COVID-19: More help needed for the DD community

Late yesterday the Senate passed and the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

While this legislation is a good start, it leaves out topics specific to people with disabilities, including the crisis in care for adults with disabilities or seniors whose programs have closed or whose workers are sick.

• Read the response from The Arc

• Your perspective and voice are needed. Please see below for how to contact Congress and for sample talking points

While extra emergency care hours are being granted on a case-by-case basis in Washington, individuals and families report that they can’t use them because they can’t find providers.

As with all things Medicaid, a mix of federal and state decisions are in play. On the state front, the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is allowing individual providers to exceed 40 hours of work during the COVID-19 crisis. This is not automatic, though, and individuals must FIRST ask their case managers and confirm approval; if they are denied they need to get a reason and take it up further.

On the federal front, here is what is included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:

• Increase in federal Medicaid match
• Required coverage of testing by all insurers
• Expanded nutrition and food assistance
• Expanded unemployment insurance
• Limited paid sick and family leave

Here is what is still needed:

• Medicaid changes specific to home- and community-based supports (HCBS) to address the workforce shortage crisis. Pay and service flexibility issues must be addressed.

• Economic stimulus PLUS easing of asset limits. If Congress proceeds with direct payments to low income Americans, extremely low-income people with disabilities could be left out. This is because of strict asset limits. Cash intended to aide low-income people could jeopardize their access to SSI and/or Medicaid. They literally would have “too much” money on hand

• Permanent reauthorization of Money Follows the Person so states can continue transitions away from congregate settings

Proposals for a third relief bill are being drafted now in the U.S. Senate. Your perspective and voice are important and disability advocates are encouraging people to contact their US senators.

• Confused by all these benefit terms and initials? See Initials Translated
• See below for sample messaging and talking points

YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND VOICE ARE NEEDED

 

HOW TO CONTACT CONGRESS: Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell represent all Washington. You also have a US representative, determined by where you live. You can find your representative here

King County is represented by U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, Suzan DelBene, and Kim Schrier.

CALL: (202) 224-3121. This is the U.S. Capitol Switchboard. An operator will connect you directly with the Senate or House of Representatives office you request.

EMAIL

• Email Senator Patty Murray
• Email Senator Maria Cantwell
• Email Representative Pramila Jayapal
• Email Representative Adam Smith
• Email Representative Suzan DelBene
• Email Representative Kim Schrier

SAMPLE TALKING POINTS:

It is critical that relief for COVID-19 is includes people with developmental disabilities. We need:

• Additional funding to create a Medicaid grant program to support access to home and community-based services and to support the direct service provider workforce.
• A permanent reauthorization of the Money Follows the Person program
• Economic stimulus PLUS easing of asset limits. If Congress doesn’t raise strict asset restrictions extremely low-income people who rely on SSI and Medicaid could lose their benefits. All low-income Americans need this emergency aide.

----SAMPLE EMAIL/person with disability----------------------

Dear Senator/Representative

Thank you for helping people in Washington during this difficult time.

I am a person with a developmental disability. Legislation passed Wednesday night in response to COVID-19 is a welcome start, but more must be done to resolve issues I face.

It is critical that COVID-19 relief includes me and other people with developmental disabilities. We need:

• A Medicaid grant program to ensure access to home and community-based services that I rely on. There aren’t enough direct service providers; this means I can’t access care.
• Permanent re-authorization of the Money Follows the Person program so Washington can continue transitioning people with disabilities out of institutions.
• Economic stimulus PLUS easing asset limits. Congress may send money to low income people to help them through the crisis. But if you don’t ALSO lift the cap on assets restrictions, then extremely low-income people like me could lose our SSI or Medicaid benefits. All low-income Americans need this emergency support.

Sincerely,

-----SAMPLE EMAIL/parent or family member -----------------------

Dear Senator/Representative

Thank you for helping people in Washington during this difficult time. I am a parent of a person with a developmental disability. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed Wednesday night in response to COVID-19 is a welcome start, but more must be done to resolve issues my family faces.

It is critical that relief for COVID-19 addresses the needs of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families. Here is what we need to get through this crisis:

• A Medicaid grant program to ensure access to home and community-based services that people with DD rely on. There is a workforce crisis; people like my loved one cannot access critical care because there are not enough direct service providers.

• Permanent re-authorization of the Money Follows the Person program so Washington can continue transitions away from congregate settings.

• Economic stimulus PLUS easing of asset limits. The Arc supports an economic stimulus for low income Americans. But if Congress doesn’t ALSO raise strict asset restrictions, then extremely low-income people who rely on SSI and Medicaid could lose critical benefits. All low-income Americans need this emergency assistance.

Sincerely,