NCIL 25th Anniversary Celebration: Annual Conference Update

Click on a Photo to Enlarge and Read Caption. Thank you to all our members for making the conference a success!

Fire and Rain: NCIL March and Rally Achieves Success at the Capitol!

On Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 three hundred advocates packed the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Hearing, overflow room, and hallways in order to witness and present testimony on the need for an end to the institutional bias in long-term care services.  At the same time, four hundred NCIL members, representing every state and territory, marched through the streets of downtown Washington, D.C., demanding equal access and justice for people with disabilities (NOW!).  Protesters marched up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol, chanting, singing, and following marching orders from NCIL ADA/Civil Rights Subcommittee Chair Mark Derry, who brought his bull horn to round up and rally the troops.

At the Rally, Billy Altom, forthcoming Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), brought out his guitar and led the crowd in song. In 108 degree temperatures, numerous past and present Independent Living Movement Leaders spoke to the marchers before Mental Health Parity advocate Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) rallied the crowd. Congressman Hoyer graciously cut short his speech as it began to rain – and thunderstorm! Many overheated marchers savored the rain while others dashed to the US Botanical Garden for cover.  Hundreds of rain-soaked but determined NCIL Conference participants then visited their Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to press for NCIL’s Policy Priorities.  One Congressperson stated that it meant more to him to see us soaked to the bone than to meet with impersonal lobbyists with suits and briefcases.

Hundreds of other members had to miss the march and rally in order to gain access to the HELP Committee Hearing on Long Term Care, entitled “Community Services and Supports: Planning Across the Generations”. NCIL members packed the hearing room.  Many were unable to gain access and were directed to an overflow room. Our overwhelming presence demonstrated our commitment to ending the institutional bias in Medicaid.

Senators Kennedy (D-MA), Enzi (R-WY), and Harkin (D-IA) stayed for the entire hearing. Senator Kennedy’s remarks can be found at: http://help.senate.gov/.  Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) also stayed for a portion of the testimony. The panel consisted of six witnesses.  Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities,spoke on behalf of NCIL, ADAPT, AAPD, and SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered).  Mr. Imparato talked about the Community Choice Act, the CLASS Act, and the general problems in the healthcare system.  Everyone at the hearing spoke of the broken long term care system and the institutional bias within Medicaid.

Setting the Record Straight on the Community Choice Act Cost Estimate

Mitch LaPlante, PhD., from the University of California, San Francisco, and Elizabeth Leef made several visits to persuade Senate Finance Committee members to re-score and hold a hearing on the Community Choice Act.  Dr. LaPlante’s report on ‘Estimating the Expense of a Mandatory Home- and Community-Based Personal Assistance Services Benefit Under Medicaid’ provides scientific evidence that community-based services are affordable. 

Utah advocates met with Senator Orrin Hatch, who stated that Dr. LaPlante’s report was “the best news he had all day” and left the meeting with the report in his hand, stating that he would read it. Senator Hatch committed to having CBO rescore the bill.

Later that day, NCIL learned that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus agreed to hold a hearing on long term care after members visited the Senator’s office.  This hearing will be held Sept. 25, 2007. All advocates should attend. This is the first time the Community Choice Act (formerly known as MiCASSA) will be heard in a Committee Hearing! NCIL members should be proud of this accomplishment. If you are not familiar with this important legislation, please visit www.ncil.org to learn more.  Click “News and Advocacy” then “Healthcare and Ending the Institutional Bias” for a list of Senators and Representatives who have signed onto the Community Choice Act.

If your Senator or Representative is not on the list, call and ask them to sign onto the Community Choice Act. Visit www.senate.gov and www.house.gov to determine your Members of Congress and view contact information.