Urge Your Members of Congress to Include Long Term Services and Supports in Health Care Reform
from National Down Syndrome Congress
One of the most urgent issues for individuals with disabilities is the lack of long-term supports and services for adults. There is currently no mandate for community-based supports that individuals need to live and work in the community.
Currently, Medicaid is the funding stream for adult services for individuals with disabilities. The Community Choice Act (HR 1670/S.683) would require community-based attendant services and supports for certain Medicaid-eligible individuals. The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act) (HR 1721/S.697) would create a national, voluntary disability insurance program under which all full or part-time employees would be automatically enrolled (but are allowed to waive enrollment) in a plan whereby:
- payroll deductions pay monthly premiums;
- two levels of benefits are provided, based on the level of disability, to purchase nonmedical services and supports that the beneficiary needs to live and work in the community.
As Congress considers a health care reform bill, it is critical that they consider meeting the needs of the many citizens with disabilities who want to have the same opportunities to live and work in the community as their non-disabled peers. However, strong advocacy efforts are needed to ensure that long term services and supports are addressed as part of health care reform.
Action Needed
On April 29, hundreds of disability advocates, self advocates, their families, service providers, and others will be on Capitol Hill pushing for long term services and supports to be included in health care reform. The message will be:
- Long term services and supports MUST be included in health care reform; and
- The CLASS Act and Community Choice Act provide the long term services and supports policies needed for real health care reform
Please contact your member of Congress with that message. If you have questions, please contact susan@ndsccenter.org or mwill@ndss.org. Below is a sample letter you can use to send to your Congressperson.
