To: NCIL MEMBERSHIP

From: Linda Anthony, Chair

NCIL PAS Subcommittee

Re: House MiCASSA Bill

Date: February 4, 2002

Below is an ADAPT press release related to the House MiCASSA (H.R. 3612) bill introduced on January 23, 2002 by Representatives Danny Davis (D) (IL) and John Shimkus (R)(IL). Please contact your representatives to ask them to become co-sponsors of H.R. 3612. Also if your Senator is not a co-sponsor of S. 1298, Please contact them as well and ask them to become a co-sponsor. If you have any questions please contact Anne-Marie Hughey, NCIL Executive Director at 703/525-3406 or at hughey@ncil.org.

For a full copy of the bill go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c107:./temp/~c107hNRh0o

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For Immediate Release

January 26, 2002

For Information Contact:

Bob Kafka, 512/431-4085

Marsha Katz, 406/544-9504

Bill to Give Americans Real Choice in Long Term Care Now in House

Washington, D.C.---MiCASSA, the Medicaid Community-based Attendant Services and Supports Act has been called the best thing since sliced bread because its passage would guarantee Americans real choice in long term care for the first time in history. H.R. 3612 was introduced on January 23, 2002 in the U.S. House by Rep. Danny Davis (D) and co-sponsored by Rep. John Shimkus (R), both from Illinois, and is known informally as "MiCASSA" like its Senate counterpart, SB 1298.

"MiCASSA continues the momentum to reform America's outrageous institutionally biased long term care policy," said Bob Kafka, ADAPT National Organizer. "Right now, across the country, states are facing serious budgetary effects from Medicaid growth. In fact, 73% of all Medicaid long term care dollars are spent on nursing homes and other institutions. And, more devastating than the impact on state budgets, is the harm and injustice being done to American families and individual citizens."

With 2002 being an election year, in a post 9/11 environment, most legislation is facing an uphill battle in Congress. By introducing MiCASSA, Rep. Davis takes on that challenge while showing his commitment to American families, people with disabilities of all ages, and easing state budgets. Davis and his Republican House colleague Shimkus were both co-sponsors of H.R. 2020, an earlier version of MiCASSA that fell victim to the 2000 election year. MiCASSA has consistently received bi-partisan support in the House and Senate.

In the U.S. Senate, SB 1298, the Senate version of MiCASSA, is sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D, IA) and Sen. Arlen Specter, (R, PA), who have been joined by initial co-sponsors Sen. Edward Kennedy (D, MA), Sen. Joe Biden (D, DE), and Sen. Hilary Clinton (D, NY).

"We encourage everyone in the disability community, and anyone who is concerned with real choice in long term care to ask their Senators and Representatives to join as co-sponsors on these two bills," said Roxan Perez, ADAPT Wisconsin. "MiCASSA isn't a magic wand, but it offers all Americans real choice in long term care. It will free many Americans from nursing homes and other institutions, prevent others from being forced into those places, and allows families to stay together with the assistance they need."

The formal title of H.R. 3612 is To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. After introduction, it was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.