Democrats Look To Expand Disability Services

(AP)

WASHINGTON – Expanding federal assistance for people with disabilities is a matter of civil rights, a Democratic senator said Monday – one that must be addressed through the overhaul of the nation's health care system currently underway in Congress.

"The way I see it, [this] is a civil rights issue," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "As far as I'm concerned, there is no health reform without the Community Choice Act."

Harkin is the sponsor of the Community Choice Act, one of two proposals introduced this year that that would significantly expand federal assistance for people in need of long-term care. Harkin and other advocates of the measures say they must pass this year – tying them to overall health care reform that the president and others have said will be accomplished now or never.

The proposals could face serious opposition, though, as Republicans continue to speak out against the growth of federal programs that come with hefty price tags.

"I think people are starting to get it, (but) they're a little worried about the cost," Harkin said Monday, speaking before a large crowd on Capitol Hill. "We've just got a couple hurdles to get over, and they're tough hurdles. They're like stairs to a person using a wheelchair, but we can overcome it."

The Community Choice Act would reform Medicaid to give recipients eligible for institutional-level care the choice of receiving in-home or community-based assistance rather than nursing home care.

HELP Chairman Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., has sponsored a second bill, the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. This measure would create a new, nationwide insurance program, financed through payroll deductions with opt-out enrollment.

Harkin said the Community Choice Act was the essential first step to ensuring disabled people receive the care they need. The measure, he said is estimated to cost between $2 billion to $4 billion a year.

"That's a lot of money, but we're talking about a $1 trillion health reform bill," he said. "I'm here to tell you, 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 percent is not too much to ask to provide civil rights."

Harkin added that the measure could cost less than expected. By supporting people who currently lack long term care, the government could enable them to get a job, he said. More important, he said, is "the quality of life issue."

Currently, the federal government will pay for institutional-level care through Medicaid, but those who want to receive care in a home or community-based setting must go through a waiver program. Many states have long waiting lists for waiver programs that provide marginal subsidies. In Iowa, for instance, recipients receive what amounts to $22 a day to pay for in-home care.

While the Community Choice Act would strictly address Medicaid, the CLASS Act would create a vast new government fund to insure people in the event they become disabled.

"We need to set up a system so people can pay into a system for that kind of home care in the future," Harkin said. "So we can build up a trust fund in the future."

Under the legislation, employed adults would be automatically enrolled – with the choice to opt-out – into a program that would deduct no more than an estimated average of $65 a month. Full time students or workers below the poverty would make contributions of no more than $5 a month.

Workers would be eligible to receive cash benefits after contributing to the fund for five years.

"The CLASS Act says you shouldn't have to be poor or unemployed to get assistance," said Mike Oxford, executive director of the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center. "It's simply time to force the political will for this happen."

Harkin said President Obama is supportive of the Community Choice Act, though he told the senator the cost of the program must be addressed.

"Now we have a president of the United States on our side," he said.

[karma0108]

Please do not talk about the truly disabled. I worked my whole life since 16yrs old. I am now 58. I worked for Amex for 20 yrs. I lost all my 401k money after 9/11 and the company downsized so I lost my job also. I started to work at the State and after 8 1/2 years became totally disabled. I am in shock and feel depressed, and hopeless. If I had been able to work the 10yrs I would have only had to pay $45.00 for the rest of my life for medical that covered everything, as the Empire plan is the top of the line for medical, but a steep price if you are not covered under NYS plan, or become disabled. Now I have to pay full amount of 541.00, then after that COBRA. I am under SSDI and have only that amount of money coming in. No one wants to be disabled, but please remember it can happen to you or anyone, so Please at least get some medical reform in place for the disabled, the Medicare is good, but a wait of 24 months when you are disabled and have no income, how do you pay for health insurance. For me it is giving up everything I ever worked so hard for and lost through no fault of my own.
I hope the President will take into consideration the truly disabled worker that has worked his or her whole life, and through now faul of their own are totally disabled. Please implement something like the employees of the the state of NY have, and the congress, etc that they pay under an umbrella package, for everyone. Look at the cost of medical insurance that a NYS employee pays, why can't everyone be under that kind of plan. People would pay and be covered..... Thank you for listening.

[smehl1506]

Do the math, katg21!!!

It costs us taxpayers at least six tiimes more to care for someone in a nursing home rather than at home. And you think it's wrong to give people a choice??

Man, I don't want you doing my taxes.

[katg21]

Big government sucks people...when are you going to get it!?! How is all of this crap going to get paid for? SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!! I am so sick of it!!!

[Dgunner]

This is a start however the suits will have to screw it up three or four times before they decide it will never be right and continually ask for more money for the rest of your life time . When these people address the dead beat parent problem in this country then I will become more compassed toward believing there will someday in my lifetime actaully be a program that the deadbeats can't punch a hole in and scab off the Real Americans. I am refering to deadbeats parents as non -americans because one american shouldn't do what they do to thier fellow countrymen and woman. The proverbial white speck on the top of chicken s---t is more to thier description.

[wtcmedic911]

long gone are the days of having to work to eat, pay bills etc. we are turning into a country where working is optional. due to 9/11 im partially disabled and now self employeed even thou i can get disability and chose to work. how many thousands will milk this.... i see it all the time. people that smoke unfiltered cigs. just prior to pulmonary function tests. do whatever it takes to not work and get thier money. i hope a powerful investigative arm will be in place before people with "back injuries" wreck us.

[broadwayphi]

It's a good idea, and it's a cheap idea.

I like it.

We have been penny-wise and pound foolish for too long.

Gets my vote.

[jschmidt27]

Money follows the patient is what I think it is caled in CT. A good plan to allow patients to receive medicaid funds when being cared by family at home. It is usually less expensive than a nursing home as you don't have to pay for the nursing home building.It free's up crowding in nursing homes. It allows family to care for the patient with visiting nurses type care. I'm usually never for a govt program that is wasteful but this one can save money and give quality care to patients. I haven't backed much of the recnet spending but this one is ok.

[adek1]

Just what we need, a bunch of people who are on disability who are not disabled be paid a higher pay check from our wallets.

What is wrong with these politicians????? Dont' they understand that so many people are on disability who are not disabled?

If they do this, they better pay for more "investigative" services to catch the criminals who are collecting SSI who can work!!! Judge Judy, please help us!!!!!!!!!!

[babooph]

This may benefit republicans more -surely a mental disability is indicated.

[sfrobone]

some of you bitter posters need to check your facts before trying to force feed the the rest of us any more of your bs.....You can not get s.s. benf. for being a drug addict....someone might get the approved that is a druggy but i promise you they have some major health problem. and that problem is a long term , and very well documented medical history of the problem. :)
larry i understand your frustation with your wife problem. the people who work at the ssa. are told to deny pretty much everyone , your wifes best bet is to get an attorney to act on her behave or the ssa will have jumping thru hoops for who know long