Take Action to End the Waiting Lists!
Posted by BPDD at 4:41 PM
2 comments - Categories: Advocacy Opportunities | DAWN Alerts | Miscellaneous
Bills that would lift the caps on enrollment of Wisconsin’s long-term care programs have been introduced, but no hearings have been scheduled. These bills are in danger of failing.
State legislators – both senators and representatives – need to hear again about the benefits of long-term care services. Two bills have been introduced that would lift the caps on enrollment in Family Care and IRIS and also expand the programs statewide. Assembly Bill 477 and Senate Bill 380 would both end the waiting lists for services.
The bills have not been scheduled yet for hearings. Time is running out. Bills must make it through the legislative process by March 15 or they fail. Your legislators have the power to demand hearings for these bills. They need to hear from you that you want hearings on these bills.
If you or a member of your family is waiting for services to live independently in your community, contact your legislators and tell them about your struggles. If you receive services through Family Care or IRIS, contact your legislators and tell them your story and why long-term care is important to you.
Find out who your legislators are and how to contact them. It is easy to do and very important.
Thank you for being an advocate!
Barbara Wentzel wrote on 01/30/12 4:30 PM
I have sent e-mails to my senator and representative (Lasee and Ott) and to my developmentally disabled sister's senator and representative (Ellis and Kaufert) to ask them to lift the caps on the waiting lists. My sister does receive aid from IRIS at the present time; however, they are threatening to dis-enroll her because she lives in the CBRF she moved into with the county's blessing along with our parents in 2007 and now she is supposed to move out of the only home she has known for over 4 years because it is too big. Our family has appealed the decision and I have also asked both senators and assemblymen to help uphold our appeal if possible. Without continued assistance, my sister would have a financial hardship and our family can no longer afford to pay the difference between her room and board costs and the medical care and needs she receives from IRIS. While we are an IRIS success story, we are on the brink of becoming an IRIS casualty as well.