POTENTIAL ACTIONS FOR OFFICIALS

Federal Representatives

Require Medicaid to offer a choice between institutionalization and personal assistance/home supports. One option is endorsement of MiCASSA.

State Representatives

Encourage expansion of self-directed personal assistance (Department of Health).
Monitor counties to assure that they provide information on self-directed personal assistance (Department of Health).
Encourage counties to implement cash and counseling (Department of Health).
Eliminate "fiscal assessment" (Department of Health).
Expand "self-determination" (individual budgeting) and "home of your own" initiatives (Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and Office of Mental Health).

County Representatives

Expand self-directed personal assistance and encourage additional agencies to provide this service.
Eliminate "task-based assessment."
Support "cash and counseling" demonstration project.
Provide written information on self-directed personal assistance and cash and counseling to all eligible individuals and caregivers.
Provide written information on appeal procedures to all eligible individuals and caregivers.