Change

The word ‘change’ is being tossed around an awful lot these days. So just what is it we want changed for people with disabilities? The situation with the economy has forced states to cut back on funding. However, in the past we always thought it strange that ballparks and other projects would be funded while people with disabilities who just want to live and work in the community wait and wait and wait.

If the states do appropriate funding for services, the Federal Government matches those funds almost dollar for dollar. So if states do not put funds into their budgets for people to come off waiting lists, we don’t receive the Federal match of dollars. There has to be a better way.

After years of waiting, there is finally a national push to address the waiting list by asking to make Medicaid an entitlement for people with disabilities. The program could be modeled like the one used in aging such as Medicare and Social Security. The rules are flexible. You are allowed to move from state to state and your funds would follow you. If you have a Medicaid Waiver you cannot move your funds to another state and if you move you go to the bottom of that state’s Waiting List.

We need to make our new President aware of our situations and impress on him the severity of our problems. We are counting on him to keep his promise of changing the future for all Americans. We can begin by asking our President Elect Obama and our Federal Congressmen and Senators to fundamentally change the way Medicaid operates and assist people to live in their homes and communities with their families, like everyone else. Although Waiver programs have provided care and supports for thousands of people, they still leave thousands with nothing. Home and Community Based supports should be an entitlement for those who need assistance!

Then tell us what do you think we should change and how should we change it?

Go to this website: Click the link below to view this discussion. http://www.change.org/ideas/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmentally_disabled and vote to support Medicaid Waivers for all people who need them.