July 2007
I have never really liked flying. Air travel has become a real pain. Each time I have a trip coming up, I start obsessing about how long it will take me to get through airport security. Then I worry about whether anything in my luggage could be considered a weapon. Then finally my thoughts will turn to food… Why in the world do I have to pay $5.00 for a tiny bag of peanuts and a cookie? Why couldn’t I have packed a snack? What if I get trapped somewhere and they don’t have a Starbucks?
All these thoughts ran through my mind during a recent trip to Washington D.C. where I attended the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Conference. NCIL is the oldest cross disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, it represents over 700 organizations and individuals including: Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), individuals with disabilities, and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.
Each year they have a conference to analyze the most important national issues that pertain to people with disabilities. This year, the focus of the conference was Senate Bill 799: The Community Choice Act of 2007.
Currently, under Medicaid, every state must provide nursing home services, but community-based services remain optional. SB 799: The Community Choice Act would amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act to give people with disabilities that are eligible for nursing home services or other institutional care equal access to community-based attendant services and supports. Basically, instead of funding going to the nursing home it would follow the individual, so they could live in their own home and remain in their community if they choose to do so.
Additionally, the legislation provides federal matching funds to help states develop their long term care infrastructure and grant funds to help states increase their ability to provide home and community-based services.
So, what are community-based attendant services and supports? Specifically, they are assistance with:
- activities of daily living (eating, toileting, grooming, dressing, bathing and transferring),
- instrumental activities of daily living (meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping, household chores, planning, participating in the community),
- and health related functions.
S.B. 799 would require that these services be provided in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the individual; meaning, settings like school, work, recreation or religious facility.
The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing on this bill for September 25, 2007. There are currently no California co-sponsors for S.B. 799 or its companion bill H.R. 1621 in Congress. Contact your Senators and Representatives today and urge them to co-sponsor. Tell them people with disabilities should be able to live in our homes, not nursing homes. Representative Sam Farr: 831-424-2229, 800-340-FARR, (202) 225-2861 Senator Barbara Boxer: (415) 403-0100, (202) 224-3553 Senator Dianne Feinstein: (415) 393-0707, (202) 224-3841