Like all other supporters of health care reform I was more than just pleased when the PPACA was upheld. There is a lot of talk about the impact of this law on business growth, and this talk is important. In France companies stay small so that they will not have to abide by that nations many regulations, the thought is that companies in the U.S will do the same.
That is a concern that should not be ignored, but the intended consequences of this landmark legislation should not be lost among fears of what companies will or will not do.
Children are allowed to remain on their parents insurance.
Children with pre existing conditions cannot be denied insurance. Adults will no longer be denied in 1214.
Medicaid expansion will bring back lost coverage for millions. The caveat to that is this: states are allowed to refuse to participate in expanded Medicaid. This seems bad, but in states like Utah that are going to refuse this program, they will not lose Medicaid funding for not doing so. The way the law was originally written states who refused expanded Medicaid would have lost federal funding. Utah had already made it clear that they were willing to steal insurance from thousands of citizens rather than participate in the PPACA. So now if Utah still refuses at least people will not lose any insurance, for now. There are groups fiercely fighting to make sure that Utah accepts these expanded funds.
The Supreme Court decision is not the end. Orin Hatch is still fighting a provision that would allow disabled people who need assistance with daily tasks to stay at home using Hospice care instead of living in expensive nursing homes.
The decision of the high court does make provisions inn the Health Care law legitimate, so opponents like Hatch will have a harder time fighting against it. That is, if people write him and express their feelings.
This is not the end, but it is a bright spot in a dark year.
Showing posts with label Health care. Disability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health care. Disability. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Saturday, August 7, 2010
21 year old with CP forced to live in nursing home.
On nightly news with Brian Williams he had a story about a young woman forced to live with the elderly in a nursing home.
Haily, a 21 year old born with cerebral palsy did not have family to take care of her. So she was put into a nursing home, because the state of Georgia had cut funding that would have allowed her to live in a group home. Haily has no other disability, she is smart and could with help live a full life. When the economy goes bad it is often those who did not cause the problem who go without.
Thirty years ago Haily's story would not be noteworthy at all, back then horrid hospital like institutions were the norm. Adults and children were neglected and abused while the state paid the doctors and nursing staff twice as much as they would have had to pay to leave these people in their own homes.
The problem is corruption within the Medicaid system. States will often deny benefits for children and adults who want to live at home. They do this because they can charge Medicaid twice as much to live in a nursing home because they are paying for a full time doctor. Most people with disabilities do not require a full time doctor, they are night dying. In Haily's case her story made the paper and she was taken in by a family who may have to pay for all of her expenses on their own. The state of Georgia is threatening to take away the only insurance she can qualify for. There is a group called ADAPT fighting for legislation that would let Medicaid funds follow the person. This would mean that families and individuals could chose for themselves where they want to live.
If the Tea Party and the Republicans repeal health care stories like Haily's will become more common. With the new reforms the family that adopted Haily can add her to their insurance and pay the co pays for her equipment and medical treatment.
The disabled have been fighting since the late 60's for the right to live the lives they chose, sadly states still have the right to take that away from them.
Haily, a 21 year old born with cerebral palsy did not have family to take care of her. So she was put into a nursing home, because the state of Georgia had cut funding that would have allowed her to live in a group home. Haily has no other disability, she is smart and could with help live a full life. When the economy goes bad it is often those who did not cause the problem who go without.
Thirty years ago Haily's story would not be noteworthy at all, back then horrid hospital like institutions were the norm. Adults and children were neglected and abused while the state paid the doctors and nursing staff twice as much as they would have had to pay to leave these people in their own homes.
The problem is corruption within the Medicaid system. States will often deny benefits for children and adults who want to live at home. They do this because they can charge Medicaid twice as much to live in a nursing home because they are paying for a full time doctor. Most people with disabilities do not require a full time doctor, they are night dying. In Haily's case her story made the paper and she was taken in by a family who may have to pay for all of her expenses on their own. The state of Georgia is threatening to take away the only insurance she can qualify for. There is a group called ADAPT fighting for legislation that would let Medicaid funds follow the person. This would mean that families and individuals could chose for themselves where they want to live.
If the Tea Party and the Republicans repeal health care stories like Haily's will become more common. With the new reforms the family that adopted Haily can add her to their insurance and pay the co pays for her equipment and medical treatment.
The disabled have been fighting since the late 60's for the right to live the lives they chose, sadly states still have the right to take that away from them.
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