Press Release

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW MEXICO! MFP Passes New Mexico Legislature Passes \"Money Follows the Person Act\" Allows People with Disabilities of all Ages to Choose Community Living New Mexico State Legislature ended its 30-day session today with passage of a bill to be sent to Governor Richardson for action that provides people with disabilities, both young and old, to be able to move to community-living from an institution-like setting. The passage of \"Money Follows the Person Act\", sponsored by Representative Edward Sandoval of Albuquerque and Senator Dede Feldman of Albuquerque, dove-tails with Federal legislation signed into law by President Bush in the Omnibus Budget bill Wednesday, February 15, 2006. \"This is great news for disabled people in New Mexico,\" Gil Yildiz, director of Albuquerque's Independent Living Resource Center, said. \" 'Money Follows the Person' allows our people who want out of nursing homes to live in our communities to choose to do so for the first time, without the State having to provide additional money.\" MFP Act will allow a person in a nursing facility to choose community living, and have the money that has supported the person in the facility to follow the person to the community. \"The money has already been budgeted, so it's not going to cost the State any additional service money,\" Sherry Watson, director of the San Juan Center for Independence in Farmington, said. \"Finally, our people who have been 'locked up' will have an opportunity to get out!\" The State legislation, if signed by the Governor, will fit with the Federal legislation signed by the President. The Federal legislation will allow states to choose MFP and get enhanced Medicaid match to encourage adoption of MFP. New Mexico would get an 86/14 match for Federal Medicaid funds to assist in the transition period as the State implements MFP. \"This is what's we've been fighting for, for years,\" Bob Kafka, national ADAPT organizer and legislation developer said, adding, \"Our folks have been locked up without a choice for years. These bills will help to open doors. We've been doing MFP in Texas for four years and it's really worked to 'Free Our People'. And, New Mexico is helping lead the way.\" The Federal legislation, which has a $1.7 billion appropriation over five years, beginning January 1, 2007, will provide states incentives to adopt MFP. \"New Mexico is one of the leading states in the country when it comes to community living. We really put our money where our heart is,\" Michael Murphy, co-chair of CLIC (Coalition for Living Independently in the Community), said. New Mexico currently allocates about 67 percent of its long-term service Medicaid dollars to community living; nationally the average is just over 35 percent, with the other 65 percent going to nursing homes and institutions. \"MFP just gives the State another key to unlocking doors that have kept our people apart from the communities where everyone else lives.\" \"I spent many years in a nursing home,\" said Sarah Harris of Hobbs, \"and I really hope the Governor signs this bill. People should have a choice.\" Artist Dennis Arviso of Fort Wingate was injured at age 23 and \"it took four years to wake up and come out. I painted my anger on the canvas and then fixed it. Painting slowly brought me out. \"(Right now) they (other people) are threatening to put me in a nursing home. I want to be independent; to me it's a threat. I'll lose my ability to get out and socialize with the public. Here I can go out anytime I want. In a nursing home, only certain people can take you out. You get a sheet of paper that has room for 5 names - not your 30 or 40 friends. I don't want to be imprisoned. Also, there you don't get the kind of care you get with someone coming to your home. No one would care for me there like they do here at home.\" With MFP, people with disabilities, not other people, would be able to choose to return to community living from a nursing home and/or institution. \"Everybody else makes choices, why not people with disabilities?\" Larry Maestas of Albuquerque said. He works for the State's Department of Labor. For further information, contact CLIC co-chair Michael Murphy at 505 439-1112 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, or, mikecil@tularosa.net