Hello everyone, is it HOT enough for ‘ya !!! Here is your August edition of the CDRC Newsletter. The big news for this month:
Community Choice Advisory Group Sub-Committees – In previous newsletters we’ve told you about the state of Maryland’s intent to submit a proposal for a waiver,
or very big change, in the Medicaid program to the federal government. This change has the potential to have very bad effects on persons
with disabilities who rely on Medicaid/Medicare for their health (doctors, medicines, therapy, etc). In
order to write this proposal the state has created several advisory groups to help write the proposal. CDRC was asked by the state to
provide “Consumers”, or people that use Medicaid, to be on these subcommittees. Since that time, CDRC has been boycotting (or not
attending) these meetings because the state has not agreed to pay consumers for their work, or provide us with help the way we want it, on
the advisory group subcommittees. The meetings went on without us while we tried to reach an
agreement with the state.
After a couple of month’s CDRC scheduled a meeting with Secretary McCann to discuss
the issues. (See photo and letter presented to the Secretary on our website in “Photos” and “Information” sections.) The meeting with the Secretary seemed to go well and he said that he would need a couple of days to
get back to us on our demands. Well…, that was two weeks ago and still no response as of July 27th. After the meeting with Secretary
McCann, CDRC decided that we would attend the subcommittee meetings “Under Protest” because we do not want this waiver submitted without
input from persons with disabilities who will be the most effected by the changes in Medicaid being discussed. “Under Protest” means
that we are only sending one person to each meeting and are going on the official meeting minutes as being there “Under Protest”. We wrote a letter explaining our protest and read it at the beginning of each meeting. (You can read
the protest letter on our web site in the “Information” section”). We believe that if CDRC does not give input at these meetings, NO
ONE will represent persons with disabilities and that there would be terrible things done to Medicaid/Medicare. As of August, we are still
negotiating with the state and participating “Under Protest”. If you wish to know more about the Waiver, you can read it on our website,
or call John.
Year 4 – Last
month we told you that CDRC had been offered funding for a fourth year. Since then, we have met with folks from the DD Council to discuss
our fourth year. Members of the Council proposed some changes in the structure (management and decision making process) and other things
regarding how CDRC operates. We don’t feel that these suggestions are bad. And, we don’t believe that they will affect CDRC in a
negative way. Things will just be a little different on the inside. But, you shouldn’t be able to tell otherwise. CDRC will still be the
aggressive, butt-kicking group we have been for nearly three years. Don’t worry about that. Because the Council gave us a really quick
deadline for our year four work plan we will be having meetings and discussions over the next month or two to figure out how year four will
work. So get ready.
Legislator Home Visits – Senator Sandra Schrader visited
CDRC member Lori Powell in her Columbia home on July 8th. Lori along with her aide and CDRC co-leader Little John discussed all the
intricacies involved in helping Lori to live in the community where she has her own greeting card business. Senator Schrader asked
CDRC a lot of questions about community living and said she would look into some of the problems with Personal Care pay and getting people
with disabilities out of Nursing Homes. Thanks! Senator Schrader. Delegate Keith Haynes met with CDRC member Will Fields on July 19th
to discuss important issues such as the current Medicaid waiver proposal and Community Living for persons with disabilities.
2 legislator visits are scheduled for August so far. First to make a home visit is Anne Arundel County Delegate Bob Costa. The Delegate will visit the home of CDRC supporter and former state legislator Lorraine Sheehan and her son John on August 1st. John runs his own very successful recycling business, called “Shredcycle” from his home in Annapolis. John and his mom Lorraine will talk with Delegate Costa about how important it is to have community supports for people with disabilities to be able to stay out of Nursing Homes and Institutions like she did with John despite his autism. Then, on August 2nd, Delegate Gareth Murray will visit the home of CDRC member Ellen Archie. Ellen lives in Montgomery County and was once a Nursing Home resident because of her disability. Ellen has been in her own place for nearly 2 years and works for Independence Now – Center for Independent Living. She will talk with Delegate Murray about how difficult it was for her to reenter the community from the Nursing Home.
Web Site – We’ve got some great new photos in the “PHOTOS” section of our web site, including CDRC members with Secretary Anthony McCann & DDA Director Diane Coughlin as well as some pictures from the Fun Run. Check ‘em out! Kenny will continue to update our web page weekly. He will be updating the site with more stories, photos, activities, and information on a regular basis so visit the site often. www.thecdrc.org.
Meetings – Our next CDRC meeting is scheduled for August 28th:
August 28
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Maryland City at Russett Library
3501 Russett Common