Medicaid Disability Activists At White House Gates As President Presents Debt Plan
(ADAPT)
September 19, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC– [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] As the President unveiled his debt plan this morning, hundreds of activists with disabilities stormed the White House to demand a voice in the structuring of Medicaid reform. ADAPT, the national disability rights directaction group, is asking the administration to work with them to ensure that Medicaid dollars are invested in cost-saving community supports.
"The President says that he expects all Americans to share the burden of controlling the budget, but Medicaid recipients are already shouldering the burden for balancing budgets at the state level," said Randy Alexander of Memphis ADAPT. "States have already made significant cuts to Medicaid. How many more people with disabilities and seniors must lose our basic freedoms and lives in order to have done our share?"
Bruce Darling, an ADAPT organizer from Rochester, New York, pointed out that states have already reduced or eliminated vital home care services and forced seniors and people with disabilities into nursing facilities against their will. "People are already experiencing reduced or eliminated access to basic health care, including medications. Jobs have already been eliminated for home care and direct care workers."
ADAPT recognizes the need for new tax revenue and supports the President's proposed so-called "millionaire's tax." Unlike Congressional Republicans who believe the burden of deficit reduction should only come from spending cuts to critical programs like Medicaid, the President has called for $1.5 trillion in new tax revenue.
ADAPT has reached out to the White House and Congress to offer proposals on how we can contain Medicaid spending that wouldn't negatively impact on Medicaid beneficiaries.
Entire press release:
Medicaid Disability Activists at White House Gates as President Presents Debt Plan
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=7409;&sort=D
Related:
Hundreds of Disability Medicaid Activists Storm Offices of House Republicans Hensarling and Camp
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=7410;&sort=D
Open Letter About Medicaid to President Obama from ADAPT
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=7408;&sort=D
ADAPT Urges Super Committee Not to Gut Medicaid
http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=7406;&sort=D
My Medicaid Matters!
http://www.adapt.org/freeourpeople/mmm/
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