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CDR Center for Disability Rights, Inc.
412 State Street Rochester, New York 14608 For immediate release: June 7, 2004 After many years of advocating for reforms that would end the institutional bias of New York State Medicaid long-term care, advocates for people with disabilities were thrilled today when the New York State Senate passed S.7073, the Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver bill. “This bill would accomplish so many things we have been trying to do for years,” said Chris Hilderbrant, Director of Advocacy at the Center for Disability Rights. “It would save tax payer money, but more importantly, it would enable seniors and people with a wide array of disabilities to return home with adequate supports and services.” The proposed Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid Waiver would provide an array of services to seniors and people with disabilities not eligible for services currently provided by existing Medicaid waivers. The services include case management, personal care, independent living skills training, assistive technology, adult day health, staff for safety assurance, non-medical support services and the costs of transition to community living as well as other supports as deemed necessary by the Department of Health. Though many of these services are available to people living in nursing homes, people with disabilities such as Multiple sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, Muscular Dystrophy and Alzheimer’s disease have been denied these vital services. Without these services in the community, people are forced to leave their friends, family and community behind and move into a nursing home. “This is a ticket to freedom for those individuals who have disability and desperately want to live independently in the community,” explained Senator Ray Meier, from Utica. Senator Meier was the Co-chair of the Senate’s Medicaid Reform Task force and developed the waiver bill in conjunction with advocates for people with disabilities. Following the victory today in the Senate, advocates will focus efforts on the New York State Assembly in order to get an identical bill passed and moved to the governor for his signature. “We plan to make sure this is the year that we end the institutional bias that has forced so many people into nursing homes,” said Susan Stahl who has Cerebral Palsy and lives in Rochester. “We have seen too many of our friends and family forced into a nursing home because there were no services available in the community. This waiver will bring an end to that!” |