Action Report

The Medicaid Community Attendants Services and Supports Act will be a strong piece of legislation when it is introduced at the beginning of the next session; however, one of the major players in the arena of long-term care has not made a commitment to the bill. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is still straddling the fence over endorsement of MiCASSA.

The AARP office complex was the target of ADAPT for the final full day of demonstrations. Before moving on to the AARP, the membership of ADAPT met on the Mall between the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument for a quick update. Marva Ways told about the negotiations with the Bush campaign yesterday, and how the Republican leadership would rather cancel a half-million dollar fund-raiser than deal with ADAPT.

Mike Auberger read a statement dated October 3rd from the Gore/Leiberman campaign that is clearly a direct response to the ADAPT action from Monday. Quoting Al Gore the statement said:

"I believe it is time to have a national dialogue on how to eliminate the institutional bias of Medicaid and give people a real choice between nursing homes and home and community-based services."

Following a meeting of on the Mall, ADAPT marched north to the two office buildings of the national AARP. ADAPT held open the doors and floods of advocates packed the lobbies of both buildings. Entering "as visitors," ADAPT bunched up close, but did not block any doors or elevators and refrained from chanting. The presence of 500 advocates; however, raised the tension level of everyone in the building. Business continued peacefully.

ADAPT was poised around the elevators and security desks in both buildings. The ADAPT demands to meet and discuss MiCASSA went upstairs to officials in both buildings. ADAPT quietly waited to hear a response.

ADAPT is also listening for the AARP's encouragement for full implementation of Olmstead. The AARP's 34 million members need to know that they have a Constitutional right to live in their home or the community rather than inappropriate institutional placement.

Negotiations started right away lead by AARP member Barbara Toomer of Salt Lake City ADAPT. The national AARP is a very influential promoter of legislation around the Capitol and they are careful of what they put their name on. ADAPT impressed the AARP leadership that MiCASSA and Olmstead are critical issues for them to consider in their work around Washington.

After about an hour of negotiations, ADAPT had a letter signed by John Rother guaranteeing that the AARP legislative and leadership groups, including Horace Deets, will meet with ADAPT in the next 30 days. The agenda will include: the AARP's endorsement of MiCASSA and, support for fully implementing Olmstead.

ADAPT marched back to begin local grass-roots work to make sure that local AARP chapters will support MiCASSA and that the Bush campaign will remember its promises to ADAPT at every city in the country. But first, it was time for ADAPT to party.

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