ALERT! NEW PCA RATES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE MOST SEVERE!

[Guest guest]

Forwarding for your information and immediate action:- Read the Action Alert below and Click on link to send your own letter http://www.ffddnews.com/articles0b.php?art_id=2008061609225912

ALERT! NEW PCA RATES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE MOST SEVERE

Effective July 1, 2008, Personal Care Assistant Rates will be Cut 24.5% for the Most Severe People with Disabilities While Services for Others are Cut ONLY 7.5%

Florida’s Governor and legislature reduced the hourly rate for the Home and Community Based Medicaid Services (HCBS) Waiver Personal Care Assistants (PCA) by 24.5%. Hourly rates for other Medicaid Waiver services were only reduced 7.5%.

COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES!

Medicaid State Plan Services vs HCBS Waiver Services

The 2008 proviso bill language for PCA rates is based on a study that was intended ONLY for people with DD, ages 21 and below, whom use Medicaid State Plan PCA.. This rate was validated by evidence based study. This study did not include any information about HCBS waiver PCA rates and does not in any way justify an HCBS PCA rate reduction

Placing People at Risk of Costly Institutionalization!

People with the most severe developmental disabilities have PCA’s care for them at home so they can continue to live in the community instead of being force to live in a state institutions or group home which are both more costly. A 24.5% cut to Personal Care Assistant (PCA) providers who serve individuals with intense level of need is irresponsible, unconscionable, unfair and places the health and safety of our most vulnerable population in grave danger and at high risk of more costly institutionalization State institutions have different daily rates for people who have standard, moderate, and intensive(severe) personal care needs. The rate cut is eliminating the differential regardless of severity.

Inadequate compensation!

APD’s NEW $15.00 rate will be paid to private home health agencies which contract with APD to provide Medicaid waiver services. These private agencies pay the PCA – ONLY $9.70 per hour – on average. After PCA’s 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare and a minimum of 10% income tax – they get only $7.37 per hour take home pay.

This is inadequate compensation for the hard work of caring for an individual with intensive needs – especially when considering the current $4.00 per gallon for gas that the PCA provider must pay in order to drive to the consumer’s home.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TODAY!

Monday, June 16, 2008 at 1:00 p .m. – 3:00 p.m.

Agency for Health Care Administration, Tallahassee

If you receive PCA services and this cut will hurt you, please make sure you share your concerns-TODAY!

CLICK ON THIS LINK http://www.ffddnews.com/articles0b.php?art_id=2008061609225912

TO SEND A LETTER TO THE DECISION MAKERS

Write a brief opening paragraph about who you are and why a PCA rate curt will hurt.

Please don’t discriminate, reduce PCA 7.5% NOT 24.5%!

The 2008 proviso bill language for PCA rates is based on a study that was intended ONLY for people with DD, ages 21 and below, who use Medicaid State Plan PCA.. This rate was validated by evidence based study. This study did not include any information about HCBS waiver PCA rates and does not in any way justify an HCBS PCA rate reduction

People with the most severe developmental disabilities have PCA’s care for them at home so they can continue to live in the community instead of being force to live in a state institutions or group home which are both more costly.

A 24.5% cut to Personal Care Assistant (PCA) providers who serve individuals with intense level of need is irresponsible, unconscionable, unfair and places the health and safety of our most vulnerable population in grave danger and at high risk of more costly institutionalization.

Group home services are only being cut 7.5%. Please don’t discriminate against people with PCA who live at home. Thank you.

Date: June 16, 2008

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[Guest guest]

Advocates,

Please click this 'take action' link and write the decision makers to reconsider these additional and unsustainable cuts.

Here is a sample of a letter I wrote today:

Reckless cuts in rates for those who cannot care for themselves, without understanding the negative impact and irreparable harm it will cause is irresponsible and thoughtless! Loved ones will be forced into state care and families will be destroyed!

It is the responsibility of government to care for those citizens who, through no fault of their own, cannot care for themselves. Instead of one person needing care, entire families will be broken and will need assistance. Realize that these are not social services being furnished to able-bodied or healthy citizens. These needs are not self inflicted, or caused by drugs or alcohol, these are HUMAN services required by helpless individuals who were born this way, and their lives and safety are at risk without them.It is our social and moral obligation as human beings to help those who cannot help themselves, whatever the cost. As government leaders you must find these funds, it is your job to do so.

Respectfully,

Goldstein

From: mamanila@...Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:23:44 -0400Subject: ALERT! NEW PCA RATES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE MOST SEVERE!

Forwarding for your information and immediate action:- Read the Action Alert below and Click on link to send your own letter http://www.ffddnews.com/articles0b.php?art_id=2008061609225912

ALERT! NEW PCA RATES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE MOST SEVERE

Effective July 1, 2008, Personal Care Assistant Rates will be Cut 24.5% for the Most Severe People with Disabilities While Services for Others are Cut ONLY 7.5%

Florida’s Governor and legislature reduced the hourly rate for the Home and Community Based Medicaid Services (HCBS) Waiver Personal Care Assistants (PCA) by 24.5%. Hourly rates for other Medicaid Waiver services were only reduced 7.5%.

COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES!

Medicaid State Plan Services vs HCBS Waiver Services

The 2008 proviso bill language for PCA rates is based on a study that was intended ONLY for people with DD, ages 21 and below, whom use Medicaid State Plan PCA.. This rate was validated by evidence based study. This study did not include any information about HCBS waiver PCA rates and does not in any way justify an HCBS PCA rate reduction

Placing People at Risk of Costly Institutionalization!

People with the most severe developmental disabilities have PCA’s care for them at home so they can continue to live in the community instead of being force to live in a state institutions or group home which are both more costly. A 24.5% cut to Personal Care Assistant (PCA) providers who serve individuals with intense level of need is irresponsible, unconscionable, unfair and places the health and safety of our most vulnerable population in grave danger and at high risk of more costly institutionalization State institutions have different daily rates for people who have standard, moderate, and intensive(severe) personal care needs. The rate cut is eliminating the differential regardless of severity.

Inadequate compensation!

APD’s NEW $15.00 rate will be paid to private home health agencies which contract with APD to provide Medicaid waiver services. These private agencies pay the PCA – ONLY $9.70 per hour – on average. After PCA’s 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare and a minimum of 10% income tax – they get only $7.37 per hour take home pay.

This is inadequate compensation for the hard work of caring for an individual with intensive needs – especially when considering the current $4.00 per gallon for gas that the PCA provider must pay in order to drive to the consumer’s home.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TODAY!

Monday, June 16, 2008 at 1:00 p .m. – 3:00 p.m.

Agency for Health Care Administration, Tallahassee

If you receive PCA services and this cut will hurt you, please make sure you share your concerns-TODAY!

CLICK ON THIS LINK http://www.ffddnews.com/articles0b.php?art_id=2008061609225912

TO SEND A LETTER TO THE DECISION MAKERS

Write a brief opening paragraph about who you are and why a PCA rate curt will hurt.

Please don’t discriminate, reduce PCA 7.5% NOT 24.5%!

The 2008 proviso bill language for PCA rates is based on a study that was intended ONLY for people with DD, ages 21 and below, who use Medicaid State Plan PCA.. This rate was validated by evidence based study. This study did not include any information about HCBS waiver PCA rates and does not in any way justify an HCBS PCA rate reduction

People with the most severe developmental disabilities have PCA’s care for them at home so they can continue to live in the community instead of being force to live in a state institutions or group home which are both more costly.

A 24.5% cut to Personal Care Assistant (PCA) providers who serve individuals with intense level of need is irresponsible, unconscionable, unfair and places the health and safety of our most vulnerable population in grave danger and at high risk of more costly institutionalization.

Group home services are only being cut 7.5%. Please don’t discriminate against people with PCA who live at home. Thank you.

Date: June 16, 2008

Now you can invite friends from Facebook and other groups to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Add them now!