Policy favoring deinstitutionalization has had a major adverse effect on many individuals, with a shift in funding priorities from Medicaid Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID) and other specialized facilities, to smaller service options, such as Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings.
Help us to help our loved ones and their families.
This year's Annual Meeting and Legislative Initiative are crucial to the future of Intermediate Care Facilities, Sheltered Workshops, Medicaid Services, and Guardianship.We need you to join our ongoing campaign to stop Federal Agencies, Protection & Advocacy, and DD Councils from taking away the options that make life better for so many individuals with I/DD.
Click here to learn more about Sponsorship Opportunities!
Click here to become a sponsor on line!
To Donate to the Ball v. Kasich Legal Defense Fund, please Click Here
VOR has established a fund to receive contributions from Ohioans who wish to donate to a legal defense of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) whose individual rights, interests and wishes are at risk as a result of claims asserted in the class action suit filed by Disability Rights Ohio (DRO). Monies collected will be used for legal fees relating to representation in connection with the lawsuit.
Robert Anthony, Ph.D.
September 9, 2014
Excerpt
Discussion of Findings (emphasis added)
Although this is a preliminary analysis and based on the limited data provided by Virginia for a September Work Group, these data are sufficient to derive estimates of Training Center [public Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/ ICFs/IID] and community mortality rates for a population that initially all resided in Training Centers. Excluding the CVTC population from the estimation of mortality since it includes those at exceptional risk of dying, the estimated mortality in those transitioning to the community is double that of those who remained in Training Centers.
This remarkably higher mortality in the community might be partially explained simply by the risks of moving very vulnerable individuals into a new support system. However, a doubling of the mortality rate seems to be a very steep price to pay for this transition, and there is no assurance that this doubling will be a transient phenomenon.
Read full analysis here
On April 29, 2015, Mary Reese, VOR Board Member, represented VOR in testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Consistent with VOR’s written testimony and the written testimony submitted by many VOR members and others, Mary asked the Committee “not for any money, but instead, that the appropriated funding be used as intended, according to the law, and in support of family values and choice.”
“VOR respectfully requests the Subcommittee's support for language in the HHS appropriations bill to prohibit the use of such appropriations in support of forced deinstitutionalization activities which evicts vulnerable individuals with profound disabilities from HHS licensed Medicaid facilities,” she states. “HHS funded deinstitutionalization, which target HHS funded and licensed homes, is an absurd and cruel use of federal funding.”
Read Mary Reese's Verbal Testimony Here
Read VOR's Written Testimony Here
