Advocacy needed to push initiatives for people with disabilities

by William Daroff from JTA:
In the coming weeks and months, Congress will enact sweeping reductions in federal spending, finalize the 2013 federal budget and raise the debt ceiling. The cuts that will come with these decisions are not merely numbers on a ledger; they will decimate programs that directly impact the lives of the most vulnerable among us and the ability of social service agencies to serve them.
For individuals with disabilities who are aspiring for healthy, independent lives, this is a particularly critical time. The unemployment rates we associate with the slow recovery from the Great Recession pale in comparison to the persistent lack of employment opportunities that have ever been available to the disability community. The disincentive to work inherent in our social safety net, and the inability for those relying on it to build assets, makes upward mobility even more difficult.
The growing challenge for non-profit agencies to provide home- and community-based care makes independent living for many individuals with disabilities an impossibility.
This is why dozens of advocates representing a broad range of Jewish communities, religious streams, social service providers and public policy organizations traveled to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to promote the Community First Choice (CFC) option in Medicaid and the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, both of which further the goals of ensuring individuals with disabilities can lead healthy, independent lives.
During the month of February, Jewish communities across North America observe Jewish Disability Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the needs, strengths, opportunities and challenges of individuals with disabilities in our communities and to ensure we are building more inclusive communities that celebrate everyone among us. It is also an opportunity for us to engage with lawmakers and express support for public policy initiatives that lead to better outcomes for the disability community.

Medicaid in Post-Election Discussions of Deficit Reductions

by David Heymsfeld, AAPD Policy Advisor:
With the election over, and Congress scheduled to return next week, Washington’s attention will quickly shift to proposals to reduce the federal deficit.
It has been widely reported that during the last few months there have been extensive behind the scenes discussions, particularly by Senators, of “grand bargains” to reduce spending and increase revenues to make major reductions in the deficit.  Now these discussions will move to the public arena.   They will be dominated by a sense of urgency created by the so-called fiscal cliff across the board spending cuts and tax increases which will occur on January 1, unless Congress passes legislation to undo them.
Reports of the behind-the scenes discussions indicate that they include considering proposals to make significant reductions in the federal Medicaid program. This is an issue of great concern to people with disabilities; 8 million of whom rely on Medicaid for health care and long term supports which is critical to their ability to live healthy productive lives as independent members of their communities.
AAPD and other advocates have made it clear that we are willing to work with Congress and the Administration to develop proposals which reduce the costs of Medicaid, by reforms that will make the program more efficient without reducing the services provided.  We will oppose proposals that only reduce funding and lead to cuts in the number of beneficiaries or the services they receive.
Two general approaches for reducing annual spending for Medicaid have gained significant support.
The first, incorporated in the budget passed by the House earlier this year is known as the block grant approach.  It specifically sets funding levels for Medicaid for the next ten years.  The ten-year budget would reduce Medicaid spending by $800 billion compared to the current program.
The second approach, one that reportedly has been seriously considered in the recent behind the scenes discussions, is a “per capita” approach.  It would limit funding by establishing an allowable cost for each beneficiary under the program. This would permit increased funding if more persons were added to the program.
In evaluating any specific proposals to reduce funding with these approaches, it is important to bear in mind that there are two separate issues; how much is funding reduced, and what problems are created by the method used to set the caps.

Don't Cut Medicaid -- Reform It

from the NDSC:

Call Your Senators and Representatives and tell them that arbitrary Medicaid cuts will hurt people with disabilities.  Real Medicaid reform is what is needed.

Background
Congress appears to be closer to reaching an agreement about spending cuts before the August 2nd deadline to raise the debt ceiling.  Entitlement spending (e.g., Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) is at the center of these discussions.  Although nothing is “off the table,” it appears that Medicaid is the major target for spending cuts. The ways in which the program would be cut are being referred to as spending caps, block grants and blended funding.
Any large cuts in Medicaid will likely result in a serious blow to, if not elimination of home and community based services.  These are the services that adults with disabilities rely on to live and work in the community.

Action Needed
Press the “take action” button and contact your Senators and Representative today with the message that cutting Medicaid arbitrarily will hurt people with disabilities.

Talking Points
Medicaid is the main source of funds for people with disabilities to live and work in the community with dignity, avoiding costly, segregated and dehumanizing nursing homes or institutions.

Indiscriminate cuts to Medicaid will force people into higher cost institutional placements; 
Expanding self-directed services options which allow beneficiaries and families greater control over their resources will save money and preserve important services.

If you have questions, please contact susan@ndsccenter.org.