Columbus discovers ADAPT
COLUMBUS, OH Oct. 30 -- Over 500 members of the national disability rights activist group ADAPT are expected here from October 31st through November 4th for demonstrations and rallies.
ADAPT, which pushes for in-home services for people, targeted Ohio because of what they call "the state's inability to shift spending from institutional care to the community." In 1998, ADAPT named Ohio one of the 10 worst states in the U.S., saying Ohio spends 89% of its Medicaid Long Term Care funding for nursing homes and other institutions, rather than letting people receive services in their homes. The Health Care Financing Administration reported last year that Ohio spent $2.5 billion in nursing homes and other institutions, eight times the amount it spent for home and community services.
A bill in the Ohio General Assembly (HB 215) would allow Ohio residents to use Medicaid dollars to purchase home and community based personal assistant services "and not be forced to go to a nursing home to receive the support they need," says ADAPT. The bill is in committee.
Ohio ADAPT activists say they have sought a meeting with Ohio Gov. Bob Taft in the wake of last June's Supreme Court decision (Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W.) requiring states to provide services to people in "the most integrated setting" -- but that the governor has repeatedly refused to meet with them.
"Our biggest barrier is the Taft Administration," says activist Shona Eakin. "We want them to develop a comprehensive plan to get people out and keep people out of nursing homes and other institutions." The group says it has also been stonewalled by the state Medicaid Director.
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