US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on HR 1621 (CCA of 2007, formerly MiCASSA)
Wednesday January 15, 2008
Overview
More than 300 advocates attended, including about 100 from Pa, as evidenced by the 3 full rooms. Pa attendees include members from Pa SILC, ADAPT, and CILs. Afterward, they made visits to Pa. members of Congress, including SILC visits of Congressman Tim Murphy, Holden, Carney, Pitts and Kanjorksi.
What is the Community Choice Act (CCA) of 2007 (formerly MiCASSA)
A federal bill, the CCA would give people real choice in long term care options by reforming Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid) by ending the institutional bias. The CCA would allow individuals eligible for Nursing Facility Services or Intermediate Care Facility Services for the Mentally Retarded the opportunity to choose instead a new alternative, "Community-based Attendant Services and Supports." CCA is based on ‘Money Follows the Person’ principles.
Potential impact of CCA on Pennsylvania
If passed, the CCA – strong Federal legislation – would improve the state’s existing Community Choice program by providing more dollars to support more individuals with multiple disabilities unserved in a current waiver. While Pa is improving its Long Term Care ‘rebalance’ efforts, over 75% of individuals who are potentially eligible remain in Nursing Homes- far below Pa’s goal of having a 50-50% balance by 2020. Both many individuals under 60 with disabilities and 60 plus seniors desire community options; but Pa is limited by the institutional bias attached to the Federal Dollars. More people with disabilities and seniors can be served under HCBS than in Nursing Homes, particularly should CCA be passed.
Members of US Congress Present: The CCA Meeting was convened by Subcommittee Chair, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ). The House Energy and Commerce Chair, Cong. John Dingell (D-MI) also attended. Nearly half of the Health SUBCMTE members attended. Among those attending and speaking up was Congressman Tim Murphy (R-18) from SW Pa. A practicing psychologist, Dr. Murphy talked about the importance of empowering people by providing choices based on his private practice experience. While members had some questions and concerns, all were generally favorable in their remarks toward CCA.
Testimonies: Individuals testifying from the disability community included ADAPT (Stephanie Thomas), Henry Kaiser Family Foundation, The Arc of New Jersey, ResCare, Americagroup of Texas and Family Voices. All noted the impact of Medicaid as it relates to people with disabilities.
Other Important Issues from CCA Hearing: Some members and advocates took time to discuss several important and related issues: CMS recent rule changes (re: reducing targeted case management hours from 180 to 60; limiting transportation/rehabilitative reimbursements to school districts for youth with disabilities-6 month moratorium exists for these rules now); workforce issues (Cong. Capps discussed her bill, HR 1279, Direct Support Professionals Employment & Security Act of 2007); and community supports (CLASS Act of 2007-HR 3001, Cong. Pallone’s bill) and few others.
What You Can Do:
Please contact your members of Congress to:
1) if on the House Energy and Commerce CMTE’s SUBCMTE on Health, ask them to vote HR 1621 this winter;
2) if they are not on a co-sponsor, ask them to become co-sponsor;
3) continue to discuss the importance of CCA / related IL principles with others on how these issues impact their lives and those they love and support.
Updated Jan. 25, 2008
Members from PA on HR 1621 -Please thank them: Cong. Brady, English, Murtha, Fattah, Schwartz, Doyle (6)
Members NOT on yet-Please Encourage them to support: Cong. Tim Murphy and Pitts (both on current SUBCMTE of jurisdiction; please remind Cong. Tim Murphy of positive hearing comments on HCBS); Carney, Sestak, Altmire, Patrick Murphy, Platts, Gerlach, Holden, Dent, Kanjorkski, Shuster, Peterson (13) |
