Vote again by 1/15 to fully fund Medicaid waivers!

Final round voting runs from January 5 - January 15.

Fully Fund Medicaid Waivers for the Developmentally Disabled ***ALERT: Make sure your VOTE counts. Click on the number to the left with "Vote" under it – it will change to “Voted”. Registering on this site and posting a comment is not a vote!***

National Priority for the Economic Stimulus Package: Fully Fund Medicaid

Funding health care and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, disabilities and the elderly creates jobs, careers, business opportunities while filling a critical need.

I propose that the federal government:
1. Fully fund the Medicaid Waiver Program as part of the next Economic Stimulus Package.
2. Consider this as an increased federal match so that states are not put into an impossible situation.
3. Create portability of services across states and counties as is allowed with Medicare and Social Security.

Facts:
*Across America, an estimated 300,000 people cannot obtain essential support to live and work in the community because of lack of funding.

*Institutional care costs $88-$225,000 per person per year depending on the level of care. Community-based care costs $20-$75,000 per year (varies by state and level of care).

* Waivers are not portable. Families cannot move out of state or even out of their current county in some places for military duty, to accept jobs, or to live closer to family because they must go to the bottom of decades-long waiting lists at their new location.

Benefits of this proposal:
1). Job creation in the form of service providers. $12-$15B per year would create an estimated 244,000 jobs.
2). Community living costs less than institutionalization.
3). Parents and affected individuals can return to their careers, earn income, pay taxes and obtain health insurance.
4). Some families will come off public assistance which reduces overall tax burden.
5). Families will be able to move to accept new jobs or military assignments.
6). Improved health of affected people and caregivers.
7). Reduced financial burden on aging parents.

Stay involved in this issue: Email noewait@noewait.net

On January 16, Change.org and the Case Foundation are co-hosting an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to announce the top 10 rated ideas and then launch a national campaign behind each idea and mobilize the collective energy of the millions of members of Change.org, MySpace, and partner organizations to ensure that each winning idea gets the full consideration of the Obama Administration and Members of Congress.