Monthly Updates
February 2008 Contents:
- NAC Central: ANCOR’s H.R. 1279 Gets Boost in House Hearing
- Call on Congress
- Be Bold. Be Creative. Be Heard!
NAC Central: ANCOR’s H.R. 1279 Gets Boost in House Hearing
 On January 16, 2008, at its first meeting of the New Year, the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health examined Medicaid coverage for people with disabilities. Testimony concentrated on the role of Medicaid in helping Americans with disabilities have better access to community care and the supports they need.
Comments offered by committee leadership signaled support toward the intent of ANCOR-initiated legislation H.R. 1279 (The Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act), with emphasis on the need to provide access to services in the community.
“One of the challenges we face is how to improve access to community services instead of making nursing homes and institutions the first options for care,” said Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “We know that those who receive community- based services have an improved quality of life and are better able to be near family and friends.”
Testimony was offered by several witnesses, including Ralph Gronefeld, President and CEO of ResCare, an ANCOR member agency. Along with requesting the Committee members support H.R. 1279, Gronefeld stated, “High turnover rates, low wages, shortage of available workers and increased demand are pervasive problems for families, individuals receiving services and the people who provide those services.” Click here to read panel testimony.
“This is a tremendous moral victory,” said Renee Pietrangelo, CEO of ANCOR. “Members of the Committee are discussing our bill, H.R. 1279, in the context of the critical role Medicaid plays in the lives of Americans with disabilities. This is a result of the grassroots support our providers, direct support professionals (DSPs) and families have shown on the workforce wage issue.”
While we are very grateful for the attention H.R. 1279 received during the hearing, we remain committed to securing a congressional hearing on the greater workforce issue this year.
Call on Congress
ANCOR continues with its work to add co-sponsors to H.R. 1279 and educate members of Congress on the issues at stake. However, this work is futile if lawmakers don’t hear from their constituents.
Our greatest asset is the coalition of DSPs, providers and families who understand the daily challenges the workforce faces. Let your voice be heard! Contact your congressional representative TODAY to share you story and urge support for H.R. 1279.
Now is the time to act! We have a tremendous opportunity with this Congress to focus attention on the workforce issue and advocate the need to provide our DSPs with resources they deserve.
Be Bold. Be Creative. Be Heard!
DSP TV Online provides a fun and effective medium for telling the workforce story that will educate and inspire a broad audience… and you could win a prize in the process!
Entering this Web-based video contest is simple. Just shoot a brief clip on your video camera, camera phone or Web cam and upload it to www.YouNeedToKnowMe.org. (To help, Therap Services, LLC, has developed a tutorial to guide users through the process.)
DSP TV Online is open to DSPs, people with disabilities, families, supporters of people with disabilities and the direct support workforce. The contest is broken into categories that offer ideas about how to create videos that cast a spotlight on who DSPs are, what they do and why their work is important. The goal of this contest is to provide an educational resource to assist in our advocacy efforts – all you need to do is tell your story, as only you can.
Be bold. Be creative. Be heard… and be entered to win one of several prizes!
Click here to learn more. Certain contest rules and conditions apply. |
