[nfb-talk] Bill for Disabilities Introduced By Senator Edward M. Kennedy:

[Kenneth Chrane]

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Kenneth Chrane
6839 Parsons Avenue
Baltimore,, MD 21207-6423


May 25, 2007

[recipient address was inserted here]


Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

I urge you to the cosponsor the Community Living Assistance Services and 
Supports (CLASS) Act which will soon be reintroduced by Senator Kennedy.

Our nation has too long ignored the long-term services and supports crisis 
facing seniors and younger persons with disabilities.  The CLASS Act is 
designed to respond to this crisis in a fiscally responsible manner that 
promotes independence, choice and family unification.  

Many seniors and younger people with disabilities are forced into poverty 
or unnecessary institutional care because they lack coverage for long term 
supports and services that would enable them to remain in their homes.  
They often can only access coverage for services critical to their 
independence through the federal/state Medicaid program.  Because the 
Medicaid program is for low income people, in order to qualify, people 
must "spend down" their income and assets.  With their functional 
impairments, few people with disabilities will overcome this 
impoverishment.  If merely provided with the necessary supports and 
services, particularly to remain in their own homes, thousands could be 
spared a life of impoverishment and could continue to work and contribute 
to their communities.

America can and must do better.  The CLASS Act would create a new national 
insurance program to help individuals who are unable to perform functional 
activities of daily living to avoid unnecessary institutionalization and 
impoverishment.  This bill would make it possible for people to access 
critical supports and services such as housing modifications, assistive 
technologies, transportation, respite care, and personal assistance 
services.  

The CLASS Act includes key provisions that:

* Ensure the program is budget neutral.  The costs of providing benefits 
would be covered by voluntary payroll deductions and could reduce 
dependence on Medicaid spending for long term care.  The large risk pool 
to be created by this insurance program would make added coverage much 
more affordable than it is currently.

* Promote personal responsibility.   To qualify for CLASS Act benefits, 
individuals must have contributed modest monthly premiums through a 
voluntary payroll deduction for at least 5 years (with opt-out enrollment 
like Medicare Part B) and meet an eligibility test based on degree of 
functional impairment.

* Offer consumer choice.  This voucher payment program would avoid 
bureaucracies and enable people with disabilities to control what services 
they get, how, where and from whom. 

The CLASS Act would have the added benefits of helping employers reduce 
absenteeism and increase productivity.   It would provide supports and 
services for employees with disabilities to help carry out their work and 
would help reduce demands on employees who are caregivers of persons with 
disabilities.

Over 60 diverse national organizations have come to together to support 
the CLASS Act.  We urge you to be an early supporter of the CLASS Act and 
play a lead role in engaging America in a discussion about solving the 
long-term supports and services crisis facing seniors and younger persons 
with disabilities.   

Thank you,


Kenneth Chrane
(410) 486-1569