ACTION ALERT

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has just introduced the Community Choice Act of 2007 S.799.  The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), would increase access to community-based services and other supports for Americans with disabilities and older Americans. 

The Community Choice Act of 2007 gives individuals who are eligible for nursing home services or other institutional care equal access to community-based services and supports, like attendant services. The legislation also provides enhanced federal matching funds to help states develop their long-term care infrastructure and grant funds to help states increase their ability to provide home and community-based services.  Finally, this bill creates a demonstration project to evaluate service coordination and cost sharing approaches for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare services.

The Community Choice Act is about individual CHOICE.  It allows an individual to choose to receive their care in the community, rather than in an institutional setting.  There is nothing in the Act, which takes away the right of an individual to receive their services in an institutional setting, if they so choose.

"We have all advocated for the Community Choice Act for many years and we all look forward to the day when no one remains in a nursing home or other institution who wishes to live in their own home.  I believe this important legislation has a real chance in passing through this Congress and will enable people with disabilities to have a choice to remain in their homes, in their communities with quality support services" says NCIL President Kelly Buckland.

Other current co-sponsors on the Community Choice Act are: Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

Now is the time to collect more co-sponsors for the Community Choice Act! If your Senator is not on this list, call them directly or through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 and ask them to sponsor S. 799.

Representative Danny Davis will soon be introducing the Community Choice Act in the House of Representatives. Please remind your Representative about their commitment to consumer choice and independence. Together we can and will make a difference! Thank you for your advocacy efforts!