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Hello Mr. Wood: I work for a public radio station and
just read your ADA speech. My ex husband suffered a stroke last Oct. and
is paralyzed on his left side and is in the same situation you are in,
another state. Can you tell me more about the Micassa bill and what I
might do to help? Thank you, Bonnie Parks
Dear Bonnie Parks:
Firstly, that ADA Speech was authored by John Boyd, and we are publishing
it on www.dignity4disabled.com.
Your inquiry about what is MiCASSA bears an answer of substance:
If you go to
www.dignity4disabled.com, and see the ADAPT link on the left, they
have a short description on this bill. And at
http://thomas.loc.gov , you can see
more information on this bill, S401 and the companion HR 910. Type in the
bill number and you will find out the limited number of co-sponsors. More
co-sponsors are sought.
ADAPT says:
"MiCASSA(the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act) and
Money Follows the Person have been re-introduced and have new bill
numbers.MiCASSA is now
S 401 and HR 910. The main cosponsors remain Senators Harkin of IA and
Spector of PA, and Representatives Danny Davis and Shimkus of IL.
MiCASSA gives individuals who are eligible for institutional services like
nursing home services and ICF-MR services equal access to community-based
attendant services and supports. The services are based on functional need
and are consumer controlled; in fact, they provide a choice of ways to
have consumer control. MiCASSA also creates a demonstration
project to evaluate service coordination and cost sharing approaches for
those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. Also included are funding
and direction to the states to reform their long term care to level the
playing field and increase home and community based services.
The Federal Money Follows the Person bill S 528 is co-sponsored by
Senators Harkin and Gordon Smith of OR. This bill sets up demonstration
programs in the states to allow people in nursing homes and other
institutions to move into the community on existing community service
programs, instead of having to go on long waiting lists, etc. However,
this bill allows the funds that were paying for their institutional
service to be moved over to pay for the services in the community. This
bill also allows the participating states to get 100% federal funds to
cover the first year of community services for those who move out, and at
the end of the year the funding returns to that states regular match (60%
federal funds-40% state funds - or whatever the state's regular match rate
is.)--" From Incitement, A Publication of Adapt, Volume 21, No 1, Spring
2005. (mailed in September).
Where is the House companion bill? Maybe Florida will produce a leader to
co-sponsor this bill, as more Floridians are affected than almost all the
states put together. That may be a comment worth a challenge.
Bills have a two year life. Unfortunately, this bill had to be renumbered
and reintroduced, as it went no where in two years. Which says a lot of
the U.S. Congress.
ADAPT is looking for people to go to Washington DC Sept. 17-21 to support
this bill. I plan to join them and hope several members of the Florida
Paraplegic Association, Inc as well as people all over Florida will go to
show their support. It may be the most important trip they every make to
Washington, DC.
"If you ever wondered why or if you should come to and ADAPT action, this
is it! Join ADAPT in (Washington) DC September 17-21. Let the disability
voice be heard! For rooms call Tisha at 303-733-9324. For more information
call 512-442-0252" --From Incitement, Spring 2005
By Sept 1st, I will have, hopefully, scheduled a meeting, in Washington
DC, with the entire Florida Delegation, and asked them for their support
as well as their co-sponsorship. Florida must have the highest numbers of
people affected by this bill, and the support for this bill from Florida
has been shameful. I also take the largest share of this blame and
criticism. And I will be doing everything possible, on my part to make up
for this shameful past two years.
>From now to September 21, 2005, I will do the following:
1. Firstly, I am going to read everything I can get on the bill;
2. Secondly, I'm going to e-mail every Florida Federal Legislator about
the bill and strongly request their sponsorship;
3. Thirdly, I will go to the September 17-21 meeting;
4. Fourthly, I will attempt to arrange a meeting with the Florida
delegation and all the Floridians going to Washington Sept. 17-21.
5. Fifthly, I will attempt to arrange a South Florida meeting with the
Federal Legislators regarding the above bills.
5. Sixthly, I will list on the dignity web site all Floridians who will be
going to Washington Sept. 17-21 to meet with their legislators. They must
e-mail their participation plans to
dignity4@netscape.com;
6. Lastly, we will do monthly or weekly updates on the
www.dignity4disabled.com web
site.
Floridians with disabilities have a great interest in this bill. The
effort from Florida in September, and back home in the form of letters,
faxes and e-mails will determine the outcome of this legislation.
Thank you for asking this question.
Denny R. Wood, President
Florida Paraplegic Association, Inc.
305-278-0755 home
305-253-2563
dignity4@netscape.com (preferred method)
cc: To everyone possible, and please spread the word
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