Abilities in Motion is a co-sponsor of this year’s World Congress on Disabilities, which will be held at the Greater Reading Expo Center from July 11-12. We are recruiting from among our consumers anyone who would like to help at our display and in welcoming guests to the event. You would be granted free admission, which would be a great way to cover the cost through your volunteer time. Please let me know by May 30th if you would like to volunteer with us during the World Congress on Disabilities.
Your Web Searches Can Help
You can now help raise money
for Abilities in Motion every time you search the Web! It's easy! Just use
http://www.goodsearch.com/ as
your search engine. This Web site is powered by Yahoo, and can be used in place
of your regular search engine. When prompted, choose Abilities in Motion and
begin searching the internet.
Goodsearch is
a benevolent organization that will send a portion of their advertising revenues
to Abilities In Motion just for you choosing AIM prior to beginning your
internet searches. Thanks for helping us with fund raising!
For AIM consumers: At its June meeting, the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Disability Rights Network (DRN) will begin the process of setting priorities for DRN’s work over the next three years. Attached is a draft of the priorities that will serve as a starting point for the Board’s discussion. We invite you to give us your thoughts on these draft priorities. You may contact us in writing by e-mail or mail or leave verbal comments on our answering telephone. Our contact information is below.
Even after the Board approves DRN’s priorities, we still welcome input. At the end of each year of the three-year cycle, the Board considers whether the priorities should be modified.
Once the priorities are approved, staff will be directed to craft an implementation plan which will contain the specific details and strategies as to how these goals and objectives will be achieved. You want your observations and recommendations included in the goals and implementation plan.
Contact information:
1414 N. Cameron Street, Suite C
Harrisburg, PA 17103
1-800-692-7443 [Voice]
1-877-375-7139 [TDD]
(717) 236-0192 [Fax]
For AIM Consumers: We’re calling on all Berks County consumers to address the
funding shortfall for Centers for Independent Living in Governor Rendell’s
budget to your local Pennsylvania senator and representative. Let them know to
support restoration of funding in the budget. Feel free to call Don Ziegler at
the AIM office to find out who your legislators are if you aren’t sure of their
names.
We need each consumer to rally in support of restored funding in Governor Rendell’s Fiscal Year 2008-2009 budget for Independent Living Centers. The shortfall in funding is significant - $450,000 statewide, which means a $50,000 loss for Abilities in Motion (AIM). Ouch! If you appreciate the help Independent Living Centers like AIM have provided you, then your state Senator and Representative need to hear from you. The elected officials need to hear from consumers to help them decide to restore the funding that we desperately need to function in support of you and hundreds of other consumers.
Senator Gibb Armstrong, from Lancaster County, held a hearing this week with the Appropriations Committee for the programs receiving cuts under Governor Rendell’s proposed budget. Programs that provide job training such as Stevens Technical College; Bidwell Institute; Centers for Independent Living and New Options - New Choices, all which provide some kind of training for jobs that pay decent wages, received proposed cuts.
With little notice, the Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL) Executive Director Barbara Orstein and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) Public Policy Analyst Jeff Iseman managed to have representation from PCIL, SILC, the Center of Independent Living in Bucks County, the Center for Independent Living Opportunities in York County and AIM at the hearing. Senator Armstrong’s statements indicated the frustration elected officials have over existing worthwhile programs being cut while the Governor tries to add new programs that are untested. The Independent Living Centers were one of 18 groups invited to testify. We were fortunate to have this opportunity to get our message out to elected officials who we hope will cast their votes in favor of our funding need.
We need your help in a big way. Contact the local offices of your State Senator and Representative to tell them how you feel about the funding shortfall for Independent Living Centers. I have attached the Barbara Orstein’s testimony for you to reference when calling your Senator and Representative. You might get to only speak with the Senator’s and Representative’s staff member, but that’s OK. That person will relay your message. Count on it.
If you don’t know who your Senator and Representative are, please call AIM’s Civil Rights Advocate Don Ziegler at 610-376-0010 to find out.
Thank you for your contribution of time and advocacy on behalf of Independent Living Centers.
You will need Acrobat Reader to open the document I’ve attached. If you don’t have Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free from the Internet at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Letter from Senators and Representatives to Caucus Leadership
I write to urge the inclusion of funds in the 2008-09 state budget to begin an Adult Protective Services system for vulnerable adults between the ages of 18 and 59. Less than $500,000 would be needed for first year funding.
While we have enacted statutes that establish protective services systems for children and for older adults, Pennsylvania is one of only six states which fails to provide the same critically needed protection for people with disabilities between 18 and 59. I have heard horror stories from all over PA about people who have suffered severe abuse—physical, sexual, and financial. Some have died. And the longer we wait the more people who are victimized.
We must pass legislation to create and empower the system. HB 361 and SB 1049 have been introduced and moved into Appropriations Committees. We need to pass one of those bills into law this year. In the meantime, it is essential that the funding necessary to create the protective services system be made part of our budget priorities. Since it will take at least a year after passage of legislation to promulgate regulations and issue RFPs, the only costs in the first year are staffing--a modest amount of no more than $500,000. It is estimated that the system, once fully implemented, would cost approximately $6 million dollars. In the out years, we can work to identify supplemental funding streams. But while we wait, people are dying.
We can leave people at risk no longer. I support and ask you to act to include start-up funds for Adult Protective Services in the 2008-09 budget and support the passage of legislation this session.
Adult Protective Services Coalition
Acquired Brain Injury Network of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living
Autism Society of America, Greater Harrisburg Area Chapter
Center for Independent Living Opportunities
Community Advocacy Training Services
Community Resources for Independence
COMPRO
Disability Empowerment Center serving Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Freedom Valley Disability Center
Institute on Disabilities, Temple University
Liberty Resources, Inc.
Mental Health Association in PA.
Mental Health Association of SE PA
Mental Health Association in Allegheny County
Mentors for Self Determination
One Voice
PA TASH
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation
Pennsylvania Chapters National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living
Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association
Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council
Pennsylvania Waiting List Campaign.
PersonLink, PHMC
Philadelphia Police and Fire Association Serving People with Special Needs
SPEAK Unlimited Inc.
Speaking For Ourselves
The Arc of Pennsylvania
The Arc of Adams County
The Arc of Armstrong County
The Arc of Blair County
The Arc of Butler County
The Arc of Cambria County
The Arc of Centre County
The Arc of Chester County
The Arc of Clarion County
The Arc of Crawford County
The Arc of Cumberland/Perry Counties
The Arc of Dauphin/Lebanon Counties
The Arc of Delaware County
The Arc of Erie County
The Arc of Fayette County
The Arc of Franklin/Fulton Counties
The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh
The Arc of Greene County
The Arc of Indiana County
The Arc of Jefferson County
The Arc of Lancaster County
The Arc of Lehigh/Northampton Counties
The Arc of Luzerne County
The Arc of Lycoming County
The Arc of Mercer County
The Arc of Montgomery/Berks/Bucks Counties
The Arc of Northeastern PA
The Arc of Northumberland County
The Arc of Philadelphia
The Arc of Schuylkill County
The Arc of Warren/Forest Counties
The Arc of Washington County
The Arc of Wayne County
The Arc of Westmoreland County
The Arc of Wyoming County
The Arc of York County
The Family Training and Advocacy Center
United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania
Vision for Equality, Inc.
April 14, 2008
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
□ Work with teens and young adults as a mentor in our Teens Taking Flight program – Tuesdays at 5 PM
□ Work with adults as a mentor – monthly contact requested
□ Help develop life skills training lesson plans for teens and young adults
□ Help develop self-determination lesson plans for a variety of workshops, to include participating in the workshops (last Friday each month)
□ Help supervisors improve spreadsheets and databases for budgeting and expense accounting, performance reporting, and volunteer time recording
□ Help develop communication plans to reach more people living with disabilities
□ Work with adult consumers (clients) to develop a means by which feedback to AIM on our information and service coordination is more readily provided
□ Work with consumers and staff to improve the design of the AIM website
□ Work with consumers to improve grass roots advocacy such that it benefits individual or groups of consumers
□ Coordinate Berks County advocacy issues with the Statewide Independent Living Council, Berks County Regional Advocacy Team (volunteers), and legislators
□ Talk with us about creating your own volunteer role for people with disabilities
NOTE:
The Department of State, Division of Voter Registration has updated the declination form. It was updated because the prior form stated that a convicted felon was stripped of their voting right for 5 years. This is no longer correct. As long as the individual is not currently incarcerated for a felony or on parole for a felony, they can vote
The President has signed the economic stimulus bill. The Internal Revenue Service will begin sending stimulus payments, popularly known as tax rebates, in May 2008.
To find out if you are eligible for a stimulus payment or if you have other questions about the stimulus bill, please go to the IRS website at: www.irs.gov. The IRS website has the best and most up-to-date information to answer your questions about the stimulus payment.
If you do not have Internet access, you may call IRS on their toll-free number at 1-800-829-1040.
Social Security beneficiaries, who are filing a 2007 tax return only to obtain the stimulus payment, will not need a replacement Form 1099 for IRS to determine if they are eligible to receive a stimulus payment. An estimate of Social Security benefits received in 2007 is sufficient.
Facts about the 2008 Stimulus Payments
15, February 2008
Starting in May, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million individuals. The stimulus payments will go out through the late spring and summer.
The vast majority of Americans who qualify for an economic stimulus payment will not have to do anything other than file their 2007 individual income tax return to receive their payment this year. They will not have to complete applications, file any extra forms or call the Internal Revenue Service to request the payment, which is automatic. The IRS will determine eligibility, figure the amount and issue the payment.
Stimulus payments will be direct deposited for taxpayers selecting that option when filing their 2007 tax returns. Taxpayers who have already filed with direct deposit won't need to do anything else to receive the stimulus payment. For taxpayers who haven't filed their 2007 returns yet, the IRS reminds them that direct deposit is the fastest way to get both regular refunds and stimulus payments.
Basic Eligibility
The IRS will use the 2007 tax return to determine eligibility and calculate the basic amount of the payment. In most cases, the payment will equal the amount of tax liability on the return with a maximum amount of $600 for individuals ($1,200 for taxpayers who file a joint return) and a minimum of $300 for individuals ($600 for taxpayers who file a joint return).
Even those who have little or no tax liability may qualify for a minimum payment of $300 ($600 if filing a joint return) if their tax return reflects $3,000 or more in qualifying income. For the purpose of the stimulus payments, qualifying income consists of earned income such as wages and net self-employment income as well as Social Security or certain Railroad Retirement benefits and veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits received from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2007. However, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment.
Low-income workers who have earned income above $3,000 but do not have a regular filing requirement must file a 2007 tax return to receive the minimum stimulus payment. Similarly, Social Security recipients, certain Railroad retirees, and those who receive the veterans’ benefits mentioned above must file a 2007 return in order to notify the IRS of their qualifying income.
The IRS emphasized that people with no filing requirement who turn in a tax return to qualify for the economic stimulus payment will not get a tax bill. People in this category will not owe money because of the stimulus payment.
Limitation
To be eligible for a stimulus payment, taxpayers must have valid Social Security Numbers. Anyone who does not have a valid Social Security Number, including those who file using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN) or any other identification number issued by the IRS is not eligible for this payment. Both individuals listed on a married filing jointly return must have valid Social Security Numbers to qualify for a stimulus payment.
Eligibility for the advance payment is subject to maximum income limits. The payment amounts will be reduced by 5 percent of the amount of income in excess of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for those with a Married Filing Jointly filing status.
Individuals who pay no tax and who have less than $3,000 of qualifying income will not be eligible for the stimulus payment.
Additional Payments for Parents and Others with Qualifying Children
Parents and anyone else eligible for a stimulus payment will also receive an additional $300 for each qualifying child (subject to income phase-outs). To qualify, a child must be eligible under the Child Tax Credit and have a valid Social Security Number.
Anyone who is not eligible for the basic payment amount due to the phase-out provision or any other exception will not be eligible for this additional amount for children.
Special Circumstances for Recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Certain Veterans Benefits
Individuals who receive Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits and certain veterans' benefits may have to follow special filing requirements in order to receive the basic amount:
Those who have already filed a 2007 return reflecting qualifying income of $3,000 or more do not have any additional filing requirements and do not need to do anything more to receive their payment.
Those who have already filed a 2007 return showing less than $3,000 in qualifying income and did not list their Social Security, Railroad Retirement or certain veterans benefits should file a Form 1040X to list those non-taxable benefits and qualify for a payment.
Those who are not required to file a 2007 return but whose total qualifying income including Social Security, certain Railroad Retirement and certain Veterans benefits would equal or exceed $3,000 should file a return reporting these benefits on Line 14a of Form 1040A or Line 20a of Form 1040 to establish their eligibility. Please note the form lines just mention Social Security, but use these lines even if your only benefits were Railroad Retirement or veterans’ benefits.
Notices
Most taxpayers will receive two notices from the IRS. The first general notice from the IRS will explain the stimulus payment program. The second notice will confirm the recipients’ eligibility, the payment amount and the approximate time table for the payment. Taxpayers will need to save this notice to assist them when they prepare their 2008 tax return next year.
Anyone who moves after they have filed their 2007 tax return should notify the IRS by filing Form 8822, Change of Address, and also notify the Post Office.
Exclusions
Individuals who file Form 1040NR, 1040PR or 1040SS are not eligible for the stimulus payments. These returns are normally filed by Nonresident Aliens, residents of Puerto Rico and residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Residents of U.S. possessions will be receiving their rebates directly from the possessions.
Also ineligible are individuals who can be claimed as dependents on someone else’s return.
Dividends, interest and capital gains income is not included when determining qualifying income. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count
as qualifying income for the stimulus payment. Also not included in qualifying income are non-veterans or non-Social Security pension income (such as those from Individual Retirement Accounts).
Stimulus payments will be subject to offset against outstanding tax and non-tax liabilities in the same fashion as regular tax refunds.
In addition, the IRS emphasizes the stimulus payments will not count toward or negatively impact any other income-based government benefits, such as Social Security benefits, food stamps and other programs.
Free Tax Help Available
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax help to people age 60 and older. As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. To find an AARP Tax Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit the AARP Web site.
For Additional Information
The IRS.gov Web site is the best source for additional information and answers to questions regarding the stimulus payments. The site will soon have an online tool which will allow taxpayers to calculate the amount of their advance payment and to check on the status of their specific payment.
Center for Independent Living
Abilities in Motion
416 Blair Ave.
Reading 19601
888.376.0120
Berks County Office of Aging
County Services Center
633 Court St
Reading 19601
610.478.6500
Reading Housing Authority
Dept of Resident Services 125 N 10th St
Reading 19601
610.376.8413
Local Housing Coalitions and Teams Area Agency on Aging
skeppen@readingha.org aging@countyofberks.com
Aimed@abilitiesinmotion.org
Drew Passic
Residential Living Options
797 E Lancaster Ave
Downingtown 19335
610.518.6242
Regional Housing Coordinator
610.518.6244
610.376.0021
610.478.6886
www.abilitiesinmotion.org
Nursing Home Transition Team
General Referral Information: To be updated
www.communityassetspa.org TTY
Service Organizations Berks County
Damaris Garriga, Dept of Public Welfare
Tim Hoskins, PA Dept of Aging 717.783.6207
717.783.1824
thoskins@state.pa.us
dgarriga@state.pa.us
Contacts:
Stephanie Miller aimsnht@abilitiesinmotion.org
Abilities in Motion 610.376.0010
Paulette Krall pkrall@countyofberks.com
Berks County Office of Aging 610.478.6500
Nancy Everson neverson@countyofberks.com
Berks County Office of Aging 610478-6500
Berks Community Action Program, Inc.
PO Box 22
Reading 19603-0022
610.376.6571
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
1090 Commons Boulevard
Reading 19605
610.878.4370
Community Action Agency
Office of Vocational Rehabilition
Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Programs
Veterans Administration Medical Center
1400 Black Horse Hill Rd
Coatesville 19320
610.496.5256
610.376.6575
Waiver Providers
Age 60+: Area Agency on Aging (see above)
Age <60 Under 60 Waiver Provider to be updated
MH Admin: Ed Michalik
Housing Specialist: Chris Ambrose
610.236.3932
Mental Health - Housing Specialist
United Way
United Way of Berks County
501 Washington St., 6th Fl P.O. Box 702
Reading 19603
610.371.4550 Fax: 610.685.4596
postmaster@uwberks.org
http://www.uwberks.org
www.dli.state.pa.us
Association of Retarded Citizens
Arc of Berks County
1829 New Holland Rd Suite 9
Reading 19607
berksarc@aol.com
Drew Passic
Residential Living Options
797 E Lancaster Ave
Downingtown
610.518.6242 Fax: 610.518.6244
Regional Housing Coordinator
Berks County Commissioners
633 Court St
Reading
Access Modification Program
610.478.6325
19601
Public Housing Authority
Housing Resources Berks County
Berks County Housing Authority
1803 Butter Lane
Reading 19606
610.370.0822
Fax: 610.370.2766
www.berksha.org
400 Hancock Boulevard
19611-1802
610.775.4814
Reading Housing Authority
Fax: 610.777.5965
No Information
Real Estate Investors Assoc. of Reading
Reading
215.378.1758
Lehigh Area Office #2
2211 Mack Blvd
Allentown 18103-5623
610.791.9810 610.791.9820
Berks County Community Development Office
32 N State St
19601
610.478.6325 Fax:
Distribution: County Commissioners Decide
Rural Housing Office
Housing Trust Fund
Reading
Landlord Association Builder's Association
Reading-Berks Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 13666
Reading 19612-3666
610.373.3439 TTY: Fax: 610.373.3439
brobst55rs@aol.com
Habitat for Humanity Fair Housing Counseling Agency
The Human Relations Alliance
P.O. Box 8075
Reading 19601
610.373.4819 Fax:
www.hrapa.org
www.rurdev.usda.gov
The Social Security Adminstration (SSA) District Manager in Pottsville wrote to AIM today to provide new guidance on filing appeals. The new SSA program is called iAppeals and is intended to save time and provide SSA with more accurate information about the claimant. iAppeals can be found at the www.socialsecurity.gov website or more directly at the www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/appeal weblink. Consumers are not required to use the online appeals application, but are encouraged to do so.
The District Manager tells us that an iAppeal can be filed by a claimant, his/her authorized representative, or other third party. For an iAppeal to be started, the claimant whose decision is being appealed must meet all of the requirements listed below. The new iAppeals online process will not allow a claimant to proceed with the application unless all of the requirements below are satisfied. Instead, iAppeals will advise the internet user to contact an SSA Field Office or call the SSA’s (800) number to complete a hardcopy appeal form. A portable document format (PDF) version of the appeal form is available at the SSA’s website. Here’s a copy of the iAppeals weblink instructions:
This is the starting point to request a review of our medical decision about your eligibility for disability benefits. There are two parts to this Internet Appeal process: (1) an Appeal Request Internet form, and (2) an Appeal Disability Report that gives us more information about your condition. You can complete both forms online. To appeal online, the only form you are required to submit is an appeal request (Part 1). However, we encourage you to submit an Appeal Disability Report (Part 2) because it will give us more information about you and help us in processing your appeal. We estimate it will take 18 to 20 minutes, with an average of 19 minutes, to complete Part 1; and 15 to 45 minutes, with an average of 30 minutes, to complete Part 2. If you do not want to use the Internet to request your appeal, there are Other Ways to Request an Appeal or Complete a Disability Report.
Note: We use the term "claimant" to refer to the adult or child whose disability decision is being appealed.
If any of the above statements are not true, stop here and contact Social Security.
The first part of your appeal is the Appeal Request. The next five pages explain this request and help you get ready to provide the information we need. The sixth page is the Appeal Request form. We will ask you to provide information about your representative if you have one. You will be able to review the information you provide before sending it to us electronically. The Appeal Request is a short form and you must complete and submit it in a single session. You will not be able to come back to it later.
Part 2 of the two-part Internet process is completing the Appeal Disability Report. We will walk you through completion of this report right after you submit the Appeal Request. The Report asks you to tell us about any changes that have occurred since the claimant last completed a disability report. This includes information about the claimant´s condition, doctors or other medical sources and treatment, work activity and education. You do not have to complete this report all at once. Later we will tell you how to return to an Appeal Disability Report that you had started earlier.
To start the
Internet Appeal Request and Disability Report process,
select this button.
Already started
an Appeal Disability Report? Then select this button.
Call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM.
How the Disability Appeals Process Works
Your Right to Representation
Social Security's Definition of Disability for Adults
Social Security's Definition of Disability for Children
Internet Security Policy
Social Security's Accessibility Policy
Privacy Information
Information about Social Security's Disability Programs
Frequently Called Phone Numbers
³ Animal Control 610-921-2348/610-478-6643
³ Bus Transportation 610-921-0601
³ Cable TV 610-378-4600
³ Chamber of Commerce 610-376-6766
³ Child Protective Services 610-478-6700
³ City Clerk’s Office 610-655-6204
³ City Council Office 610-655-6205
³ City Manager 610-655-6222
³ Code Compliance 610-655-6283
³ D.A.R.E. 610-655-6590
³ Donations
³ Hope Rescue 610-375-4224
³ Goodwill 610-777-5250
³ Driver’s License/ Vehicle Registration 1-800-544-4877
³ Economic Development 610-655-6211
³ Elections – City 610-478-6490
³ Electricity – Met Ed 1-888-544-4877
Emergency Services
Fire, Police & Medical 911
Poison Control 911
Reading Hospital 610-988-8000
St. Joseph Hospital 610-378-2000
³ Gas - UGI 1-800-609-4844
³ Graffiti Removal 610-655-6283
³ Historic Preservation 610-655-6211
³ Housing 610-775-4813
³ Libraries 610-378-5260
³ Mayor’s Office 610-655-6234
³ Neighborhood Associations 610-655-6204
³ Parks 610-655-6322
³ Reading Parking Authority 610-655-6166
³ Planning & Zoning 610-655-6326
³ Police Athletic League 610-376-7229
³ Police Department (non-emergencies) 610-655-6116
³ Pools 610-655-6201
³ Property Records / Tax 610-655-6017
³ Potholes & Streets Maintenance 610-655-6285
³ Public Works Department 610-655-6236
³ Reading Parking Authority 610-655-6166
³ Recreation 610-655-6201
³ Sanitation Services – See Trash 610-655-6278
³ Senior Services
³ Area Agency of Aging 610-478-6500
³ Senior Center – 40 North 9th Street 610-374-3195
³ Sheriff 610-478-6240
³ Social Security Office 610-320-5235
³ Street Lights 610-655-6265
³ Storm Waste Management 610-655-6008
³ Traffic Signals 610-655-6265
³ Trash / Recycling Collection 610-655-6278
³ UTILITIES
³ Cable 610-378-4600
³ Electricity 1-888-544-4877
³ Gas 1-800-609-4844
³ Telephone 1-800-609-4844
³ Water 610-655-6084
³ Storm & Sanitary Sewers 610-655-6008
³ Streets 610-655-6285
³ Vehicles 610-655-6294
³ Volunteer Opportunities 610-685-4571
³ Voter Registration 610-478-6490
Having Problems Finding Agency to Fill Home Health Aide Hours Approved by MA HMO?
Children under 21 on Medical Assistance with disabilities or medical conditions that impair their physical functioning may qualify for coverage of an aide to assist with their “activities of daily living” like eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, maintaining continence and other non-medical services where the parent is unavailable or unable to provide that care. The child does not need to be in a waiver to qualify for this coverage. Currently, families get this coverage through home health agencies that contract with their child’s Medical Assistance HMO or the AccessPlus program (where applicable). However, some families have had problems getting reliable staff through the participating home health agencies.
Some families have sought to hire their child’s aides directly because they felt they would be better able to recruit, train, schedule and supervise their child’s aides than the home health agencies they had dealt with. The PA Health Law Project has assisted 2 families in getting coverage through Medical Assistance HMOs for aides the families hired on their own. These families were very satisfied with the arrangement, especially because they were able to offer a higher wage (due to lower overhead) than the home health agencies and because the aides were directly responsible to the parents as their employers. The PA Health Law Project is looking to assist other families with children who have been authorized for home health aide services (not nursing) by a Medical Assistance HMO but are having problems getting reliable aides to staff those hours and are interested in hiring their own aides. Specifically, the Health Law Project is interested in assisting families who:
-have home health aide services already authorized for child under 21 by a Medical Assistance HMO;
-have not been able to get authorized hours staffed on a consistent basis;
-have gone through at least 2 different home health agencies trying to get their authorized hours staffed;
-are willing and able to take on the responsibility of recruiting and supervising their child’s aide; and,
-the child’s physician supports the family supervising the aide without the involvement of a home health agency and is willing to write a new request for a “personal care aide”.
If you are in this situation or know of a family in this situation, please contact the PA Health Law Project’s Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 (TTY).
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MEETINGS TO BE HELD AT Abilities in Motion, 416 BLAIR AVENUE, READING unless otherwise noted *. Zion Spies Reformed Church - 318 SPIES CHURCH ROAD DIRECTIONS: FOLLOW PA 12 E, TURN RIGHT ON SKYLINE DRIVE, TURN LEFT ON BLANKENBILLER ROAD, CONTINUE ON ANTIETAM ROAD, CONTINUE ON CHURCH HILL ROAD, TURN RIGHT ON SPIES CHURCH ROAD Meetings begin at 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Please call 610-376-0010 for details.
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