Press Release From the National Advisory Board (5/5/09):
A Call-to-Action in Healthcare for Seniors and People with
Disabilities
National Advisory Board Will Host
‘Day of Dialogue’ Online Town Hall Meeting on May 21
America’s healthcare and long-term services need to undergo a radical, modern transformation to better meet the needs of today’s seniors and people with disabilities, according to a report released today by a 15-member private, national advisory board. The report, which will be supported by a nationwide “Day of Dialogue” on Thursday, May 21, calls for changes in public policies that both recognize and foster individual preferences for independent living through better integrated community-based services.
The report, entitled “Declaration for Independence: A Call to Transform Health and Long-Term
Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities,” seeks to compel consumers, legislative officials,
community-based organizations and healthcare providers to engage in efforts to modernize the
healthcare infrastructure.
The Day of Dialogue – a virtual town hall meeting – will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The public is invited to participate in the dialogue. Full details and registration are available at www.declarationforindependence.org or www.mydfi.org.
“Within the discussions to reform our Nation’s healthcare, we hope to serve as a catalyst for an
open dialogue on how to address the long-term services and support needs of seniors and people
with disabilities. More than talk, we want to offer solutions that work for everyone involved,” said
Lex Frieden, Convener of the National Advisory Board (NAB) on Improving Health Care Services
for Seniors and People with Disabilities that released the report. Mr. Frieden was an instrumental
contributor to the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
“In addition to the report issued today, we also are holding a Day of Dialogue, including our virtual
town hall meeting, to broaden our call to action,” Frieden said.
“The problem we face today is a critical limitation of options for care,” Frieden added. “The social
and economic consequences of providing only institutional options for care are antiquated at best.
Given the growing number of aging Baby Boomers, the dramatic advances we have in technology
and the increasing choices for independent living and care, now is the best time to ensure that our
public policies catch up to the 21st century.”
As the report cites, by 2030, the number of people age 65 and older will double. Today, the U.S.
census bureau identifies 41.3 million Americans as having a disability, many of whom are individuals
who eventually will need long-term services and support. Further, 87 percent of people with
disabilities who are age 50 and older prefer to live in their own homes. For the cost of providing
assistance in a nursing facility for one individual, nearly three seniors or people with disabilities can
receive services in the communities where they live.
The NAB’s report makes recommendations for changes based on the following six principles:
1) Enhance Self-Care through Improved Coordination
2) Encourage Community Integration and Involvement
3) Expand Accessibility of Services and Supports
4) Uphold Personal Preference
5) Empower People to Participate in the Economic Mainstream
6) Invest in Improved Technology.
To learn more, including downloading the full report or registering for the Day of Dialogue, visit
www.declarationforindependence.org or www.mydfi.org.
About the National Advisory Board
The National Advisory Board on Improving Health Care Services for Seniors and People with
Disabilities was created by AMERIGROUP Corporation in 2007. Drawing from a wide range of
distinguished community advocates and healthcare experts, the 15-member National Advisory
Board has provided advice and guidance on delivering the highest quality services and ensuring the
best health and community living outcomes for seniors and those with disabilities.
About AMERIGROUP Corporation
AMERIGROUP Corporation, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, improves healthcare access
and quality for the financially vulnerable, seniors and people with disabilities by developing
innovative managed health services for the public sector. Through its subsidiaries, AMERIGROUP
Corporation serves approximately 1.7 million people in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. For more information, visit
www.amerigroupcorp.com.
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