About 500 ADAPT disability activists from around the USA braved pouring rain to protest at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. April 28. The activists say their action was to "support the thousands of people with disabilities and older Americans who continue to be unnecessarily forced into and kept in nursing homes and other institutions because of the inaction and development of barrier-ridden regulations by HHS and the Bush Administration."
ADAPT's demands of HHS are:
- Improve the implementation of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Projects by increasing flexibility states have;
- IMMEDIATELY eliminate any rules which cause undue burdens regarding case management;
- Eliminate any rules that discourage small grassroots providers from meeting the needs of the consumers they serve;
- Eliminate any regulations and interpretations of “spousal impoverishment” and “risk” which promote institutionalization of persons with disabilities;
- Work with ADAPT on ways to pass the Community Choice Act; and
- Meet with leaders of ADAPT within 30 days of this date to clarify any of the above and identify other barriers to home and community based services in all 50 states.
