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Join the Campaign for MiCASSA

As many of your know, on November 16, 1999 U.S. Senators Harkin and Specter introduced S. 1935, The Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act , (MiCASSA).  

On May 3, 2000 Senators Harkin and Specter held a press conference in Washington DC which was connected to advocacy rallys in over 50 cities, an effort  to build momentum for the passage of MiCASSA.  Between 3-5,000 people were listening as both Senators showed their enthusiastic support for MiCASSA and a commitment to make REAL change happen.  

MiCASSA will:

1. Give people a real choice so that Medicaid dollars that are currently spent on institutions and nursing homes can be used for home and community services and supports.

2. Provide a variety of community services and supports including:

• bathing and personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, lifting and transferring, feeding, bowel and bladder care and similar services;

• meal preparation, shopping, cleaning and laundry;  

• assistance with money management, use of medications, and other daily living services;

• services to assist consumers with mobility and transportation;

• transition costs from the institution to the community (like utility and rent deposits, household supplies); and

• assistance with health related tasks as delegated or assigned by a nurse.

3. Ensure consumer control and direction regarding how, when, and where services are received.  Requires the consumer and / or representative to agree with the needs assessment and plan of service.

4. Enable people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes and other community settings of their choice instead of being forced to reside in nursing homes or other institutions.

5. Establishes grants and planning entities to help states move away from the current institutional boas in long term care.

We are lucky in Kansas as we already have a system in place that is working, and is a model for MiCASSA, the SRS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waivers.  But not every state has the services that are available in Kansas.  A nursing home is the only option in many states.  That is why we have to work for passage of MiCASSA, so everyone will have the choice to live independently in the community of choice instead of being forced to live in a nursing home or other institution.

What you can do now for MiCASSA:  

1.  Contact Senators Brownback and Roberts and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1935, MiCASSA.

Senator Sam Brownback
303 Hart Senate Office Bldg  
Washington, DC  20510
Phone:  (202) 224-6521
Fax:  (202) 228-1265
sam_brownback@brownback.senate.gov 
Overland Park office: (913) 492-6378           

Senator Pat Roberts  
302 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC  20510  
Phone:  (202) 224-4774
Fax:  (202) 224-3514  
pat_roberts@roberts.senate.gov
Prairie Village office: (913) 648-3103  

2.  Please call, write, fax or e-mail Senators Harkin and Specter and ask them to schedule hearings in the Senate Appropriations Committee on MiCASSA on:  

     Wednesday, June 21st.   

The Honorable Tom Harkin  D- Iowa  
SH-731 Hart Office Building  
Washington, DC  20510-1502  
202/224-3254  
fax - 202/224-9369  
tom_harkin@harkin.senate.gov

*****************************************************

The Honorable Arlen Specter, Chairperson  R- Pennsylvania  
Senate Appropriations Committee  
SH-711 Hart Office Building  
Washington, DC  2051-3802  
202/224-4254  
fax - 202/228-1229  
senator_specter@specter.senate.gov

Over 500 disability activists will be in Washington, DC the week of July 18^th and will be able to attend a hearing on June 21^st to show support for MiCASSA and long term care reform.  For further information on the activities in DC, call 512-442-0252 or the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, 785-233-4572.  

Your support will keep the MiCASSA momentum going into the Fall.  The whole country needs this law to create a real choice and option for home and community based attendant services and supports.  Contact the Access Task Force to join the local grassroots effort for MiCASSA, 841-0333; or 888-824-7277.