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For those in Connecticut.
Mark
-------Original Message-------
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 11:23:34 AM
Subject: HHS RELEASE--CONNECTICUT MEDICAID PLAN
Date: January 19, 2005
For Release: Immediately
Contact: CMS Media Affairs
(202) 690-6145
Headline: HHS APPROVES CONNECTICUT PLAN TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES TO DIRECT OWN CARE
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved a Connecticut demonstration
plan to make it easier for individuals with disabilities to remain in their
own homes by giving them greater control over a broad array of Medicaid
services.
The Connecticut waiver is the 10th program to be approved under HHS' new
Independence Plus initiative, which makes it easier for consumers to retain
more control of home and community-based services.
"This Connecticut plan will allow people to play an essential role in
deciding how to plan, obtain and sustain community-based services for
themselves," Secretary Thompson said. "We committed to giving states
greater flexibility in designing programs like this one to help persons with
disabilities live fuller, more independent lives."
The waiver will provide services that include personal care, supported
employment, group day services, vehicle modification, transportation,
specialized medical equipment, companion services and family training.
Participating individuals will be able to select and direct their personal
assistants as well as manage many other services for themselves. The state
hopes to serve over 3,000 people in this demonstration.
"Allowing persons with disabilities to engage in 'self-direction' is a high
priority for the Bush Administration and this agency, " said Mark B.
McClellan, M.D., PhD., administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, the agency that oversees federal health insurance programs.
"Self-direction is a proven approach to higher beneficiary satisfaction for
the same or lower costs."
As former governors, President Bush and Secretary Thompson have made it a
priority to make it simpler for the states to submit Medicaid and State
Children's Health Insurance Program waiver requests and to initiate new
programs such as Independence Plus. Since January 2001, HHS has approved
waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to more than 2.6
million people and enhanced benefits for more than six million people.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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