3/6/2006

 
(901) 726-6404

Community Choices Act

(MEMPHIS)The Memphis Center for Independent Living announces Senate Bill 2861/House Bill 3289, introduced by Senator Steve Cohen and Representative Mike Kernell, known as the Community Choices Act. This Act will allow hundreds of Tennesseans to move out of nursing homes and receive the services they need in their own homes. “Individuals young and old, like Kim Bass and Michael Taylor, want to be part of the community,” said Randy Alexander, “but currently Tennessee only provides the daily assistance they need in an institution. The Community Choices Act would change that.

Kim Bass only needs about four hours of assistance a day; Michael Taylor, even less. Under Tennessee’s current Medicaid system, the supports they need are only provided in an institutional setting. “My freedom was taken away from me and I was forced to move into a nursing home,” said Michael Taylor.

The Community Choices Act would allow young and older people in nursing homes and other institutions, to move out if they so choose. Upon moving out, the money would follow the person out of the institutional budget and into community services, which for most people, especially for Kim and Michael will be significantly less costly. The Community Choices Act does more then just change where the money can flow but opens up the type of services and puts more control into the individuals' hands.

Tennessee is repeatedly ranked as one of the ten worst states in providing community services by ADAPT, a national disability rights group. Tennessee spends $160 for institutional care for only every $1 in community based services, by far the largest disparity in the country

Kim Bass and Michael Taylor, two of the over 500 individuals that want out of nursing homes in Shelby County, will be part of the press conference and will be available for questions to the press.

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