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Maybe Mom (and Medicare) can go home againThursday, August 31, 2006 SOUTHBURY - Resident Joseph Stango's efforts to bring his mother home for the healthcare she needs has received a big boost. The federal government has made $1.75 billion available for a program to provide seniors home-based services. In Connecticut, 100 people will be chosen to participate in Money Follows the Person, as the demonstration program is known. The state Department of Social Services is preparing its application for the grant, which must be submitted by Nov. 1, according to spokesman Matthew Barrett. Stango led a successful grassroots effort to involve the state in Money Follows the Person, which will be funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services over five years through competitive grants. Sen. Edith Gelt Prague, D-Columbia, who was instrumental in moving the Money Follows the Person legislation through the General Assembly, said Wednesday she believed every state that puts in an application for the program will be funded. "It's $1.75 billion over five years," she said. "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will award the demonstration grants on or about Jan. 1, 2007, and the demonstration will continue through Dec. 30, 2011." Barrett said Wednesday the social services department will gather public input as part of the application process, but he didn't know how or when that would be done. "We intend to submit our application in a timely fashion," he said. "We'll get some kind of consumer input as part of the application." Stango said Wednesday the office of U.S. Rep. John Larson, D- 1st District, had been instrumental in keeping him apprised of Money Follows the Person's progress. "I'm hoping the program will be up and running within the first quarter of 2007," Stango said. His mother, Dora, is currently in River Glen Healthcare Center in Southbury. Stango stressed his mother is receiving excellent care at River Glen. But like many seniors, Dora Stango would rather be at home -- in this case at her son's home in Southbury. Stango said his next challenge is to make sure his mother is among the 100 people picked for the program. Barrett was unable to confirm how the participants will be chosen. Stango plans to go back to the Legislature and ask that Money Follows the Person be turned into a "universal project," rather than a demonstration program, "so that everyone in the state of Connecticut in a nursing home has a chance to go home." Rally Hopes To Help the Disabled Remain Independent Disability advocates rallied at the State Office Building Thursday morning urging action by the state. Kansas ADAPT is a grassroots organization out of Lawrence. They want the state medicaid director to apply for a federal grant that would help those in need get money for home and community-based services, instead of having to live in a nursing home or another institutionalized setting. The deadline to apply for the federal grant money is September fifth. Those at this morning's rally say it's all about freedom. An official with the state told 27 News the letter of intent to reply is being worked on and that they're working with the state SRS to submit the letter at the end of this week before next Tuesday's deadline. Story Created: Aug 31, 2006 at 7:28 PM EST
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