Our
Mission? Choice Centered Medicaid
The mission of Dora's Hope is
simple: To no longer allow the
government to decide where Americans
will live in order to receive Medicaid
long-term care benefits.
Let's be clear: the issue is not nursing
homes, the people who run nursing homes
or the people who work in nursing
homes. Indeed, I have the highest
respect and admiration for those who
care for our loved ones.
The issue is who will decide where you
or your loved one will receive long-term
care services...the government or you!
Click on the picture of Joe and his
mom Dora
Health Care in exchange for our liberty
and, indeed, our physical freedom, is
not a solution to our nation's long term
care problem. It is the right of every
American, not the government, to decide
for themselves where they will live the
remainder of their lives.
Like many middle class Americans, my
mother Dora spent her life enjoying the
freedom given her by God and country.
Within the boundaries of freedom she
chose to be a good citizen, a good
mother and a good wife. When it
mattered most in her life we, as a
society through our
government's policy, took that freedom
away from her forcing her to spend the
last five years of her life in a nursing
home and apart from her family.
Recognizing her despair, I asked the
Connecticut state legislature to pass a
ground breaking program called "Money
Follows the Person" (MFP) so I could
bring her home. This program allows the
money to "follow" the patient giving
residents of nursing homes the
opportunity to spend their lives
surrounded by their loved ones. The
state legislature voted unanimously for
the program and the governor signed it
into law. All within 6 months.
However, while I won the battle I lost
the war. My mother passed away on
December 17th 2007, almost a year and
half before the first person came home
under MFP.
Since the program was started in January
of 2009, hundreds of people have applied
to go home. In the state's own words
they were "overwhelmed" at the response.
As well, the outpouring of public
support throughout my efforts on behalf
of my mother was heartwarming. Since my
journey began, 30,000 people - average
citizens like you and me - have sent me
letters of support. Many of them told
me their own stories of similar
heartbreak. It is because of these
folks and those who continue to call and
email me that I have continued my
quixotic quest of this "Impossible
Dream."
It is time for America to "honor" our
mothers and fathers and restore to them,
and the disabled of all ages, the right
to "choose." No one else need suffer
the anguish of being forced to live
apart from their loved ones or to never
enjoy their own God-given right of
freedom again. We can fix the system
through a national choice centered
Medicaid program. From Boise to Baton
Rouge institutional bias in Medicaid
exists throughout our country with the
exception of a handful of states.
How much does it cost? The answer will
shock you and put a smile on your face!
For some explanation click on the above
picture of my mother and me. It will
bring you to a wonderfully balanced
front page New York Times article that
featured us.
Next week I will send you more
information that further analyzes the
question of cost so that you can
accurately and positively convey the
information to your friends and family.
In the coming weeks, as well, I will
share with you ideas of how you can
help.
