Talking Points about the Community Choice Act

The Community Choice Act levels the playing field and assures choice in the long term “care” system. Right now, institutional “care” is mandated by the federal government. States MUST pay for nursing facility care. The Community Choice Act doesn’t create a new mandate, but it expands the existing mandate so that people who would be eligible for placement in a facility could have the CHOICE to live in the community with supports. The Community Choice Act would require that states have a community-based option for people who would otherwise be placed in an institutional setting. Until we get the Community Choice Act passed, institutional “care” will remain the standard/norm. As other states have run into financial problems, they have cut community based services in order to maintain funding for nursing facilities because the institutions are REQUIRED under federal Medicaid law and community services are not.