-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Stephanie Thomas
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 11:07 AM
To: micasa-list
Subject: General MiCASSA handout


America's People with Disabilities, of all ages,
Seniors, Adults & Children with Disabilities
Family Members,
Attendants,
and American Taxpayers Need the
Medicaid Community Attendant Services and
Supports Act
(MiCASSA) in 1999


MiCASSA means REAL CHOICE

Most Americans who need long term services and supports would rather remain
in their own homes and communities than be forced to move to a nursing home
or other institution.

MiCASSA redirects the focus of the Medicaid long term services program from
institutions to home and community services and supports.  It enables people
to make real choices.  Given "REAL CHOICE" people overwhelmingly choose
"HOME SWEET HOME."

MiCASSA means MORE OLDER and YOUNGER AMERICANS AND CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES WILL FINALLY GET THE REAL CHOICE OF HOME and COMMUNITY
ATTENDANT SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.

Studies show that people currently living in America's institutions and
nursing homes do not have more severe disabilities than people who are
living in their own homes with attendant services and supports.  So why do
they go into institutions when they'd rather stay at home?  Because --

Family members and other informal caregivers "burn out" or "age out"

Government does not provide a real choice for home and community based
services;

Home care pays caregivers low wages and offers no benefits, which results in
a shortage of qualified providers;

People don't know that there are alternatives to nursing homes and other
institutions.

MiCASSA means SAVING TAX DOLLARS

Nursing home care costs taxpayers more than it costs to support people in
their own homes, even when these folks are receiving other public benefits.

MiCASSA means CONSUMER CONTROL

No one understands the needs of people who use community attendant services
and supports better than people with disabilities.  MiCASSA would give them
a policy-making role in designing America's community attendant services and
supports program and deciding what services will be available, how they are
paid for, and who is eligible.

Many people with disabilities can and want to select, train and supervise
their own attendants.  For them, MiCASSA provides options such as vouchers
with which to pay attendants (including family members) and training in
directing and managing their care.  For those who prefer not  to manage
their own services, it also provides for a consumer-directed agency model.

MiCASSA's goal is to provide flexible, consumer-responsive services, which
means that the person receiving the services decides how, when and where
they are provided.  That's what consumer control is all about.

GIVE US A REAL CHOICE!

OK MiCASSA in 1999!

Tell legislators what kind of long term services and supports system YOU
want!

"HOME SWEET HOME"

*************************************************************

The Medicaid Community Attendant Services
and Support Act of 1999 (MiCASSA)

Why We Need MiCASSA NOW!

The demographics of our nation are changing - population is aging, more
people with disabilities are living and needing assistance with daily living
tasks.

Although people with disabilities overwhelmingly prefer home and community
services and supports over institutional services, the current long term
care system favors costly institutional programs and profit seeking
corporations.

Currently, in America, non-institutional long-term care services are
fragmented among many different funding sources and administering agencies
and eligibility tends to be based on age or medical diagnosis rather than
functional need.

The over 30 year old system we have now does not work.

MiCASSA gives people a real choice of how to live their lives.


MiCASSA WILL:

1.  Give people a real choice so that Medicaid dollars that are currently
spent on institutions and nursing homes can be used for home and community
services and supports.

2.  Provide a variety of community services and supports including:

bathing and personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, lifting and transferring,
feeding, bowel and bladder care and similar services;

meal preparation, shopping, cleaning and laundry;

assistance with money management, use of medications, and other daily living
services;

services to assist consumers with mobility and transportation;

transition costs from the institution to the community (like utility and
rent deposits, household supplies); and

assistance with health-related tasks as delegated or assigned by a nurse.

3.  Ensure consumer control and direction. Gives people with disabilities
and their families real control over how, when, and where they receive
community attendant services and supports.  Requires consumer and/or
representative agree with needs assessment and plan of service.

4.  Allow, if state chooses, eligibility of people whose income exceeds
current limits, to promote employment.

5.   Enable people with disabilities to live independently in their own
homes and other community settings of their choice instead of being forced
to reside in nursing homes or other institutions.

6.   Mandate high quality assurance standards must include meaningful
consumer input.

7.   Give people a choice of delivery systems: an agency provider, vouchers,
or fiscal sponsor.

8.   Establishes grants and planning entities to help states move away from
the current institutional bias in long term care.







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