From Transition Letter Attachment Sent by AAPD and a Coalition of Consumer Controlled Organizations (12/22/08):
Promoting Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Background:
·
Too many people with disabilities live in nursing homes and other
institutions - declared ‘discrimination’ by Olmstead
- since Medicaid requires institutional care, but not HCBS.
·
The Deficit Reduction Act allows money-saving waivers that enable
people with disabilities to live in the community, provide supports to work,
and enhance quality of life.
·
There is not enough accessible, affordable, integrated housing for
individuals with disabilities and individuals with disabilities are often
isolated because of the lack of adequate transportation
·
Professionals and relatives traditionally make decisions
"for" individuals with disabilities. Full participation in community
life requires self-determination and consumer control.
Long Term Goals:
·
Shift Medicaid and Medicare funding to home and community-based
services (HCBS) to promote community living. Increasing the FMAP to states,
community-based, self-directed, peer-delivered, holistic care, and creating
more community-based alternatives to costly Medicaid nursing homes and other
institutions, will change the focus to independent living and participation.
·
Increase access to affordable, accessible, integrated housing for
individuals with disabilities
·
Increase access to transportation for individuals with disabilities.
Short Term Goals:
·
Direct CMS to convene a summit with consumers, family members, and
experts to establish principles, priorities and a timeline to design a
Community Living Waiver for national use.
·
Work with Congress to:
o
Pass Senator Harkin’s Community Choice Act, to require states to offer
community-based supports for Medicaid-eligible consumers so they may choose to
live in their own home, as a cost-effective, community-based alternative to
institutional care.
o
Provide tax incentives for building accessible housing and other
buildings and include making infrastructure and public building accessible in
all economic stimulus packages.
o
Pass the Community Living Attendant Services and Supports Act (CLASS)
to promote independence.
·
Direct the Secretary of HHS and the Attorney General to make
implementation of the Olmstead decision a priority through HHS’ OCR and the
DOJ.
·
Assure the Executive Order on Olmstead implementation is followed and
its scope is broadened.
·
Ask the National Governors Association and the National Conference of
State Legislatures to work with your Administration to fully implement Olmstead and the Community Choice Act.
·
Direct the Secretary of HUD to develop a plan to end homelessness and
provide adequate, safe, affordable housing for people with disabilities, and
increase the number of Section 8 vouchers.
·
Increase investment in public transportation in rural areas where
people with disabilities are often isolated and unable to participate in
society or meet their needs of daily living.
·
Support States and localities to develop coordinated human services
delivery systems, increase funding for United We Ride, and other resources for
transportation-coordination, planning tools, and technical assistance.
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Posted by: research paper writing | August 08, 2009 at 12:14 AM