It's a pleasure to be here today. My name is Ivy. I've been using the Medicaid Consumer Directed Waiver for over a decade to live in the community. Medicaid pays my personal care assistants. The waiver assists me to give back to my community by volunteering, going to school, and getting a job.
It is three times cheaper to care for somebody in his or her home than in an institution. Virginia spends $250,000 per person annually to keep just one in an institution. If the state is really serious about closing institutions, and to see people with disabilities living independently and wants more of those individuals in the workplace, personal care assistants need to be paid more and given benefits. This will secure PCAs as a serious career field and increase the quality of care, which will eliminate a huge barrier to me and others.
Virginia can save a considerable amount of money by complying the Olmstead Decision of 1999, which states people with disabilities have the right to live in their community rather than segregated institutionally. People with disabilities should not have to wait to have a Personal Care Assistant. Long waiver waiting lists that Virginia currently has could force people into institutions, which is the exact opposite of what the state is trying to do.
The current budget allocates $262 million each year to fund the 5 state institutions. Virginia is one of only 10 states that haven’t closed a single institution. A big key to closing institutions is ending the waiting list for waivers so there can be care at home. As I said before waivers are three times cheaper, so what are you waiting for? The money could be used for issues talked about about today like education, mental health services and transportation.
This state is ranked 48th in the country for its community-based residential services for people with disabilities. That is shameful. I hope you act now to make Virginia a state we all can be proud of.
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