As I’m writing now, everyone’s
attention is on the Senate bill to rewrite Obamacare and potentially reshape
Medicaid. It’s easy to get totally
absorbed by what’s happening at the national level, but today I ask you to take
a moment to note some hopeful signs on the local horizon.
I attended the June 15 hearing on
B22-0154, the “Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities Civil Rights Restoration
Act,” and testified along with other passionate advocates in favor of the
bill. Here is my own testimony, along
with testimony by Andy Reese and a few others:
https://tinyurl.com/y8yajn8q. The overwhelming majority of
people testifying were in favor, but there was also heartfelt testimony from family
members and lawyers who feel the civil commitment system is working for
them. What’s important to remember is
those already under court commitment will not be prevented in any way from
continuing to receive services in this way – so hopefully those opposing the
bill will reconsider and let the rest of us move forward with this important
legislation.
Councilmember Nadeau, chair of
the human services committee, seemed fairly persuaded from the outset to favor
the legislation. Her perspective was gratifying,
and she had obviously done her homework.
The only other councilmember who attended in person was Robert White
(at-large), and while he was initially teetering, after the hearing he seemed
to be tipping in favor, as did David Grosso, the other at-large member. They have some specific concerns that could slow
or threaten the bill’s progress though – more on that below. And as for Brandon Todd (Ward 4) and Trayon
White Jr. (Ward 8), I for one have no idea where they come out – when I wrote
after the hearing, Todd’s staffer was noncommittal and Trayon White’s staff
didn’t answer my email.
Even the three committee members
who seem favorable toward the bill have concerns that the current safeguards –
Medicaid oversight bodies, local organizations such as Quality Trust and
University Legal Services, and DDS’s customer services hotline – are not
adequate to ensure that people have recourse when they believe their supports
are falling short. Many would agree that
a more robust grievance process is desirable, although there are legitimate
worries that the price tag associated with setting up such a process as part of
this bill could slow down committee action, or even cause some councilmembers
to oppose B22-0154 for budgetary reasons.
Advocates for the bill are hopeful that the committee could agree to establishing
a timeline for setting up a grievance process in DDS, rather than stopping to
negotiate the structure and price tag for a grievance system, so that the bill can
move forward.
I’ll keep you posted on the
bill’s progress. In the meantime, PLEASE
REACH OUT TO THE AT-LARGE MEMBERS OR TO NADEAU, TRAYON WHITE OR BRANDON TODD IF
YOU’RE IN THEIR WARDS. We need to move
into the 21st century of disability rights in D.C., then get ready
to help extend those rights to others who do not currently qualify for
supports. You can make a difference,
now, by letting the council hear from you on this bill.
It’s harder, of course, for those
of us in D.C. to affect the national debate on health care and Medicaid, since
we have no direct representation at the national level. But what you can do is contact anyone you
know in the fifty states and urge them to write or call their senators over the
4th of July break. Tell them
that they need to do the right thing and keep Medicaid intact, for our
community and for all Americans in need of that safety net. We’re all in this together, and our country
must not lose sight of this essential fact.
Before closing, a shout-out to
Omonigho Ufomata, who has been such a diligent and responsive member on the
DDS/SODA staff (see Acronyms you Should Know page!). Best of luck to her as she moves on to the
D.C. Department of Health.
And finally, we all need a party –
especially a party in a great, great cause.
The Quality Trust (https://www.dcqualitytrust.org)
is holding its annual gala and marking its 15th anniversary on July
15th at the Renaissance Hotel downtown. It will be quite a bash, with some very special
guests, and landlubbers will enjoy our new off-the-water venue. Incidentally, the Quality Trust board (on
which I serve) has added six new members over the course of the past year, and
the organization is taking on ever more important responsibilities now that the
Evans lawsuit has closed out. Come help celebrate
the successes of our local disability community and dedicate ourselves to the
battles ahead! I look forward to seeing
you there – contact Phyllis Holton (Phyllis Holton (pholton@dcqualitytrust.org) or Courtney
Clark (cclark@dcqualitytrust.org)
for tickets and information.