FYI

S.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephanie Thomas" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "micasa-list" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 11:09 AM
Subject: MiCASSA Letters


>
> Both of your Senators are receiving the Dear Colleague letter below.  As
> their break at home has started this is a great time to call and encourage
> them to sign on as co-sponsors of the MiCASSA bill S. 1935.  Let us know
> what they say!
>
> In addition, Senator Harkin's staff have asked us to ask you to send
Senator
> Harkin and Senator Specter a letter endorsing MiCASSA with the bill
number.
> The letters need to say "we support S. 1935." and thank them for
> co-sponsoring the bill.  Let me know when you have sent those letters too,
> (just an email would be fine).  If you have already sent such a letter you
> don't need to do it again, but if you aren't sure, better safe than sorry.
>
> Stephanie
>
>
>         April 13, 2000
>
> Reform Medicaid to Give People with Disabilities and the Elderly
> a Real Choice to Live in Their Communities
>
> Dear Colleague,
>
> We urge you to co-sponsor S. 1935, the Medicaid Community Attendant
Services
> and Supports Act.  S. 1935 is a bi-partisan bill that will eliminate
> institutional bias in the Federal Medicaid program and give people with
> disabilities and the elderly a real choice to live in their communities.
>
> Most Americans who need long term services and supports would prefer to
> receive them in home and community settings rather than in institutions.
And
> yet, too often, decisions relating to the provision of long term services
> and supports are dictated by what is reimbursable under Federal and state
> Medicaid policy rather than by what individuals need.  Right now, the
> Medicaid program includes a significant bias toward reimbursing services
> provided in institutions over services provided in home and community
> settings (research reveals seventy-five percent of Medicaid funds pay for
> services provided in institutions).
>
> We believe that no individual should be forced into an institution to
> receive reimbursement for services that can be effectively and efficiently
> delivered in the home or community. Individuals must be empowered to
> exercise real choice in selecting long term services and supports that
meet
> their unique needs and allow them to be independent. Federal and state
> Medicaid policies should be responsive to, and not impede, an individual's
> choice in selecting needed long term services and supports.
>
> The bi-partisan Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act (S.
> 1935) eliminates the bias in Medicaid law toward institutional care by
> requiring that states offer community attendant services and supports as
> well as institutional care for eligible individuals in need of long term
> services and supports. The legislation also assists states develop and
> enhance comprehensive statewide systems of long term services and supports
> that provide real consumer choice consistent with the principle that
service
> and supports should be provided in the most integrated setting appropriate
> to meeting the unique need of the individual.
>
> Please join us in support of this straightforward Medicaid reform.  This
> bi-partisan bill is about independent living for people with disabilities
> and the elderly -- a policy we can all agree on.  You may contact Katie
> Corrigan in Senator Harkin's office (4-3254) or Allison DeKosky in Senator
> Specter's office (4-4254) with any questions or if you wish to co-sponsor.
>
>         Sincerely,
>
> ______________________ ______________________
>          Tom Harkin Arlen Specter
>
>
>
>
> NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt MiCASA List
>