FY 2008 Budget and Future Solvency:

Embrace, Strengthen and Preserve Medicaid and Social Security

for People with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

Introduction

VOR represents people with mental retardation and their families. We wish to express gratitude to the 110^th Congress for its initial commitment to adequately fund Medicaid, Social Security, and discretionary programs that are so vital to people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD).

Medicaid

VOR strongly supports Congressional proposals to adequately fund Medicaid. The original intent of Medicaid was to provide for the poorest and most disabled citizens with chronic, complex health conditions. Many people with severe and profound mental retardation meet all of these criteria. Any Medicaid budget increase will at least cover cost of living increases going forward and may offset the harmful cuts experienced in recent years.

For people with severe and profound MR/DD, the most basic, life-sustaining health care services such as clinic services, dental care, physical therapy, prosthetic devices, medical, home and community-based services, personal attendant care, case management and Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICFs/MR) are provided via the Medicaid program at the option of each state. State funding for these services, which is combined with federal matching funds ranging from 50-74%, is directly tied to federal budget support.

Social Security

VOR supports the Disability Policy Collaboration’s (DPC) position supporting efforts to ensure the solvency of the Social Security Trust Funds over a 75-year time frame while preserving the program’s basic structure and strengthening its insurance functions. Like the DPC, we also do not support efforts to create private accounts out of Social Security Trust Funds since the impact of the resulting benefit cuts or additional trillions of dollars in deficits would be devastating for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities (DPC, January 2007). VOR also requests that Congress require a beneficiary impact statement on all Social Security proposals in order to understand the actual impact of changes on people’s daily lives.

Conclusion

Most people with severe and profound mental retardation were born with their disabilities. Many of these individuals also experience physical disabilities, complex medical conditions and/or severe behavioral challenges. They need assistance in every aspect of care, including walking, talking, bathing, toileting, dressing, transportation, recreation, and therapies; some people need total care. Any reductions in the benefits they receive could seriously harm their care and may cost lives.

Remember that Americans who can’t help themselves because of no fault of their own are dependent upon the goodwill of the Congress. Thank you for your compassionate vote.

VOR * 836 S. Arlington Heights Rd., #351 * Elk Grove Village, Illinois * 60007

877-399-4VOR ph. * 847-253-0675 fax * tamie327@hotmail.com