Has Your State Applied for Funding?

Ask that Your State Apply for Funding to Transition People From Institutional Living Back to the Community

The health care reform bill recently signed into law includes an opportunity for states to receive federal funding to support efforts to transition people from institutional living back into the community. Check to see if your state has not yet applied for this funding. If not, we need you to contact your State Health Director to ask that your state take advantage of this opportunity.

Here's how you can help:

Call, email, or fax your State Health Director and convey the following information:

• I am a spinal cord injured person living this state (or have a family member, friend, etc. living with a spinal cord injury in this state):
• I understand that the health care reform bill includes an opportunity for states to apply for funding to help people move from institutions back into the community;
• This is critical for people with spinal cord injury and I am asking that our state apply for this funding.

Click here to find out if your state is on the list and who to contact.

Background:
The health care reform bill includes an extension of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. This program has helped states build the infrastructure necessary to help people move out of institutions expand access to home and community based services. The bill provides an additional $2.25 billion for fiscal years 2012-2016, to support state efforts to transition individuals from institutional living back to the community. States currently participating will now have an opportunity to expand the scope of programs and a grant solicitation to bring new states into the program has been released.