John Edwards.

1. Do you support the passage and full implementation of the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act, MiCASSA?

I am a cosponsor of the Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act (MiCASSA) that allows individuals to choose community-based care with Medicare coverage.

In addition to supporting MiCASSA and other bills to help people with disabilities, I have proposed a $3.5 billion "Living with Dignity" Initiative. My plan is built on basic American principles: choice for families, the chance to get care in the home and community whenever possible, dignity and respect for both families and workers, and accountability for providers and the government.

The Living with Dignity Initiative will:

* Fund State Efforts to Expand Home Care and Reform the Long-Term Care System, including tax credits for long-term care; asset and income protection programs that prevent families from spending down their incomes, and experiments with long-term care insurance.

* Double Resources for Respite Care and other Support to Families Who Care for Loved Ones, including an Internet clearinghouse to give families more information about available services.

* Recruit and Retain Nursing Home and Home Care Workers by providing resources to improve wages, training, and working conditions for aides and establishing strong workplace safety regulations.

* Improve the Quality of Home and Community Based Care and Nursing Homes and Crack Down on Patient Abuse through national nursing care standards; increased national-level enforcement against abusive facilities; expanding inspections; and increasing penalties for facilities that don't provide decent care. I will also offer awards for excellence and grants so facilities can improve quality with measures like reducing patient-staff ratios and expanding recreational opportunities for residents.

2. Do you support the passage of legislation that will implement the concept of Money Follows the Person that is included in S.1394?

YES. I support the Money Follows the Person Act of 2003. As part of my Living with Dignity Initiative, I also support initiatives that enable people with disabilities to choose how they receive their care and live their lives.

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3. Will you work with the states to assure they implement the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision so all people with disabilities, old and young, have the right to support services in the most integrated setting?

YES 3a. What specific actions would you take?

The Supreme Court's Olmstead decision held that the ADA requires states to offer services in the most integrated, community-based setting possible for individuals with disabilities. The ruling said that a disabled individual who is able to live in the community must be given the choice whether to do so. This was an important victory for disability rights.

Unfortunately, states are still struggling to implement Olmstead. I believe that the federal government must help states by supporting the transition to community-based services, and increasing enforcement to ensure compliance with the law. States need resources to do this, at a time when they are already cash-strapped. I have proposed to offer fiscal relief to states in these difficult times. These dollars will help states expand Medicaid coverage, including prescription drugs and personal assistance, to those with disabilities. It will also help states meet their obligation to give people with disabilities the choice of care in their communities and homes as well as in institutions. I will also give states the resources they need to reform their long-term care systems by providing benefits such as tax credits for long-term care, asset and income protection programs that prevent families from spending down their incomes, and experiments with long-term care insurance.

4. Will you appoint a Secretary of Health and Human Services that will have a Community First philosophy and will review all Medicare and Medicaid policies with the intention of removing all policies that contribute to the institutional bias that exists in the current long term care system?

YES. The Edwards Administration will be committed to ending the era of forced institutionalization. The Department of Health and Human Services under President Edwards will ensure the dignity of all Americans with disabilities by enabling them to live and work in the community if they so choose and are able.

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5. Will you appoint a high level task force to review the funding of long term services and supports and make recommendations on concrete ways to reverse the institutional funding bias?

YES

6. Will you support/develop long term service and support policies that enhance the consumer direction/self determination of personal attendant services by allowing persons to select, manage and dismiss attendants?

YES. I believe that adults with disabilities should have the widest possible choice available for their services, including the ability to choose and manage their personal aides.

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7. Will you support/develop long term service and support policies that will demedicalize personal attendant services by allowing physician/nurse assignment/delegation as well as tasks being defined as non medical?

YES

8. Will you support/develop long term service and support policies that will develop wage and benefit incentives so that there is a large pool of attendants available to meet the growing personal attendant service needs in this country? Currently you can make more money working in a fast food restaurant than as an attendant.

YES. We have a critical shortage of health care attendants and nurses in this country. That's why, under my Living with Dignity Initiative, I lay out specific steps to attract home health aides and attendants to the industry, by treating them with the same dignity and respect that we ask them to give to their patients. As President, I will provide resources to improve wages, training, and working conditions for aides. I will also establish strong workplace safety regulations such as the ergonomics regulations discarded by President Bush.

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9. Do you support the integration mandate in the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA and believe this mandate is a federal civil right?

YES. 9a. If elected what actions will you take to protect this right?

I believe strongly that we must ensure that the ADA remains consistent with the broad goal of achieving equal opportunities and breaking down barriers for people with disabilities. Fair treatment of people with disabilities is civil rights issue, and it must be a priority. As President I will support measures to achieve this goal, to help people with disabilities achieve full integration in society.

10. Will you include people with disabilities, including ADAPT members, in the development of all policies that effect the community long term service and support system?

YES. Policies affecting people with disabilities can only be meaningful - and successful - if they are crafted with the help of people who understand first-hand the frustrations of disabled Americans. I welcome the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in reforming our community long term service and support system so that it is more responsive to their needs and concerns.

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