[Nfbf-l] Fw: [fcb-l] IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

Tue Nov 23 03:27:13 UTC 2010

I am under this program due to my CP. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: annameeks at cfl.rr.com 
To: fcb-l at acb.org ; Jay Bader ; Shelley Justice ; sheila 
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 9:01 PM
Subject: [fcb-l] IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

To anyone on this list who has anyone with multiple disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, blindness ect from birth.  if this program is cut I for one who value my choice in providers and the people who help me morning noon and night I ask you to call your represenitive  and ask him/her to not agree with this bill.
Thank You, 
Anna Meeks
This is a piece of legislation that will go before congress please look up your represenitive 
I wanted to drop a note to tell you about some important upcoming legislation.  The Special Legislative Session begins today.  Medicaid reform is a priority for discussion in this session.  Medwaiver funding currently falls under Medicaid reform and is subject to any legislation about it.  So now is the time to make your voice heard.  So many times we feel stuck in "the system" but it is times like these that "the system" is formed.  Please read through the information below and if you feel like this is a bad thing for you and your families, you must contact your representative as soon as possible.  

There is a proposal and support to move the Medicaid waiver, including CDC and all tiers to a HMO system.  This would be a dramatic change from what is currently being provided.
This proposed change would severely limit your choice of your services, virtually eliminate independent advocacy you now have via your support coordinator, and would reduce
your quality and quantity of services as a result of HMO pressure to increase profits at persons with disabilities expense.  Since fewer providers would be available, thousands of jobs would be eliminated, competition would be reduced which typically effects quality outcomes.  Nearly all families, persons with disabilities and providers agree that the unique needs of the the APD population would not fit into the HMO medical model of care.  H.M.O.s have made influential political contributions as well as made enticing claims  to save the state lots of money in  effort to get this change in their favor.  In reality,  any savings would go towards HMO profits and consequently be  at the detriment to the persons with disabilities. The current tier budget cap limitations,  along with the new individual budgets based on updated QSIs and proposed APD spending limits would be far more effective decision in preserving choice, competition, independence, quality outcomes and advocacy for persons with disabilities.   Ask yourself or anyone you know, what they think of or are they happy with HMOs?

Although there are problems with the current system, CHOICE and provider competition is at the heart of the waiver.  You are empowered to make decisions about who is providing your service.  I work as an advocate for you.  In the HMO system, the coordinator works for the HMO.  Right now your services are approved by an unbiased third party who evaluates the medical necessity of service.  In an HMO, the HMO who receives financial gain from saving services approves and denies what services you have.  

The time to act is now!!  We need to encourage our representatives to push back against this legislation.

Attached is some talking points from Florida United for Choice, it is a grassroots advocacy group that is dedicated to educating and promoting issues and concerns that benefit people with disabilities receiving supports on Florida Medicaid Waiver and CDC program.  Their website is http://www.floridaunitedforchoice.com.  

WRITE AND EMAIL
Here is a link to sample letters that you can put in word format.
http://www.floridaunitedforchoice.com/SampleLetters.htm

Not sure who your state representative is?  
         Once at FL House of Representatives site, just click on top left heading
          "Find your Representative".  Then just enter your complete address 
           with zip code.  This will give you your state representative and senator
           as well as your federal representative and senator. You may want to print
           out this sheet for future reference.  
 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

       You may also click on the Florida Senator site but it is not as easy to navigate or locate your senator. But it does take you to the senate website if you need access to it. 
http://www.flsenate.gov/

If you have any questions, please call or email at any time.  If we work together, I know our voice can be heard!
Thanks
Amanda Johnson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wanted to drop a note to tell you about some important upcoming legislation.  The Special Legislative Session begins today.  Medicaid reform is a priority for discussion in this session.  Medwaiver funding currently falls under Medicaid reform and is subject to any legislation about it.  So now is the time to make your voice heard.  So many times we feel stuck in "the system" but it is times like these that "the system" is formed.  Please read through the information below and if you feel like this is a bad thing for you and your families, you must contact your representative as soon as possible.  

There is a proposal and support to move the Medicaid waiver, including CDC and all tiers to a HMO system.  This would be a dramatic change from what is currently being provided.
This proposed change would severely limit your choice of your services, virtually eliminate independent advocacy you now have via your support coordinator, and would reduce
your quality and quantity of services as a result of HMO pressure to increase profits at persons with disabilities expense.  Since fewer providers would be available, thousands of jobs would be eliminated, competition would be reduced which typically effects quality outcomes.  Nearly all families, persons with disabilities and providers agree that the unique needs of the the APD population would not fit into the HMO medical model of care.  H.M.O.s have made influential political contributions as well as made enticing claims  to save the state lots of money in  effort to get this change in their favor.  In reality,  any savings would go towards HMO profits and consequently be  at the detriment to the persons with disabilities. The current tier budget cap limitations,  along with the new individual budgets based on updated QSIs and proposed APD spending limits would be far more effective decision in preserving choice, competition, independence, quality outcomes and advocacy for persons with disabilities.   Ask yourself or anyone you know, what they think of or are they happy with HMOs?

Although there are problems with the current system, CHOICE and provider competition is at the heart of the waiver.  You are empowered to make decisions about who is providing your service.  I work as an advocate for you.  In the HMO system, the coordinator works for the HMO.  Right now your services are approved by an unbiased third party who evaluates the medical necessity of service.  In an HMO, the HMO who receives financial gain from saving services approves and denies what services you have.  

The time to act is now!!  We need to encourage our representatives to push back against this legislation.

Attached is some talking points from Florida United for Choice, it is a grassroots advocacy group that is dedicated to educating and promoting issues and concerns that benefit people with disabilities receiving supports on Florida Medicaid Waiver and CDC program.  Their website is http://www.floridaunitedforchoice.com.  

WRITE AND EMAIL
Here is a link to sample letters that you can put in word format.
http://www.floridaunitedforchoice.com/SampleLetters.htm

Not sure who your state representative is?  
         Once at FL House of Representatives site, just click on top left heading
          "Find your Representative".  Then just enter your complete address 
           with zip code.  This will give you your state representative and senator
           as well as your federal representative and senator. You may want to print
           out this sheet for future reference.  
 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

       You may also click on the Florida Senator site but it is not as easy to navigate or locate your senator. But it does take you to the senate website if you need access to it. 
http://www.flsenate.gov/

If you have any questions, please call or email at any time.  If we work together, I know our voice can be heard!
Thanks
Amanda Johnson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________
fcb-l mailing list
fcb-l at acb.org
http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/fcb-l