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Plan to Join Us!! VOR 2006 Annual Meeting and Washington Initiative. See - 
http://vor.net/AnnualMeeting2006.html for complete details, including a
registration form.
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VOR is the only national organization advocating for a full range of
residential and support options for people with mental retardation,
including Medicaid-certified Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally
Retarded (ICFs/MR) and home and community-based care. VOR
supports choice. 
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VOR Weekly E-Mail Update
February 17, 2006
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Table of Contents

1. VOR Press Release: Organization for People with Mental Retardation Ramps
Up Washington Activities, Opens New Office

2. Update on Federal Budget - provisions impacting people with disabilities

3. Plan to join us in Washington, D.C.! A registration form is offered
here, or use the form to make a contribution to VOR. Thank you!

NEXT UPDATE: Due to VOR travel, there will be no update February 24, 2006.
I will also be away from e-mail during this time. 
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1. VOR Press Release: Organization for People with Mental Retardation Ramps
Up Washington Activities, Opens New Office
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Summary: THANKS to all who donated in response to the request for financial
support sent last week. In that request, I mentioned that news about an
exciting new step for VOR would be forthcoming. The press release,
announcing a new VOR office, follows. Your contributions to support this
and VOR's many other efforts are always needed and appreciated. If you
would like to contribute to VOR, simply use the form at the end of this
weekly newsletter, or visit http://www.vor.net. Thank you!

For Immediate Release
February 10, 2006

Organization for People with Mental Retardation 
Ramps Up Washington Activities, Opens New Office

VOR, a leading organization representing people with mental retardation,
today announced it is opening a Washington, DC office and retained Larry
Innis of Innis Associates to assist the organization with its legislative
activities.

VOR national president Mary McTernan said, "We are pleased to retain the
services of a very experienced and respected lobbyist who can help our
members better navigate the halls of Congress and be even more effective in
representing our constituents who often can't speak for themselves."

McTernan explained that a Washington-based office is the next step in the
growth of VOR. For more than a decade, the group has hosted annual
"Washington Initiatives," at which members volunteer their time visiting
their Congressional delegation. Throughout the year, VOR leaders meet with
Senators and Representatives and their staffs, or deliver testimony to 
policymaking audiences.

"Nothing beats having someone on the scene every day to track legislative
developments and build on new and existing relationships," said Louise
Underwood, Chairperson of VOR's Legislative Committee. "Larry's support
will augment the good work VOR is already doing in this area."

The VOR Washington Office will be dedicated to the organization's
government and legislative affairs activities. The VOR headquarters in
Rolling Meadows, Illinois will remain the contact point for all other VOR
work.

"They are doing important work for people with mental retardation and they
enjoy a level of credibility with lawmakers that makes my role a bit
easier, but no less important," said Larry Innis. "I'm excited to be
partnered with VOR.

To contact VOR's Washington, D.C.-area office:

Voice of the Retarded
529 Bay Dale Court
Arnold, Maryland 21012-2312
301-858-1VOR (1867)

# # #

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2. Update on Federal Budget - provisions impacting people with disabilities
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Summary: Below is an excellent summary of the provisions within the Federal
Budget Deficit Reductiont Act of 2005 (the budget reconciliation bill) that
impact people with disabilities. VOR comments on certain provisions of the
bill are embedded below. 

Source: American Association for Persons with Disabilities (AAPD),
February, 2006
 
EXCERPTS

THE LONG WAIT FOR THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
Reverse Robin Hood Bill Passes in House by Two Votes
Bill Cuts Programs for Those Most in Need  
Family Opportunity Act and Money Follows the Person Survive

Advocates from across the nation came together to join forces in fighting
against cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF), student loans, and other reductions that target people who are
poor, disabled or elderly, and those trying to get an education. Those
coalitions and organizations and grassroots members who sought to educate
legislators about the repercussions of these deficit reduction measures
worked tirelessly and fought a good fight to lose by only three votes in
all of Congress. The Senate voted on the bill before leaving for the
December recess and came up with a 50-50 tie, which Vice-President Richard
Cheney broke with his vote for approval of the conference report with a few
minor changes that sent it back to the House for a final vote. The final
vote was along party lines with 13 Republicans joining all the Democrats to
oppose the legislation -- but the final vote was 216 to 214 for approval.
One could say that this bill became law as a result of three votes in
Congress. 

The Money Follows the Person Demonstration Act was funded and the Family
Opportunity Act was included in the legislation. 

[VOR COMMENT: VOR opposed Money Follows the Person. VOR supported the
Family Opportunity Act]. 

Money Follows the Person allows for states to receive grants to increase
the use of home and community-based services for individuals with
disabilities, rather than institutional long-term care services. 

The Family Opportunity Act expands Medicaid options for states by allowing
them to offer Medicaid coverage to children with significant disabilities
living in middle income families through a Medicaid buy-in program, a
demonstration program for providing alternatives to psychiatric residential
treatment for children, restoration of immediate Medicaid coverage for
children found eligible for Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) under the
definition of presumptive eligibility and funding for Family to Family
Health Information Centers.

Here Is How It Breaks Out:

* Higher co-payments and premiums that can lead to necessary  services
being denied and effectively punishing people with disabilities who have
extensive health and long-term service needs. This includes no limits
whatsoever on premiums and co-payments that most individuals below the
poverty level can be charged.

[VOR COMMENT: VOR opposed Medicaid cuts (the law calls for $39 billion in
cuts to domestic programs, including Medicaid). VOR opposed the assessment
of premiums and co-pays in any setting. Residents in institutional settings
are exempt from paying premiums or co-pays].

* Reduced benefits. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that
1.6 million people would see their benefits reduced in 2015 alone. Most of
the reductions in benefits would be for services like dental care, vision,
mental health and certain therapies.

[VOR COMMENT: A great many people are expected to drop from the Medicaid
program because they can't afford the premiums and copays, according to
CBO].  

* A bifurcated health system for children under age 19 that wraps EPSDT
services (early & period screening, diagnosis & treatment) around benchmark
plans and raises serious access and quality assurance issues.

* Exacerbation of the institutional bias through its application of
premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries, because people with disabilities living
in the community can be charged substantial premiums while those in
situations are exempt.

[VOR COMMENT: As noted above, VOR opposed the assessment of premiums and
co-pays in any setting. We challenge the MYTH that there is an
institutional bias in Medicaid services for people with mental retardation
and developmental disabilities].

* Changes to asset transfer rules for people who need nursing home care.

* Citizenship documentation requirements for those applying for Medicaid.

* Enacting changes to home and community-based services that promote HCBS
services, but gives states the option of putting a capped program within a
Medicaid State Plan (to advocates this appears to codify "waiting lists").

[VOR COMMENT: VOR opposed this provision, unless amended to include much
stronger quality assurance provisions. This new home and community-based
services program is perhaps the most significant reform to the Medicaid
program since the HCBS waiver. VOR will include a full analysis of this
provision in our upcoming issue of The Voice]. 

* Providing states the option of implementing Cash and Counseling Programs,
but only to those who live in their own or in their family's homes  not
with roommates or in group homes.

[VOR COMMENT: VOR opposed this provision, unless amended to allow for COLA
adjustments and maintenance of effort provisions]. 

* Delaying certain Supplemental Security Income payments for up to a year
for many low income individuals with disabilities who are found eligible
for SSI.

* Cutting foster care funding, making it more difficult for states to
provide federally-funded foster care payments to certain relatives who are
raising children because the children's parents are unable or unfit to do
so.

* TANF reauthorization that toughens work participation rates, subjects
state maintenance of effort dollars to federal TANF work requirements, and
develops a standardized set of approved work activities without ensuring
states have the flexibility to meet the needs of families that include a 
person with a disability.

* A reduction in American Indian/Alaskan Native health services.

* And last but not least, almost one-third of the spending cuts are to
student loans. The bill imposes higher fees on students, increases the
interest rate on parent loans, eliminates all mandatory spending to
administer the country's higher education programs, and cuts some subsidies
to lenders.

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3. Plan to join us in Washington, D.C.! A registration form is offered
here, or use the form to make a contribution to VOR. Thank you!
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REGISTRATION FORM (see also: http://vor.net/RegForm2006.html)

___I want to personally tell Congress how important Medicaid is for people
with mental retardation. I'll be there!

___ I'm sorry, but I am unable to join you in Washington, D.C., but I would
like to support VOR's efforts. I'll use this form to make a contribution. 

Send form to Voice of the Retarded 5005 Newport Dr. #108, Rolling Meadows,
IL 60008  
Fax: 847-253-6054  vor@compuserve.com   *   Phone: 847-253-6020  *  A
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization 

Name(s) __________________________________________                         
Address __________________________________________
City, State, Zip ____________________________________
Home Phone ______________________________________
Work Phone_______________________________________
Email ____________________________________________
Family/professional org/company (if applicable)
__________________________________________________

Charge card: __ MC __ Visa    Expiration Date _______
Credit card number __________________________________
Signature __________________________________________                       

Mark all that apply:
___$50 per person for member registration at the Annual Meeting on
Saturday, June 11 if paid by May 31, 2006    <2006 WASH-REG>

___$60 per person for member registration after 5/31       <2006 WASH-REG>

___$75 per person for non-member registration at the Annual Meeting on
Saturday, June 11 includes one-year membership if paid by May 31, 2006.    
  <2006 WASH-REG>
___$85 per person for non-member registration after 5/31.  Membership
included.
<2006 WASH-REG>
        
 ___A donation of     $_________is enclosed.    <2006 WASH-DONA>
___ I/We will attend the Washington Initiative only

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THANK YOU FOR PLANNING TO JOIN US.
Contact Tamie Hopp at vor@compuserve.com or 605-399-1624 for any questions.

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