[acb-hsp] [leadership] Fwd: Re: My Medicaid Matters - Information Bulletin

[peter altschul]

---- Original Message ------
From: Charles Crawford <ccrawford at starpower.net
Subject: [leadership] Fwd: Re: My Medicaid Matters - Information 
Bulletin
Date sent: Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:43:31 -0400


>Hi NCAC members and friends,


         I am posting this because it could seriously impact upon 
our
medicaid benefits and it comes from a credible origin of Steve
Gold.  Please read and consider it.

--  charlie Crawford

Original message...

>My Medicaid Matters - Information Bulletin

>On Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at noon on the Capital Hill
>In Washington, D.C.  there will be a national "My Medicaid 
Matters" rally.

>This is a very critical time for all disabled and elderly people 
who need
>and depend on Medicaid to survive.  As you know, Congress has 
established
>a "super Committee" to decide about the deficit and need to 
control
>federal spending.  So far, the public conversation has almost 
solely
>focused on the deficient reduction and controlling the cost of 
Medicaid

>On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, a number of Governors issued a 
statement
>directed to the Congressional "super Committee," telling this 
Committee to
>loosen Medicaid restrictions on how states spend the federal 
money on
>health care for persons on SSI, other low-income persons, 
disabled and
>elderly Americans.  The Governors want to receive a lump sum 
payment from
>the federal government and then want to be free to design their 
own
>state-by-state Medicaid program.

>If you thought the past Medicaid struggles -- over waiver "caps,"
>limitation of hours for Personal Assistance Service, 
institutional bias,
>hospital stays, covered services - were tough, just wait until 
there are
>no federal minimums! That's right, no federal minimums that could 
even
>enforced in federal courts.

>If you thought in the past Medicaid providers of nursing homes, 
ICF-MRs,
>Assisted Living had lot's of power as political players because 
they
>contributed to your Governor's and other elected officials 
Political
>Action Committees, just wait and you'll really see institutional 
power and
>biases! These providers are in business for a profit and people 
with
>disabilities and the elderly are their cash-cows.

>If you thought families with and parents of disabled in the past 
had to
>struggle to receive Medicaid services to obtain minimally needed 
services,
>just wait.  Welcome back the 1950s! Most folks do not remember 
how bad it
>was.

>If you thought your state Medicaid folks in the past did not 
respect or
>implement the Olmstead decision that found unnecessary
>institutionalization as discrimination under the ADA, just wait 
and you'll
>be kissing goodbye your ADA rights.

>The Governors plan to come to Washington in October to push for 
their
>Medicaid.  They do not care Medicaid provides vital home and
>community-based services that allow seniors and younger people 
with
>disabilities to live independently in the community.  They care 
only about
>money.

>In the general public, few people understand what Medicaid is or 
the
>impact that Medicaid's federal funding has on the lives of people 
with
>disabilities, seniors, their families and those people who work 
to support

>them.

>Disability, aging and civil rights organizations have banded 
together to
>organize a national rally on Capitol Hill to show Congress that 
My
>Medicaid Matters!

>September 21st and will kick off organizing efforts in all 50 
states to
>show that My Medicaid Matters!

>Rally National Sponsors include:

>o ADAPT
>o AFSME
>o American Association of People with Disabilities
>o American Network of Community Options and Resources
>o The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living
>o The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
>o The Caring Across Generation Campaign
>o The Center for Self-Determination
>o Coalition for Community Integration
>o The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
>o Easter Seals
>o Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Association
>o Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
>o The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
>o National Council on Independent Living
>o National Disability Rights Network
>o National Hispanic Council on Aging
>o Not Dead Yet
>o Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
>o Service Employees International Union
>o Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
>o United Cerebral Palsy
>o United Spinal Association

>How You Can Help

>Join us! Rally organizers are looking for members of Congress who 
are
>willing to talk about the importance of Medicaid to low and 
middle income
>Americans, older Americans and Americans with disabilities.

>Help us show that My Medicaid Matters!
>Additional Information
>For more information, and the most updated list of sponsoring
>organizations, go to: http://ly.adapt.org/rally

>Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

>Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online 
at
>http://www.stevegoldada.com
>with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different 
subjects.
>As of August, 2010, Information Bulletins will also be posted on 
my blog
>located at http://stevegoldada.blogspot.com/
>To contact Steve Gold directly, write to stevegoldada1 at gmail.com 
or call
>215-627-7100.


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