"The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia""The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia"Home > Advocacy in Action > Fair Shake Network Legislative Priorities for 2007
The Fair Shake Network will monitor all legislation introduced and will take positions and action to protect services and civil rights for people with disabilities. For more information email: Vanessa VanGilder.
Support legislation or policy changes that will allow money to follow the person, so people who are living in nursing homes or other institutions could have the money "follow" them as they move out into the community. Whatever amount the state pays the nursing home or institution would "follow the person" to pay for community based services and supports.
Support the Division of Rehabilitation Services/Statewide Independent Living Council budget improvement package to increase the Independent Living Services budget line item by $500,000. This funding would be used to support independent living services by centers for independent living to serve people on the waiting list and to expand independent living services, as funding allows.
Support the continuation of insurance parity for people with mental illness. State code currently requires that the Public Employees Insurance Agency, Health Maintenance Organizations and group insurers include the same duration limits such as day or limit visits, deductibles, out of pocket limits, and coinsurance factors for serious mental illness as for other illnesses or diseases. This provision will end in March 2007 unless new legislation is enacted prior to the termination date.
Support legislative and policy changes that allow people to receive the services and supports they need to stay in their own communities. Too many children and adults are being moved out of state into nursing homes or other more costly out-of-state settings. This would allow West Virginians and their families to stay in West Virginia.
The Fair Shake Network understands the economic problems facing West Virginia and the urgent need to address the budget problems. However, we are adamantly opposed to budget cuts that will adversely affect the lives of people with disabilities by further reducing the limited services and supports they now receive. Budget cuts and program revisions have reached a point where the vital mission of programs that serve people with disabilities is being dramatically affected. The Fair Shake Network believes that programs affecting people with disabilities should be protected from budget cuts. We urge the Legislature and the Executive Branch to proceed with caution and to make adjustments to the budget that makes sense without hurting people.
www.mtstcil.org
