Fwd: FCC: Work Incentive Medicaid Coverage Initiative

[Guest guest]

It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

Family Care Council Communication:

For your information and sharing.

Bob Wessels

Employment Coordinator, Community Outreach, FCC Liaison

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

201 West Broward Blvd., Suite 305

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Tel: - Fax:

Email: _Wessels@...

www.apdcares.org

You have received this message because at one time you requested

information from the Family Care Council, Area 10. If you received this

message in error or wish to be removed from our distribution list simply

list click here or reply to this email with the word “REMOVE†in the

subject line

The primary mission of the Agency is to support persons with developmental

disabilities in living, learning and working in all aspects of community

life.

----- Forwarded by Wessels/APD/DCF on 09/03/2008 09:23 AM -----

Hanisch/APD/DCF

09/02/2008 02:12

PM

Subject

Work Incentive Medicaid Coverage

Initiative

Hello All!

This email serves to inform you about the Work Incentive Medicaid Coverage

(WIMC) Initiative. WIMC allows working individuals with disabilities to

retain their health care coverage by 'buying in' to the state Medicaid

system. Florida is one of only 11 states that does not include this option

in their state Medicaid Plan.

At the bottom of this email there is a website to inform you on what you

can do to have Florida become a WIMC state.

Please pass this on to others you feel may be interested.

Thanks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Information is Clear. People With Disabilities Want To Work.

Take action and make a difference! Maintaining access to Medicaid is a

matter of life and death for some individuals; for others, it is the only

way to ensure they are healthy enough to work.

Situation

Current Florida policies discourage persons with disabilities from going

back to work. Federal legislation under the Ticket to Work and Work

Incentives Act (TWWIA) gives individual states the option to create new

income and asset limits that will allow working individuals with a

disability to retain their health coverage when they return to work by

“buying in†to the state Medicaid program. A buy in option allows someone

with a disability to work competitively, increase their wage and keep the

Medicaid assistance required to afford adequate medical care.

Florida is one of only 11 states not to include this option in their state

Medicaid plan. As a result, individuals with disabilities face a choice

between working for a competitive income and keeping the Medicaid services

needed to support their healthcare costs.

Solution

The Partnership for Work & Healthcare was launched to raise awareness of

the importance of providing Medicaid healthcare access to individuals with

disabilities who wish to earn a competitive income. The Partnership for

Work & Healthcare is an alliance comprised of more than 30 organizations

statewide. The Partnership’s focus is to support legislation authorizing a

Work Incentive Medicaid Coverage Initiative.

In order to allow persons with disabilities to join Florida’s workforce

while still maintaining access to the medical care they require, the

Partnership is requesting that Florida include a Medicaid “buy in†option

as allowed by the TWWIA. States that participate in the TWWIA buy- in

option can allow an individual with a disability to “buy in†to the state

Medicaid program by paying a premium that is determined by the state (but

cannot exceed 7.5 percent of the participant’s income).

To find out more, use the link below

http://www.partnershipforwork.com/index.php?/get-involved/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

J. Hanisch, MS

Employment Coordinator

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

3631 Hodges Blvd. Building B

ville, FL. 32224

Fax 992-2442

nancy_hanisch@...

www.apd.myflorida.com

Knowledge is the only fountain, both of the love and the principles of

human liberty - Webster

NOTICE: Florida has a broad public records law. Most written

communications to or from state officials are public records that will be

disclosed to the public and the media upon request. E-mail communications

may be subject to public disclosure.