Action Alert! Tell your Senators to Support Money Follows the Person!
December 13, 2018
Earlier this week, thanks to the advocacy of people like you, the House of Representatives passed the IMPROVE Act (H.R. 7217), which includes a provision to renew the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. We expect a vote in the Senate will follow soon – it could be as soon as today.
Call your Senators and tell them to support the IMPROVE Act, which renews the MFP program for three months.
The bill funds MFP for three months, and extends spousal impoverishment protections to Medicaid HCBS participants. By renewing MFP for three months, the IMPROVE Act gives the program a needed bridge into the new Congress in 2019, when we can advocate for a longer renewal. Call your Senators NOW and tell them to vote YES to help people with disabilities live in the community!
MFP helps people with disabilities and older adults who want to move out of nursing homes or other institutions get back into their communities. MFP has assisted more than 88,000 individuals voluntarily move into a setting of their choice – it has improved the lives of older adults and people with disabilities, saved states money, and led to better outcomes. That’s why nearly every state has participated in the program. However, MFP expired September 30, 2016 and states are running out of funding. People with disabilities deserve the right to live in the community, rather than spending their lives segregated into institutions.
URGE YOUR SENAOTRS TO VOTE YES ON THE IMPROVE ACT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY LIVING AND FUND MFP!
For more information, visit the Center for Public Representation: https://medicaid.publicrep.org/empower-care-act/.
Call your Senators
Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY) and ask to be connected to your Senators.
All Senators need to hear from the disability community. However, support from the Senators below is crucial to passing this legislation.
- Senator Toomey (PA)
- Senator Lee (UT)
- Senator Cruz (TX)
- Senator Paul (KY)
- Senator McConnell (KY)
Sample Call Script:
Hello, this is [Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State].
I am calling to express my concern about the expiration of the Money Follow the Person (MFP) program and to urge you to vote yes on the IMPROVE Act, which recently passed in the House.
MFP has enabled over 88,000 older adults and people with disabilities living in institutions to transition back to their communities. MFP is fiscally responsible: it has improved the quality of live for thousands of individuals while saving states money. The program has expired and states are scaling back their programs, and without funding, could have to completely eliminate them.
I am asking Senator [Senator’s Name] support the IMPROVE Act that recently passed in the House to reauthorize Money Follows the Person Program for three months.
Thank you for taking my call!
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address and zip code to ensure your call is tallied]
[Optional Add On]
Personal stories are the most effective form of advocacy. Talk about why Money Follows the Person is important for you or someone you know and love.
