Have you heard about this yet? What do you think of it?

Question

For Immediate release: July 21, 2009

For information contact:
Bruce Darling 585-370-6690
Marsha Katz 406-544-9504

Disability Rights Activists Nationwide Confront Democrats On Institutional Bias

Washington, D.C.---Demanding an end to the institutional bias in the nation's health care policy, ADAPT, the nation's largest cross-disability, grassroots disability rights organization, took their fight to the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Washington, DC, with 24 simultaneous protests at Democratic offices across the country, and at Senator Max Baucus' office in Missoula, MT.

ADAPT is calling for Congress to eliminate the Medicaid institutional bias in 2009 - either in health care reform or as separate legislation, specifically the Community Choice Act (CCA). CCA (S683/HR1670) allows people to choose to stay at home to receive long-term services and supports instead of being forced into nursing homes and institutions because that's what the law will currently pay for.

The protesters are additionally demanding that the Democrats apologize for the loss of freedom suffered by countless Americans that resulted when a Democratically-controlled Congress created the institutional bias over 40 years ago; and that the DNC facilitate an immediate meeting between ADAPT and Senator Max Baucus, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee; Representative Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, to develop a plan to pass the Community Choice Act and eliminate the institutional bias in 2009.

"For 44 years, Medicaid's institutional bias has stolen the lives of Americans with disabilities and older Americans," said Mike Oxford, ADAPT organizer from Topeka, KS. It has deprived them of their most basic freedoms. The Democrats were in power when that bias was legislated. Now it's time for them to apologize, and most importantly, it's time for them to take action and fix it."

ADAPT's action nationwide comes in part as a response to a video released last week by the Democratic National Committee. The video tells Americans "It's time" for health care reform, and urges them to call their Senators. Picking up on that theme, ADAPT released its own video this week telling the Democrats "It's time" to eliminate the institutional bias and pass the Community Choice Act. See www.adapt.org/takeaction.


"The Democrats say they want health care reform to focus on covering more people and saving money," said Cassie James, ADAPT organizer from Philadelphia, "yet they refuse to change the current law that mandates people receive long term care in the most expensive setting rather than less expensively at home where they would rather be. In addition, the current law forces states to go through complicated procedures just to let a few people stay at home and get assistance there."

Many states have no home and community-based services, or they may provide limited services with waiting lists that keep people stuck for years in institutions and nursing facilities before they have any chance of getting services. It is not uncommon for people to wait so long that they die before their name reaches the top of the waiting list.

In an unprecedented show of unity this year, disability and aging groups across the country have demanded that healthcare reform be the vehicle to change federal policy which favors paying for institutions over community based services. They have repeatedly asked Congress and the President to pass the Community Choice Act, but currently, NO proposal in the health care reform package eliminates the institutional bias in Medicaid.

"The Democrats have historically supported the Community Choice Act every time it has been introduced in Congress," said Dawn Russell, an ADAPT organizer from Denver, CO. "Many in the disability community were optimistic that the Democrats would finally pass CCA and eliminate the institutional bias, but the Democratic leadership in Washington is doing absolutely nothing. It seems as though the Democrats are so concerned with political maneuvering that they have completely forgotten about the people they represent who have no voice in Washington."

"ADAPT is concerned about people who right now are stuck in nursing facilities and other institutions. We are concerned about people on Medicaid who will continue to be forced into those places if the law isn't changed. And if the Democratic leadership won't speak up for them, then I will," added Russell.

Answer 1

I would love to see the Medicaid institutional bias to be completely eliminated and the Community Choice Act (CCA) to be passed.



If the current elected political officials will do nothing to completely eliminate the Medicaid institutional bias and to pass the Community Choice Act (CCA), then new political officials need to be elected who will completely eliminate the Medicaid institutional bias and pass the Community Choice Act (CCA).

Answer 2

I doubt that much changes in Louisiana concerning the discrimination against the disabled on Medicaid. As it is, in Louisiana, there are few on Medicaid who are disabled who get the chance to see a real doctor. Most are only able to see an Intern who just got out of Medical School. They do not allow the Disabled on Medicaid to see a Urologist or a Dermatologist. I am only mentioning the prime problems on the tip of the iceberg. Louisiana has always been a hundred years behind the other states in health care anyway. I always hope for the best in positive changes but I am not holding my breath. I would not bet on it.

Answer 3

You've got to get past my laser-directed glytometer yet and if you manage to evade that (and no-one has yet), I still have an entire starship at my disposal to stop you. Yahoo!Answers must remain free and if that means removing a dictator by force and remaining behind .... being very visible and putting down any insurgents by force (only if neccessary, I don't enjoy it, you know); then so be it.

Answer 4

Amen to fodaddy1! Your writings on the purpose of government are just what the Founding Father's believed too. Not to mention Adam Smith. We should go back to our Founding!

The more power government gets, the less freedom and power the citizens maintain. And the less likely your kids and grandchildren will have a free and powerful society.

America is great because of its CITIZENS not because of its government.

Answer 5

I know I am going to take alot of flak for this. But I've always felt that the government's duty should be to build roads, maintain the armed forces, and provide some very basic guidelines to abide by if you want to live here. Most other things, health-care included should be the responsibility of the individual. I paid $1000 a month for health insurance for myself for several years when the company I worked for didn't offer a plan through them. Yeah it sucked, but life's not fair, and I didn't piss and moan about it like so many people do.



Trust me, if we push through with the nationalized health care that's being proposed, it will be a clusterf**k of monumental proportions. If the government can't make medicare work, what makes you think they can make an even bigger program work?



I'm sure most will disagree, but I'm interested in hearing other points of view

Answer 6

Lord know that by the time I get approve for Social Security for the purpose of getting health care from Medicaid, Medicaid department will be closing down or restricting to lesser services.



Democrat is not formulating a good plan for health care system. I proposed a great plan that would be "universal" but Democrat aren't listening to that idea.



United States is ruled by idiot, I say we voted into idiotrcy. Republican top presidential candidate didn't care about making things right in United States and decided to become an idiot by staying as an idiot.



All well, I going to focus on myself.

Answer 7

No, people like you should not get medicare. People like you should work harder getting more experience and get some education in hopes of landing a better job or position. That's the way its always worked and should work anyways.

Answer 8

I'v Heard of it, I dont really think i like it but i dee kay,

Answer 9

TOO LONG