Waiver funding

[Guest guest]

It is these issues, state by state which have made us (mostly parents of

older " children " but open to everyon and anyone, begin the NOEWAIT

campaign. Look at www.noewait

Our issues include: fund the waiting lists, create realistic budgets so

there are NO WAIT lists for services, allow portability between states.

Colorado will have a referendum this year (common in the west almost unheard

of on the east side of the Rockies) to allow 1/10 of 1% to fund wait list -

and that will take care of it!! IT isn't huge amounts of money like funding

a war. But this is a war - war on families and we must change the

dynamics. I urge everyone on this list to at least read the back mail on

NOEWAIT and become acquainted with the fight - because it is a fight that

affects everyone of us.

> The Medicaid Waiver program in Ohio is AWFUL! There was recently an

> article in the Columbus Dispatch:

>

> http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/insight/stories/2008/07/20/INSIGH

> T_WAITING.ART_ART_07-20-08_G1_I1APGMF.html?sid=101

>

> (this is a long URL, so you may have to copy and paste it in your

> browser to get the whole thing in there)

>

> They actually kicked a kid off because they said he was " cured " of

> his Down syndrome! I wish!! The child has DS/Autism. They should be

> part of our group! See portion of the article below:

>

> For nearly his entire life, Vetter has been on a waiting list.

>

> is autistic and has Down syndrome. In nearly six years of

> life, he has moved up to 400th from 3,900th on the state's list of

> those waiting for a Medicaid waiver that would let them tap a

> smorgasbord of autism services.

>

> " They only have so many slots. may be 12 by the time he gets

> the waiver, " said his frustrated mother, Tina Vetter of Clintonville.

>

> is eligible for limited services: some treatment, medications

> and 14 hours per week of in-home assistance. The much-sought waiver

> would include all that plus more in-home and respite care for his

> beleaguered parents, coverage of all medications with no out-of-

> pocket expenses, and full case-management services.

>

> But for now, there's nothing to do but wait and get by.

>

> With his dual disabilities, is more than a handful. He only

> recently learned to speak a few words, is not potty-trained, and is

> prone to lash out angrily at his sister, parents or those around him.

>

> He once turned on the gas in his parents' home. On another occasion,

> he broke through the glass patio door; his parents found him sitting

> outside.

>

> " He's a good kid who didn't ask to be born like this, " Mrs. Vetter

> said.

>

> Medicaid wanted to dismiss from coverage, saying he had

> been " cured. " After a reminder that Down syndrome is never cured,

> was returned to the Medicaid rolls. In the meantime, two

> hospital bills totaling $40,000 arrived at the Vetters' home.

>

> The Vetters recently joined a lawsuit challenging a state change in

> Medicaid regulations. Mrs. Vetter said she prayed many times about

> .

>

> " I'm not sure, God, why you gave him to me, " she recalled

> saying. " But we're going to do the best we can and change the world. "

>

> Ecki

> Mom to Kayla (DS/ASD, 4/5/04) and Laurie (PDD-NOS, 7/12/01)

> http://oppositekids.blogspot.com/

>

>

> >

> > You absolutely qualify for Medicaid waiver - this is a federal

> program for kids with mental retardation, etc.? It takes no financial

> need whatsoever.? We qualify for that but no Social Security or

> anything else.? It's all due to the alliance with the Regional

> Center.? Don't know what its called where you are, but your doctor or

> school system can hook you up with the agency that monitors kids with

> special needs.

> >

> > ('s mom, 9, DS-A)??

> >

>

>

>

--

Sara - Life is a journey- we choose the path.