence is the right way to control Medicaid Long Term Care costs, not arbitrary caps.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Medicaid Reform in NYS
In his State of the State address on January 7th, Governor Andrew Cuomo called for a redesign of the Medicaid program. The goal of Medicaid redesign is to cut the cost of the program which is the most expensive in the nation. The governor stated that he also wanted to see the program have better overall outcomes. In essence, he wants a better program for less money. To accomplish this goal, Gov. Cuomo is using a model that was successfully used in Wisconsin. The plan relies on all the various stakeholders involved with Medicaid to work together to draft a reform plan that meets specific benchmarks set by the Executive Budget. It is pretty obvious that the Governor hopes to build a consensus plan that will both meet the needs of true reform while maintaining a level of services that adequately meets the needs of Medicaid recipients.
On January 9th the Governor named the members of the Medicaid Redesign Team and soon after a website went live located here. The team is made up of representatives from the state legislature and state agencies such as the Department of Health which is on point for the project, representatives of healthcare industries such as hospitals and insurance companies, and representatives from healthcare unions, and consumer organizations. The team has already begun holding meetings and a number of regional forums are being held across the state in order to seek advice from the public. Oral and public testimony is being solicited from the public. We urge everyone to make their voice heard by providing comments and testimony on the aforementioned website.
Obviously the disability community is very involved in this process. The New York Association of Independent Living (of which NCCI is a member) and the Center for Disability Rights have produced a very thorough brief that makes substantive proposals for Medicaid redesign, supported by hard data. We encourage people who want to provide comments to the Redesign Team, feel free to use this paper to frame your arguments. The main points of the recommendations are as follows:
• Increase utilization of the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver to transition people from nursing facilities to community living.
• Establish an expedited enrollment process for the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver in order to divert placement in nursing facilities.
• Implement the Community First Choice Option and shift people from the traditional Personal Care Program (PCA) into the Community First Choice state plan program.
• Where possible, shift recipients of Certified Home Health Programs into the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
• Expand the pool of direct care workers in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to match the federal rules for paid family caregivers, which would promote use of the program.
• Better utilize assistive technology to reduce personal care spending.
For more details about each of these points along with detailed supporting data please click here to see the NYAIL/CDR Recommendations. Keep in mind that there are multiple goals in the above proposals; fully implement the Olmstead Supreme Court decision of 1999 that ordered states to move from segregated institutional placements to integrated community living placements, keep services intact, and cut costs to Medicaid. This is a tall order but as the data bears out, the above proposals would help accomplish these goals.
On January 9th the Governor named the members of the Medicaid Redesign Team and soon after a website went live located here. The team is made up of representatives from the state legislature and state agencies such as the Department of Health which is on point for the project, representatives of healthcare industries such as hospitals and insurance companies, and representatives from healthcare unions, and consumer organizations. The team has already begun holding meetings and a number of regional forums are being held across the state in order to seek advice from the public. Oral and public testimony is being solicited from the public. We urge everyone to make their voice heard by providing comments and testimony on the aforementioned website.
Obviously the disability community is very involved in this process. The New York Association of Independent Living (of which NCCI is a member) and the Center for Disability Rights have produced a very thorough brief that makes substantive proposals for Medicaid redesign, supported by hard data. We encourage people who want to provide comments to the Redesign Team, feel free to use this paper to frame your arguments. The main points of the recommendations are as follows:
• Increase utilization of the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver to transition people from nursing facilities to community living.
• Establish an expedited enrollment process for the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver in order to divert placement in nursing facilities.
• Implement the Community First Choice Option and shift people from the traditional Personal Care Program (PCA) into the Community First Choice state plan program.
• Where possible, shift recipients of Certified Home Health Programs into the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).
• Expand the pool of direct care workers in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to match the federal rules for paid family caregivers, which would promote use of the program.
• Better utilize assistive technology to reduce personal care spending.
For more details about each of these points along with detailed supporting data please click here to see the NYAIL/CDR Recommendations. Keep in mind that there are multiple goals in the above proposals; fully implement the Olmstead Supreme Court decision of 1999 that ordered states to move from segregated institutional placements to integrated community living placements, keep services intact, and cut costs to Medicaid. This is a tall order but as the data bears out, the above proposals would help accomplish these goals.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
This acttion alert comes to us from the Center For Disability Rights (CDR) in Rochester and is not an official Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN) alert. CDR is an outstanding center for Independence and their efforts on behalf of all New Yorkers with disabilities has been both valiant and powerfull. CDR deserves our support and the issue they are fighting for has implications for CDPAP throughout the state. So if you want to help out, please follow the link below after reading the summary from CDR.
***********************************************************************************
Disability Rights Under Attack: FIGHT BACK! Take Action!
Help the Center for Disability Rights Fight Back Against the Vicious Attack of Monroe County
On July 22, 2010, without any notice, Monroe County abruptly ended a long-standing contract with the Center for Disability Rights to provide services in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, impacting nearly 300 consumers and over 700 attendants. Surplus from this program has been reinvested into services and advocacy for people with disabilities in Rochester, around New York State and even nationally.
Local advocates didn't just accept this decision. On July 26th, the battle began in the streets as consumers, attendants, staff and supporters of disability rights began a round-the clock vigil in front of the Monroe County Office Building. The battle continued in the media – where CDR produced concrete documentation that the County’s accusations are false and consumers themselves defended CDR. The battle has been fought in the courts – which resulted in an extension for consumers.
Now, we need the NYS Department of Health to step in. The Department of Health is ultimately responsible for the state's Medicaid program and has jurisdiction over Monroe County. TAKE ACTION and send letters to the Department of Health and Governor's Office reminding the them of the state's responsibilities and urging them to intercede in this unjust attack.
Click this link to send a message to the Department of Health: http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=16120051&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
***********************************************************************************
Disability Rights Under Attack: FIGHT BACK! Take Action!
Help the Center for Disability Rights Fight Back Against the Vicious Attack of Monroe County
On July 22, 2010, without any notice, Monroe County abruptly ended a long-standing contract with the Center for Disability Rights to provide services in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, impacting nearly 300 consumers and over 700 attendants. Surplus from this program has been reinvested into services and advocacy for people with disabilities in Rochester, around New York State and even nationally.
Local advocates didn't just accept this decision. On July 26th, the battle began in the streets as consumers, attendants, staff and supporters of disability rights began a round-the clock vigil in front of the Monroe County Office Building. The battle continued in the media – where CDR produced concrete documentation that the County’s accusations are false and consumers themselves defended CDR. The battle has been fought in the courts – which resulted in an extension for consumers.
Now, we need the NYS Department of Health to step in. The Department of Health is ultimately responsible for the state's Medicaid program and has jurisdiction over Monroe County. TAKE ACTION and send letters to the Department of Health and Governor's Office reminding the them of the state's responsibilities and urging them to intercede in this unjust attack.
Click this link to send a message to the Department of Health: http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=16120051&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
People with Disabilities and Voting
Mixed results from a study on participation of voters with disabilities:
20 years of ADA celebrated by disability rights advocates ... Voter turnout increases but barriers remain.
From the July 29, 2010 edition of "electiononline.org", produced by The Pew Center for the States.
20 years of ADA celebrated by disability rights advocates ... Voter turnout increases but barriers remain.
From the July 29, 2010 edition of "electiononline.org", produced by The Pew Center for the States.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
20th Anniversary of the ADA
This July 26th was the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the broadest, most comprehensive federal law protecting the rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. Here are some events and Internet resources related to the anniversary:
ADA Celebration with the Candidates
Location: Trinity Park in Downtown Plattsburgh
Date: August 14, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The North Country Center for Independence invites you to a celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The goal of this community event is to increase the awareness and participation of people with disabilities in the political process. To this end, we have invited candidates for public office this year to discuss their ideas for how the vision of the ADA can be fulfilled and increased through the offices they are seeking. We have asked candidates for local, state, and national office representing our area to address such issues as:
Community accessibility
Voter accessibility
Long-term care in the community for seniors and people with disabilities
Access to transportation
Education for children with disabilities
This event will also include a voter registration drive and recruitment for the New York Statewide Systems Advocacy Network.
The North Country Center for Independence is non-partisan and candidates from all political affiliations who will appear on the ballot in Clinton County in November 2010 are invited to participate.
ADA Workshops for Businesses and Organizations
September 14, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Getting Hired and Moving Ahead In A Job When Working with a Disability
September 22, 2010 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM - A New Horizon for Businesses and Organizations
October 19, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Disability Awareness: Communicating Respectively and Effectively with People with Disabilities
November 15, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Tapping Into Talent: Best Practices in Hiring, Retaining and Accommodating People with Disabilities
December 7, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Serving Customers with Disabilities: Reaching Out and Expanding Your Market
All workshops will be held at The Plattsburgh & North Country Chamber of Commerce, 7061 State Route 9 Plattsburgh, NY 12901. For more information and to register, contact Norman Karp, Community Work Incentives Coordinator & ADA Trainer at 518-891-2108.
ADA Anniversary coverage on the Internet:
Whitehouse Observance of the ADA Anniversary
John Hockenberry on Twenty Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act:
Audio Program
Blog Post
Press-Republican - In My Opinion.
ADA Celebration with the Candidates
Location: Trinity Park in Downtown Plattsburgh
Date: August 14, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The North Country Center for Independence invites you to a celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The goal of this community event is to increase the awareness and participation of people with disabilities in the political process. To this end, we have invited candidates for public office this year to discuss their ideas for how the vision of the ADA can be fulfilled and increased through the offices they are seeking. We have asked candidates for local, state, and national office representing our area to address such issues as:
Community accessibility
Voter accessibility
Long-term care in the community for seniors and people with disabilities
Access to transportation
Education for children with disabilities
This event will also include a voter registration drive and recruitment for the New York Statewide Systems Advocacy Network.
The North Country Center for Independence is non-partisan and candidates from all political affiliations who will appear on the ballot in Clinton County in November 2010 are invited to participate.
ADA Workshops for Businesses and Organizations
September 14, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Getting Hired and Moving Ahead In A Job When Working with a Disability
September 22, 2010 - 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM - A New Horizon for Businesses and Organizations
October 19, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Disability Awareness: Communicating Respectively and Effectively with People with Disabilities
November 15, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Tapping Into Talent: Best Practices in Hiring, Retaining and Accommodating People with Disabilities
December 7, 2010 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Serving Customers with Disabilities: Reaching Out and Expanding Your Market
All workshops will be held at The Plattsburgh & North Country Chamber of Commerce, 7061 State Route 9 Plattsburgh, NY 12901. For more information and to register, contact Norman Karp, Community Work Incentives Coordinator & ADA Trainer at 518-891-2108.
ADA Anniversary coverage on the Internet:
Whitehouse Observance of the ADA Anniversary
John Hockenberry on Twenty Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act:
Audio Program
Blog Post
Press-Republican - In My Opinion.
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