From Justice For All


New Freedom Initiative Proposals Transmitted to Congress

Today, Secretary Leavitt transmitted to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate a draft bill entitled the
"New Freedom Initiative Medicaid Demonstrations Act of 2005."

The New Freedom Initiative would establish several demonstration projects
including: Money Follows the Person Rebalancing demonstration,
demonstration of respite for caregivers of adults, respite for caregivers
of children with substantial disabilities, and home and community-based
alternatives to psychiatric residential treatment facilities for
children.  Additional provisions would permit states the option of
providing Medicaid home and community-based services for up to 90 days
during the time that final Medicaid eligibility is being determined and
the removal of disincentives for individuals with disabilities from
returning to work by protecting the Medicaid coverage of spouses, if
those spouses also have a disability.

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