SCI Network March 2004 Newsletter

Spinal Cord Injury Network

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SCI CONNECTOR March 2004

FEDS ARREST 129 IN CAPITOL HILL TAKEOVER

Demanding hearings on the Medicaid Community-based Attendant Services and Supports Act (MiCASSA; S.971, H.R.2032), and the Money Follows the Person Act (MFPA; S1394), 500 ADAPT activists took over the Senate Finance Committee Hearing Room for over eight hours Tuesday, March 23rd. Ultimately 129 persons were arrested for refusing to leave after negotiations with Senator Chuck Grassley broke down when his staff declined to commit in writing their "promise" to hold hearings.

ADAPT was in D.C. to press Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Democrat Max Baucus (D-MT) to hold hearings on removing the institutional bias in Medicaid, the nation's major funder of long term care services and supports. There are several bills with bi-partisan support now in Congress which would allow disabled and older Americans to choose to receive their long term care in their own homes instead of being forced into nursing homes as is now the case. At least two of the bills (S.1394, Money Follows the Person Act, and S.1971, MiCASSA, the Medicaid Home and Community-based Services and supports Act) remain buried in the Senate Finance Committee.

ADAPT and the 700 other organizations supporting these bills want Grassley and Baucus to hold hearings and move the bills to the Senate floor. Medicaid, a state-federal partnership, mandates states to pay for nursing homes, but not for the same services in one's own home. In 1999, in L.C. and E.W. v.s. Olmstead, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this practice amounts to illegal forced segregation when the person could be adequately served in the community.

In 2000, President George Bush issued both an Executive Order mandating implementation of the Olmstead decision, and his New Freedom Initiative which called for all federal Departments to assess and plan for removal of barriers to people with disabilities accessing all aspects of their communities. “In this election year, it's imperative that Congress and the President get their priorities straight.

There are too many people in this country being denied the freedom we say we are fighting for around the world because those people are forced into nursing homes and other institutions by the Medicaid institutional bias.”, said Bob Kafka, National ADAPT Organizer. “In essence, our failed public policy is stealing away years and lives from people who deserve so much better from their country. Our march to the White House on Sunday will be led by people who have been freed from institutional settings to enjoy typical lives in the community, and we will all be demanding ‘No More Stolen Lives.’" .

SCI AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK STUDY SEEKS PARTICIPANTS

The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC needs persons with spinal cord injuries to participate in a cardiovascular disease risk screening and exercise testing study. In order to participate:

Your spinal cord injury must have occurred at least 1year ago n Your spinal cord injury must be motor complete (no movement below the level of injury)
You have no documented history of cardiovascular disease
Be willing to have blood drawn from a vein in the arm n Perform arm bike (arm crank) exercise test n Maintain a 4-day dietary record

Persons who qualify will participate in 2 visits to National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC on 2 different days All medical testing will be provided for you at no cost. Upon completion of this study, monetary compensation will be provided. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please contact Alison at 202-877-1358 or e-mail alison.m.lichy@medstar.net for enrollment or to get further information. This study is conducted by the National Rehabilitation Hospital Rehabilitation Research and Training Center: Secondary Conditions in the Rehabilitation of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries.

CLASSIFIED

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