TAKE ACTION NOW to assure that ALL people with disabilities can live in freedom! The Disability Integration Act

We received the following update on the The Disability Integration Act from our colleagues at ADAPT:

BACKGROUND

It’s a travesty that we can address! A quarter century after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, people with disabilities – including young people – are still trapped in nursing facilities and other institutions. To address this injustice, Senator Schumer (NY) has introduced the Disability Integration Act (S.2427). This legislation will require states and insurance providers that pay for Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) to provide community-based services first and offer HCBS to people currently in institutions. This legislation has broad-based support in the disability community from over 300 organizations across the country.

The proposed legislation says:

"No public entity or LTSS insurance provider shall deny an individual with an LTSS disability who is eligible for institutional placement, or otherwise discriminate against that individual in the provision of, community-based long-term services and supports that enable the individual to live in the community and lead an independent life."

The legislation would also make it illegal for a state and insurance providers that pay for LTSS to fail to provide HCBS by using waiting lists, screening people out, capping services, paying workers too little for services, or the other excuses which states have used to keep people from living in freedom.

You can learn more about the legislation here:

www.adapt.org/main.diamain

www.disabilityintegrationact.org

The full supporter list is available at:

http://www.disabilityintegrationact.org/dia-supporter-list

 TAKE ACTION NOW!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE NOW!

Find Your Representative CLICK HERE

Please Tell them:

 “Coordination for introduction of a House companion bill to Senator Schumer's Disability Integration Act (S.2427) is happening now.  As a member of the Judiciary Committee who has previously cosponsored legislation to address Medicaid's institutional bias, your continued support on this issue will be vital to moving this legislation forward. Please contact Schumer's office so the Representative can be an initial cosponsor of this critical legislation”

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For more on The Disability Integration Act, visit ADAPT at:  http://www.adapt.org/main.diamain