Community Choice Act of 2007 - H.R. 1621

The following is a synopsis of the legislation written by CCDI Governmental Consultant Phil Milsk:

H.R. 1621, the Community Choice Act of 2007, if enacted, would significantly benefit individuals with disabilities in Illinois who desire an array of community and home-based options for their long-term care. As introduced on March 21, 2007, by Illinois Representatives Davis and Shimkus, the bill would:

• Establish consumer controlled community-based attendant services and supports as a mandatory coverage under the Medicaid program by October 1, 2012.
• Provide that persons who are Medicaid-eligible and who require a nursing home, IMD or ICF-MR level of care would qualify for services under the bill.
• Prior to October 1, 2012, the bill would create an incentive for states to amend their State Medicaid Plans to incorporate community-based attendant services and supports as a covered service by allowing states to claim an enhanced FMAP rate for such services.
• Require each participating state to establish a statewide Development and Implementation Council, the majority of members being individuals with disabilities, elderly individuals and their representatives. (NOTE: This could replace our current Disability Services Advisory Committee established under the Disability Services Act of 2003.)
• Require state maintenance of effort
• Include as part of the service package the following in a home or community (including a school, workplace, recreational or religious) setting: assistance with activities of daily living and health-related tasks; the acquisition, maintenance and enhancement of skills necessary for the individual to accomplish activities of daily living and health related tasks; training on how to select, manage and dismiss attendants; backup systems or mechanisms to ensure continuity of services and supports (such as pagers). It does NOT include room and board, special education services, assistive technology devices or services, durable medical equipment or home modifications.
• Include as part of the covered system components the following: one-stop intake, referral and institutional diversion services; identification of and remedying of gaps and inequities in the State's current long-term care and support services, especially those based on factors such as age, severity of disability, type of disability, ethnicity, income, institutional bias, or similar factors; establishment of consumer participation and governance mechanisms; activities that enhance the skills, earnings, benefits, supply, career and future prospects of staff who provide community-based services and supports; family support services; health and wellness promotion; provider recruitment and enhancement activities; service and system coordination.

The bill also authorizes grants to promote systems change and capacity building.

Illinois currently ranks near the bottom of all states in per capita funding for community-based services and supports. We do not provide meaningful choice for consumers of disability services because our system is unbalanced in favor of institutional long-term care. The Community Choice Act of 2007 promises to significantly enhance community and home-based service options for individuals with disabilities in Illinois by no later than 2012. However, the enhanced FMAP incentive between 2007 and 2012 will give consumers, advocates and families an important tool to push for early implementation in Illinois. The availability of grants for systems change and capacity building will give Illinois the ability to use federal dollars to make meaningful changes in how it delivers services to individuals with disabilities.

The Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois strongly endorses the Community Choice Act of 2007 and urges its swift passage by both houses of Congress.