Sara Kline, Chairman of the ASGA Board, and I (Laurie Cramer, Executive Director) drove together to D.C. and spent the first day being briefed and trained on the issues. Our next day was spent visiting seven offices in Northeast Ohio and meeting with staff members who represent our lawmakers. A highlight was being part of Sen. Sherrod Brown’s “Coffee with Constituents,” where we had a great conversation with the Senator who asked a lot of questions about autism, what causes it, and how best to support people living with autism.
Our answers came fast and swift, as the Autism Society once again made its voice heard on behalf of those we serve. We delivered the following messages to Sen. Brown, and met with staff from Sen. Portman, Rep. Fudge, Rep. Joyce, Rep. Ryan, and Rep. Renacci’s offices.
Here’s the low down:
Medicaid
Bottom line here is that Medicaid is in danger of being cut dramatically by Congress and it is a vital program for health care services for people with disabilities. Medicaid funds waivers, medical care, transportation, job coaches, and job development programs (in addition to other services). It’s a biggie! The discussion in Congress is to change Medicaid to either Block Grants or Per Capital Cap programs. They both provide a fixed amount of money to the States, leaving each state to make up for costs beyond the Federal allotment.
What can I do?
- Call your legislator and ask them to protect Medicaid from drastic cuts.
- Let them know why it matters to you by telling your story.
- Ask them to be careful of unintended consequences of restructuring Medicaid, such as the impact on vital services for people with intellectual and other disabilities.
- Ask them to VOTE NO on Block Grant or Per Capital Caps.
- Thank them for voting to protect people with disabilities.
Affordable Care Act or Obamacare
No matter what you call it, and whether we like it or not, the law includes several provisions that have made a difference in the lives of people with autism and other disabilities. These improvements include the end of discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions (i.e., autism); the end of annual and life time caps on insurance coverage; the ability for young adults to stay on their parent’s policies until age 26.
What can I do?
- Call your legislator and ask them not to repeal without a simultaneous, corresponding replacement plan that meets the needs of people with autism and other disabilities.
- Ensure any replacement makes health insurance affordable.
- Maintain requirement that health insurance be comprehensive to meet the needs of individuals with autism.
- Ensure that nondiscrimination provisions are maintained and for parents’ insurance to be able to include young adults to age 26.
- Thank them for voting to protect people with disabilities.
Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the law that gives our children a right to an education. Prior to IDEA, children with extensive behavior support or academic instruction needs were excluded from public schools. IDEA needs to be fully funded and preserved, and should require that transition planning begin at the age of 14. Second, as part of Congress wanting to align IDEA with another law, now called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Congress required that students with disabilities be assessed along with their peers without disabilities. New reporting and accountability are requirements in the law, which have been shown through data to result in children with disabilities performing better with their IEP goals. (Unfortunately, the law rescinding the accountability part of ESSA was passed into law on Mar 6, 2017; Senators Brown and Portman voted against the bill, but it passed the Senate 51-49).
What can I do?
- Call your legislator and ask them to fully fund IDEA.
- Ensure monitoring and enforcement of IDEA.
- Thank them for voting to protect people with disabilities.