[New-hampshire-students] Fwd: GSIL Advocacy Alert - Questioning the Candidates

Sat Dec 24 02:02:19 UTC 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeff Dickinson <jdickinson at gsil.org>
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:55:02 -0800
Subject: GSIL Advocacy Alert - Questioning the Candidates
To: Jeff Dickinson <jdickinson at gsil.org>

[cid:image001.png at 01CC2D0C.5945DCF0]

Granite State Independent Living
Advocacy Alert
Questioning the Candidates

December 23, 2011

In This Issue

*   Please Help Us Question the Candidates

*   Karen Geary Retiring from the GCD

*   Additional Voting Resources From the Disability Rights Center

*   NH Council on Developmental Disabilities Survey

*   Medicare Demo Project Provides Care @ Home

*   Happy Holidays from GSIL!

Granite State Independent Living
Advocacy Program

21 Chenell Drive
 Concord, NH 03301

Office: (603) 228-9680 or (800) 826-3700

V/TTY: (888) 396-3459

Visit our website at: www.gsil.org<http://www.gsil.org>

E-mail: advocacy at gsil.org<mailto:advocacy at gsil.org>

Please Help Us Question the Candidates
Primary is Just a Few Weeks Away

In an effort to inform the disability community of the Presidential
candidates' policy priorities and concerns, Granite State Independent
Living (GSIL) has sent to the campaigns of each candidate the attached
presidential candidate questionnaire.  Prepared by the American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the National
Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the questionnaire addresses many
of the issues that are most important to individuals with
disabilities, their families, and supporters in New Hampshire and
across the nation.

We are also sending the questionnaire out to all of you and asking
that as you go out there and participate in NH's uniquely up close and
personal style of politics you use it as a tool to question the
candidates on where they stand on disability related issues.  If you
attend events and meet candidates and/or their staff ask them to
answer some of the questions in the questionnaire.

Then, please report the answers back to us here at GSIL so we can
communicate that information out to the voters here in NH.

To access the questionnaire please see the attached document, go to
the Advocacy Alert section of the GSIL website:
http://www.gsil.org/info.php?id=216 , or contact Jeff Dickinson via
e-mail at: jdickinson at gsil.org<mailto:jdickinson at gsil.org> .

Thank you for your help in this important endeavor!

Karen Geary Retiring from the GCD
Gov's Comm. on Disability Plans Send-off

Please join the Commission for a small celebration and send-off for
long-time staff person Karen Geary on the occasion of her retirement.
Gifts and/or donations are gratefully accepted.  The party will be
held on:

Thursday, December 29th, 2011 from 1:00pm to 3:30pm at:

Governor's Commission on Disability

57 Regional Drive

Concord, NH 03301

For further details, email sally.creighton at nh.gov<mailto:sally.creighton at nh.gov>

Additional Voting Resources
>From the Disability Rights Center

The New Hampshire Primary is looming even closer, and now we have
additional resources on voting courtesy of the Disability Rights
Center of New Hampshire.  Their helpful website section on voting
features streaming videos on How to Register and Vote, as well as ways
you can get involved in civic activities.  Access the site for
yourself here:

http://www.drcnh.org/Issue%20Areas/Voting.htm
>From the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities:

Please take our Quick Survey!

For the past month, through their annual survey, the NH Council on
Developmental Disabilities has been seeking the input of people,
families and organizations they work with or support, to help them
assess their activities and make sure they are responsive to current
issues and needs.  Collected feedback will also be included in a
report to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, the
federal agency that provides funding to the Council, to help assure
that they understand the impact and value of what they do.

There are two versions of their survey; one is for people with
disabilities, families, and anyone who provides direct hands-on
support. The other is for stakeholders, which includes government
agencies, policymakers, provider organizations, non-profits and
advocacy groups.  Please complete only one survey.  If you fall into
both categories, complete the survey for people, families and direct
care providers instead.

Survey for People, Families and Direct Care Providers
<http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T258MFY>

Survey for Stakeholders<http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T2VM7VR>

Please contact the Council's office at 603-271-3236 or TTY/TDD
1-800-735-2964 if you require assistance in completing this survey,
require it in another format, or have any questions about the survey
or any of their activities.

Medicare Demo Project Provides Care @ Home Made Possible by the
Affordable Care Act

Up to 10,000 Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions will now
be able to get most of the care they need at home under a new
demonstration announced recently by the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS).

"This program gives new life to the old practice of house calls, but
with 21st Century technology and a team approach," said CMS Acting
Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

Created by the Affordable Care Act, the new Independence at Home
Demonstration greatly expands the scope of in-home services Medicare
beneficiaries can receive. The Independence at Home Demonstration will
provide chronically ill patients with a complete range of primary care
services. Participation in the Demonstration is voluntary for Medicare
beneficiaries.

"In my days as a practicing nurse, I saw many patients whose health
improved when they were happier with their living conditions," said
Tavenner. "When a critically-ill patient can remain in familiar
surroundings, the benefits are many: the person retains greater
control over their daily lives, families and caregivers report greater
satisfaction with the care, and unnecessary hospitalizations are
avoided."

CMS will join with medical practices to test the effectiveness of
delivering primary care services in a home setting on improving care
for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. Medical
practices led by physicians or nurse practitioners will provide
primary care home visits tailored to the needs of beneficiaries with
multiple chronic conditions and functional limitations. Read
More<https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=4231&intNumPerPage=1000&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=0&sr>

Happy Holidays from GSIL!

We wish you all a happy and safe holiday season, and look forward to
continue working with you in the New Year.
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