New Mexico

[Guest guest]

From our Director of the IL ARC. Do we have anyone from New Mexico on

the list? Louise

Leaders in The Arc:

Could this happen in Illinois?

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

New Mexico Legislature Passes " Money Follows the Person Act " Allows

People with Disabilities of all Ages to Choose Community Living

New Mexico State Legislature ended its 30-day session today with passage

of a bill to be sent to Governor for action that provides

people with disabilities, both young and old, to be able to move to

community-living from an institution-like setting. The passage of " Money

Follows the Person Act " , sponsored by Representative Sandoval of

Albuquerque and Senator Dede Feldman of Albuquerque, dove-tails with

Federal legislation signed into law by President Bush in

the Omnibus Budget bill Wednesday, February 15, 2006.

" This is great news for disabled people in New Mexico, " Gil Yildiz,

director of Albuquerque's Independent Living Resource Center, said.

" 'Money Follows the Person' allows our people who want out of nursing

homes to live in our communities to choose to do so for the first time,

without the State having to provide additional money. "

MFP Act will allow a person in a nursing facility to choose community

living, and have the money that has supported the person in the facility

to follow the person to the community.

" The money has already been budgeted, so it's not going to cost the

State any additional service money, " Sherry , director of the San

Center for Independence in Farmington, said. " Finally, our people

who have been 'locked up' will have an opportunity to get out! "

The State legislation, if signed by the Governor, will fit with the

Federal legislation signed by the President. The Federal legislation

will allow states to choose MFP and get enhanced Medicaid match to

encourage adoption of MFP. New Mexico would get an 86/14 match for

Federal Medicaid funds to assist in the transition period as the State

implements MFP.

" This is what's we've been fighting for, for years, " Bob Kafka, national

ADAPT organizer and legislation developer said, adding, " Our folks have

been locked up without a choice for years. These bills will help to open

doors. We've been doing MFP in Texas for four years and it's really

worked to 'Free Our People'. And, New Mexico is helping lead the way. "

The Federal legislation, which has a $1.7 billion appropriation over

five years, beginning January 1, 2007, will provide states incentives to

adopt MFP.

" New Mexico is one of the leading states in the country when it comes to

community living. We really put our money where our heart is, "

, co-chair of CLIC (Coalition for Living Independently in the

Community), said. New Mexico currently allocates about 67 percent of its

long-term service Medicaid dollars to community living; nationally the

average is just over 35 percent, with the other 65 percent going to

nursing homes and institutions. " MFP just gives the State another key to

unlocking doors that have kept our people apart

from the communities where everyone else lives. "

" I spent many years in a nursing home, " said of Hobbs, " and

I really hope the Governor signs this bill. People should have a

choice. "

Artist Dennis Arviso of Fort Wingate was injured at age 23 and " it took

four years to wake up and come out. I painted my anger on the canvas and

then fixed it. Painting slowly brought me out.

" (Right now) they (other people) are threatening to put me in a nursing

home. I want to be independent; to me it's a threat. I'll lose my

ability to get out and socialize with the public. Here I can go out

anytime I want. In a nursing home, only certain people can take you out.

You get a sheet of paper that has room for 5 names - not your 30 or 40

friends. I don't want to be imprisoned. Also, there you don't get the

kind of care you get with someone coming to your home. No one would care

for me there like they do here at home. "

With MFP, people with disabilities, not other people, would be able to

choose to return to community living from a nursing home and/or

institution.

" Everybody else makes choices, why not people with

disabilities? " Larry Maestas of Albuquerque said. He works for the

State's Department of Labor.

For further information, contact CLIC co-chair

at 505 439-1112 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, or,

mikecil@...

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