ADAPT Action News Bulletin
May 11, 1998
Contact: Mike Auberger (901) 528-1800 M-4
Jennifer Burnett (901) 781-4091
On May 11th, ADAPT is demonstrating at the Tennessee State Office
Building
to demand that Governor Sundquist make changes in Tennessee's long term
care system. ADAPT is protesting the pitiful job Tennessee has done in
creating programs to give people with disabilities and older Tennesseans
a
choice.
Over 600 ADAPT members from across the nation are occupying the
Governor's
Memphis State Office Building. They have been in the Governor's Memphis
office since 11AM, and the Governor has refused to negotiate with them.
Two hours into the protest, the Governor closed the State Office Building
, sending state workers home. At 3PM Pat Scroggs, the Governor's
Official
Regional Representative spoke to protesters in her office, leaving
abruptly when protesters refused to leave her office. She refused to
look
at the demands.
ADAPT is demanding that the Governor seek an amendment to the current
Tennessee Medicaid Waiver which, in Shelby County is 12 years out of
date.
The State could do this by simply submitting a letter to Health Care
Financing Administration (HCFA). Specifically, ADAPT wants the following
changes to be addressed in the amendment: 1) The current Medicaid Waiver
requires the individual to be "home-bound" which means they may only
leave their home 5 times a month. ADAPT wants the home-bound requirement
removed. 2) The current waiver requires the person to need 24 hour care.
There are many people, locked away in institutions in Tennessee today,
who
can live in the community with far fewer hours. ADAPT wants people to
have flexible service. 3) The current waiver exists in only 4 of
Tennessee's 95 counties. If a person wants to take advantage of the
waiver they must move to Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville, or Chattanooga to
get services. ADAPT wants the waiver to be statewide.
ADAPT held a press conference outside the State Office Building at 8PM
while 200 members continue to hold the 12th floor governor's office. The
Governor continues to refuse to speak to ADAPT, and is not allowing food,
water, or medications into the building. ADAPT will continue it's
occupation until the Governor communicates his agreement with their
demands. Memphis Mayor Herreton stated his support of the demands and
has
communicated this with the Governor.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION on American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) Please visit our website at http://www.adapt.org/
For direct inquiries regarding this press release please use the contact information at the beginning of this message or Email adaptpr(AT)adapt.org
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