Disability group pushes West Virginia to comply with Olmstead Act

From WOWK-TV:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Fair Shake Network lobbied lawmakers to support full implementation of the Olmstead Plan signed by Gov. Joe Manchin in 2005. The plan would reduce West Virginia's reliance on institutional care.

Group spokesman Dave Stewart said that is their main goal.

"If you are disabled and find yourself in need of care, the first option is to throw you in a nursing home," he said. "That should be the last option."

Stewart said he isn't optimistic about anything coming out of this session. He said it's going to be a slow process. Members of the network would like to see legislation passed that would enable them to leave a nursing home and take the Medicaid funds with them as they go out to live independently.

The group claims nursing homes spend big money lobbying lawmakers to keep things as they are so they don't lose the cash cow they have with the Medicaid funded disabled.

"I'm not saying they're bad people," Stewart said. "They have an industry to run too. And, I'm sure they want to take care of people. We want to live independently. We don't want to be taken care of."

The Fair Shake Network is adamantly opposed to the governor's budget cuts for the Division of Rehabilitation.