The message below was forwarded by an advocate for a continuum of care. These are the contacts for those in Washington State – People from every state should write their representatives to ensure that our most vulnerable are treated fairly and with human dignity – not negligence.
PLEASE ACT NOW! Please use this email to send a letter to the National Council on Disability PublicComment@ncd.gov
National Council on Disability (NCD) is a federally funded organization advising the Administration on Disability Issues. NCD has launched an all – out attack on facility care (institutions). They propose the closure of all facilities over 3 beds. They have even created a Toolkit for community advocates to follow in order to affect closures. They refer to deinstitutionalization as “unfinished business”. To the best of my knowledge, we have never had a representative of this organization visit any of our RHCs. These are the people advising President Obama and Congress regarding the supports & services needed for the most vulnerable. If this group cannot represent both sides of the care question (institutions and community) they should not receive federal funding.
With the above in mind, please write, fax, telephone or e-mail the NCD regarding their position on congregate care. Tell them our loved ones, living at the RHCs, are unable to receive the supports & services they need other than in our facilities. The quality assurance within the community must be brought up to the same standards required by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. All of this takes planning, time and money. All are in short supply at this time.
NCD, the President and Congress must be told not all individuals can successfully live in the community. Many have tried and failed OR the community has failed them. VOR has contacted NCD and the White House with its concerns and objections. Now it is our turn.
The contact information for the NCD is: National Council for Disability, 1331 F Street NW, Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004; Telephone: 202-272-2022; Fax: 202-272-2004; E-mail: website – http://www.ncd.gov. At ncd.gov website you can click on their e-mail contact on the lower left hand side.
The President & Congress are best contacted through e-mail, fax or telephone. The White House contacts are: www.whitehouse.gov or 202-456-1111. The mailing address for the White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500. Our Congressional Delegation can be reached as follows:
Sen Patty Murray 202-224-2621/F-202-224-0238
Sen Maria Cantwell 202-224-3441/F-202-228-0514
Rep Suzan DelBene -1st 202-225-6311/F-202-226-1606
Rep Rick Larsen-2nd 202-225-2605/F-202-225-4420
Rep Jaime Herrera Buetler-3rd 202-225-3536/F-202-225-3478
Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers-4th 202-225-2006/F-202-225-3392
Rep Doc Hastings -5th 202-225-5816/F-202-225-3251
Rep Derek Kilmer-6th 202-225-3251
Rep Jim McDermott-7th 202-225-3106/F-202-225-6197
Rep Dave Reichert-8th 202-225-7761/F-202-225-4282
Rep Adam Smith-9th 202-225-8901/F-202-225-5893
Rep Denny Heck-10th 202-225-9740/F-202-225-0129
Website addresses are also a link for contact. Senators (last name.senate.gov); Representatives (lastname.house.gov)
Please send them your thoughts about the need for facility care as part of the continuum of care – the Safety Net – for our most vulnerable.
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