April Ray of Hope Meeting

Update on 2017 Disability Policy Seminar

What is the Disability Policy Seminar?
Been occurring for 40 years
Advocates
Self-advocates
Experts
Professionals
Learn about key issues that impact individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Self-Advocate

Saretta Jones went to the Disability Policy seminar this

year and is going to tell you about her experience!
Disability Policy Seminar 2017- Positive
Outcomes from ACA
Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helps many people- especially
individuals with disabilities!
It has helped cover health benefits beyond hospital and doctor visits
Requiring benefits that many individuals with disabilities need
Rehabilitative/habilitative services and devices
Mental health/behavioral health treatment
Critical prescription drug coverage
Habilitative services are most important for individuals with
disabilities!
Allows health care services to acquire or maintain skills or functions
 Helped make sure pre-existing conditions can get health coverage
Specific benefits for conditions
Prevent insurers from charging significant amounts to people with
disabilities
Prohibits discrimination
Eliminated annual and lifetime caps
Medicaid
Nations primary health insurance for people with significant disabilities
Covers over 10 million non-elderly people with disabilities
Sometimes the ONLY major source of funding for long term supports and services that
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on to live in the community.
Allows you to live and work among your neighbors!
Social Security Disability Insurance

14 million people with disabilities and their spouses and children benefit from Social
Security Disability Insurance
Help provide monthly benefits to ensure a basic standard of living.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)helps 6 million children and adults with disabilities
Cuts would mean
Eliminating benefits for children with disabilities
Making it more difficult for adults with disabilities to live in the community
Many strengths are necessary
Increasing the substantial gainful activity for people with disabilities
Eliminating marriage penalties for people with disabilities
Eliminating 2 year waiting period for Medicare
Improve working incentives
Disability Policy Seminar 2017 Concerns

People with disabilities, their families and advocates are

very concerned about federally-funded programs!
Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and SSI
Larger demand for programs now more than ever!
Increasing calls to cut eligibility and benefits
Outcome

Bill was pulled because it wasnt going to receive enough votes to pass!
This is great news because our programs will stay current, for now.
We must continue to advocate!