President Obama revived healthcare reform with a proposal, including provisions to benefit people with disabilities and promote independent community living, the White House released on Feb. 22. A meeting between Obama and leaders of both parties will air live on the Web Thursday, Feb. 25.
- The President's proposal continues to promote community living
- The plan is a start but there is still a long ways to go
More
Click here to read the full proposal by the President and for a link to the Feb 25 broadcast.The White House is convening the summit, officials say, to help Congress move past months’ long gridlock on healthcare reform. While the President’s overall proposal is very broad, it incorporates provisions the House and Senate both passed, as well as some ideas offered by Republicans.
We’re happy with the President’s proposal. According to the White House website, the reform proposal “enhance(s) community-based care for Americans with disabilities and provides States with opportunities to expand home care services to people with long-term care needs.” (www.whitehouse.gov).
Provisions to enhance community living include:
- Creating the Community First Choice Option which will allow states to use Federal Medicaid funds for people to move into the community rather than be forced to stay in nursing homes or long term care facilities.
- Extension of the “Money Follows the Person” demonstration that provides Medicaid funds for people with disabilities to move out of nursing homes and into community based living arrangements.
- Extending Medicaid coverage to families earning less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level (about $29,000 for a family of four)-which will provide access to health care for many people with disabilities..
- The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (”CLASS”) to create an optional payroll deduction for a plan to provide case benefits to people with disabilities to pay for-and choose-the supports and services they need to live at home instead of a nursing home.
Andrew Morris, MPH
Director of Legislation,
Spinal Cord Advocates
I THINK THAT THIS PROPASAL IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC CARE ABOUT THIER JEALTH, AND THE WELL BEING OF THEMSELVES, BUT SO DOES THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. IT DOES NOT MATTER THE FINICIAL STATUS OF THE POPLUTION, NOR DOES THIS ACT DISCRIMINATE AGAINIST RACE OR CREED, BUT THEY GENUINELY HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF A PERSON IN THIER MIND SET, AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST.