NYS Independent Living Council, Inc.

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Medicaid Buy In-Not Living Up to its Full Potential
By Susan Cohen

Leslie is a working woman who is blind. Leslie was diagnosed with Lymphoma in the Spring of 2006. She needed the support of an aide so she could keep working. She also needed financial assistance due to numerous co-pays for her cancer treatment. Leslie applied for the Medicaid Buy In for Working People with Disabilities in Albany County in May, 2006. When she went to the Social Services office in Albany County, the workers did not understand the program she was talking about. They gave her the wrong packet to fill out. Part of the problem was related to her disability: because she is blind, Leslie was unable to determine that she was filling out the wrong paper work. “They really needed to offer me a reasonable accommodation, such as someone to read the form for me, or to have it in Braille” stated Leslie. It took three different sets of paperwork, a lot of misinformation provided to Leslie, and a call from a disability lawyer on Leslie’s behalf before the Medicaid Buy In was administered properly. In late December 2006, after eight months of delay, Leslie was approved for the Medicaid Buy In program. Continued on page 2

Spitzer and Patterson take the Helm as Governor and Lieutenant Governor

On January 1st 2007, in the first ever outdoor inauguration, Elliott Spitzer and David Patterson took the oath of office as the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York State.

Spitzer and Patterson, who won by approximately 70% of the vote, vowed on Day One that “Everything Changes.”

Last spring at an ADA celebration in New York City, Spitzer and Patterson, pledged to include New Yorkers with Disabilities in their commitment to “One New York”.

This enthusiasm has been curbed a bit by some advocates who did not hear any mention of the issues of concern to individuals with disabilities in Spitzer’s State of the Sate address. The State of the State is typically viewed as a road map as to the Governor’s legislative priorities. The disability community is looking for the new administration to take leadership and keep the promises made at the ADA celebration event in New York City.

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