…that while it is Disability Awareness Month, there are scads of other causes claiming it for themselves.  Oh, well, it’s not the first thing I was gullible about, nor the last, I’m sure…

I stumbled on the topic when I received a letter from Caroline Lahrmann,  about the  Arc of Ohio Attack on Choice
From Caroline Lahrmann:

In their recent newsletter:

the Arc of Ohio attacks the ICF system, and by extension the vulnerable people who rely upon it. The national Arc is behind a proposal for a new federal bill that will effectively eliminate nursing homes and the ICF program. It has a friendly sounding name, the HCBS Access Act, but do not let the name fool you. It is meant to remove choice from people with disabilities and the elderly. It amends the Social Security Act as follows:

1. Establishes in federal law an “individualized” assessment to determine the services an eligible person will receive.

2. The bill requires that the assessment is administered with the presumption that “each eligible individual, regardless of type or level of disability or service need, can be served in the individual’s own home and community.”
The bill ends choice of care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities by forcing everyone into community settings and financially disincentivizing states to offer nursing homes and ICFs. It is deeply concerning that the Arc of Ohio would lash out at the DD community in this way. Providers of all kinds and families have faced a stressful year and should be congratulated for rising to the occasion. Proposing such divisive legislation is concerning at anytime, but especially now.
3. Establishes a new service for nursing home and ICF residents called “transition services” — meaning transitions to community settings.

4. Provides for a federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) of 100% for home and community based services, but not for nursing homes or ICFs. (The FMAP is the amount that states are reimbursed by the federal government for Medicaid services.)

The bill ends choice of care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities by forcing everyone into community settings and financially disincentivizing states to offer nursing homes and ICFs. It is deeply concerning that the Arc of Ohio would lash out at the DD community in this way. Providers of all kinds and families have faced a stressful year and should be congratulated for rising to the occasion. Proposing such divisive legislation is concerning at anytime, but especially now.

Caroline Lahrmann
Disability Advocacy Alliance,  
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Sorry, I can’t translate all the letters for you.  Been struggling between classic and guttenberg for 3 hours…Yes, I have a 49 year old daughter in a skilled and loving state institution very happy where she is. Couldn’t get along in the community …So I admit I’m biased.  Reports of resident abuse in community group homes in 49 states, where staff are undedr paid and not well trained.