Disability Advocates to call on Rep. Sean Duffy to Preserve Community Based Medicaid Services

On Wednesday, March 22, at 1 pm, people with disabilities, allies and advocates will gather at Seventh District Congressman Sean Duffy's Hayward office (15954 Rivers Edge Drive) in order to press upon Representative Duffy the importance of preserving access to community based Medicaid services.

Advocates will focus on preserving Community First Choice Option (CFCO), an optional Federal funding incentive that provides additional funding for community-based services for all people with disabilities, as well as other vital medical care and other long term services and supports needed by people with disabilities. CFCO is just one of many components of Medicaid slated for the trash bin as congressional Republicans rush to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

Congressional Republicans are moving legislation that eliminates CFCO by 2020 as part of a strategy to introduce block grants and cut Medicaid. At Wednesday's press conference, Members of the Disability Community will express their concerns that GOP is using CFCO and block grants to play partisan politics without consideration for the many people with disabilities whose lives are hanging in the balance.

North Country Independent Living is one of hundreds of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) nation-wide taking action to make sure crucial Medicaid services are not tossed out as Republicans in congress rush to repeal the Affordable Care Act. CILs are consumer controlled, community based, cross disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agencies designed and operated within local communities by individuals with disabilities to maximize their ability to live independently.