Ohio Wages War Against Disabled Citizens and Their Caregivers (part three)

Dear Representative Robert Sprague,

My name is Peggy Cooley. 

I ADAMANTLY oppose the elimination of Independent Providers (IPs).

Peggy & her daughter, Kit

I am the mother and legal guardian of my daughter, Kit, who lives with multiple special needs: Cerebral Palsy ( spastic quadriplegia, cortical blindness and a seizure disorder. Kit is on a DODD waiver and continues to live with me and her father in our home. She is a beautiful "social butterfly" and she shares her joy for life with everyone she encounters. She is currently 23 years old and participates in an active and vital adult activity day program, five days a week, along with 20 other "friends".

Kit feels safe, loved, secure and respected by her five Independent Providers, most of whom have been her caregivers for over a DECADE. These caregivers are like family to us. We love, respect and trust them to care for our child. These wonderful caregivers take Kit out in the community; including meals out at restaurants, trips to the shopping malls, out for walks in the parks, etc. Kit is also friends with other members of her caregivers families. Kit has benefitted in every aspect of her life because these caregivers are a big part of her life. I can't imagine ever losing them or of ever losing the FREEDOM TO CHOSE who works with Kit in our own home.

I can never go back to using an agency and none of Kit's providers will ever go back to working for an agency. Her caregivers worked for years at an agency for the sole purpose of providing care for Kit. I recruited, trained ( a 6 to 8 week process), and did all of the scheduling of hours. They NEVER worked for any other agency client the whole time that they were with the agency. At some point the agency cut their already low wages, became ridiculously intrusive in our home and ignored my requests that they stop taking Kit's vital signs, as there was no order from her doctor that this was necessary. The agency nurses would end up scaring Kit and then she would cry and end up biting her wrists out of frustration. I was told, incorrectly, by the agency that I would lose the ability to bill hours for the aides if I did not allow them to take vital signs. It got to be so stressful for me  that all of our caregivers agreed to go through the process of becoming Independent Providers to reduce the stress I was feeling. I gave the agency notice that this was happening and the agency (Maxim Health Care) tried to extort $5000 dollars from each of them for allegedly being in violation of a "non-solicitation agreement. My husband made a few phone calls and within 72 hours an attorney from a law firm, hired by Maxim, contacted us and his first sentence was " tell us what Maxim needs to do to make this go away."

The white paper written by the Ohio Health Transformation department  was the most disturbing document I have ever read. It was a blatant attack on the 13,000 Independent Providers and came as a total shock to me. IT SCARED ME !!!!!  I was outraged by the contents of this document and I was INSULTED that Governor Kasich and Mr. Moody could ever assume that I would be so naive and uniformed not to see through their scam.!!  This is disgusting and outrageous behavior by the Kasich administration, PLEASE stop this madness !!!  

Thank you for the opportunity to share my feelings on this issue. I pray that you and the other members on the Human Services Committee will do the right and ethical thing and have the proposal to eliminate Independent Providers removed from the budget.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Cooley

Kasich's fraud prevention plan poses dangers to disabled citizens

To learn more about how Ohio's Governor John Kasich's plan would impact people with disabilities, take a look at this article "OHIO GOVERNOR KASICH'S PROPOSAL WOULD INSTITUTIONALIZE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES."

Then, when you are sufficiently disgusted, sign the petition below and share this post on your social media outlets. Thank you!

Jane Hash - MyCare Consumer Advocate Co-Chair

Dear Readers,

It is no secret that I have been fiercely vocal on social media, regarding the sloppy and irresponsible manner in which the MyCare Ohio program has been implemented. Numerous elderly and disabled citizens are suffering in ways that are unimaginable. 

The population that is most affected by the MyCare Ohio crisis, are those who are no stranger to abuse and neglect because of their physical and/or intellectual vulnerabilities. Many are afraid and unable to advocate for themselves for fear of further mistreatment. Instead of reaching out to Social Workers, Case Managers, or representatives of the Managed Care Plans, these victims of MyCare Ohio are reaching out to me...Jane Hash.

In case you are wondering why these folks would come to me for help, just glance at this blog's description there to your right. When I said, "I am the politically incorrect voice of the unheard" I meant it. These victims are about to be heard...loud and clear.

Allow me to reintroduce myself... My name is Jane Hash and I am the MyCare Consumer Advocate Co-Chair for the East Central Region. I have volunteered to take on this role to make sure all of the heartbreaking and compelling personal stories that have been shared with me, are heard by those who have the power to make the needed changes.

Below is a brief description of our plan of action. I encourage you to share this information because we still are unclear as to how many people are being affected. Also, if you are a dual-eligible who is being affected by MyCare Ohio, please look below and join the conference call that is scheduled for your area. Consumers - this is your opportunity, your safe place, to share your story. I will go to battle for you but I need to know from you EXACTLY what you want me to fight for.

In solidarity,

Jane Hash

Date: Friday, October 31st

Times: (1:00pm -2:00pm Northwest, Northeast and Northeast Central), (2:00pm – 3:00pm East Central and West Central); and (3:00pm – 4:00pm Central and Southwest)

Not sure what region you're in? Click here and scroll down to map.

The call-in number (free call) and participant code is: 
(877) 366-0711 Participant code - 53257144#

What you can do:

• ·       Let your voice be heard
• ·     Share your story
• ·     Help provide a feedback loop the Plan, State and Federal Government
• ·     Want a say in your treatment delivery
• ·     Want to ensure you are getting your medical equipment
• ·     Happy or frustrated with MyCare Ohio

  RSVP - For more information or to join the coalition contact:

John Arnold

OCVIC, Project Coordinator

jarnold@uhcanohio.org

614-456-0060 x 237

John Kasich fails disabled and elderly Ohioans

One day this week my PCA (Home Health Aide) got a call on her cell phone while she was on duty at my house. Generally, I prefer my PCA’s do not take personal calls while on duty but I could see such concern wash over her face, I told her to answer it.

My house is small so of course, I heard the conversation that followed. It was my PCA’s other Client calling her to say she had been left abandoned by the PCA who was supposed to provide service to her that day and she was hungry and thirsty…unable to prepare food for herself.

That other PCA is not a criminal. She just didn’t have gas in her car to get to work because she has not been paid since the premature implementation of MyCare Ohio.

Hearing this conversation made my heart sink into my stomach. That could easily be me that was left without basic life sustaining sustenance because my Caregivers have not been paid consistently either due to MyCare Ohio.

Then I started to feel guilty because my PCA has just helped me prepare a delicious organic, gluten-free meatloaf dinner. It made me sick to look at it, knowing someone with similar circumstances was going hungry.

In a Hulk-like transformation, the Gimp Avenger in me came out…pushing emotions aside and formulating a plan-of-action.

Step One: I had my PCA prepare a plate of meatloaf for this disabled stranger (PCA’s are not allowed to disclose their Client’s personal information) and asked her to deliver it to her immediately. I also armed her with contact information for the Universal Healthcare Action Network, which is a nonprofit advocacy group that is intervening to assist victims of MyCare Ohio.

Step Two: Begin drafting a public statement to Governor John Kasich. Prior to the launch of MyCare Ohio Governor Kasich and Greg Moody, Director of the Health and Transformation Office, had a whole lot of wonderful things to say about MyCare Ohio. Once it launched though, they fell silent on the matter. When my statement is completed, I will post it…might possibly make a video as well.

I am not sharing this story with you because I think I deserve a gold star for sharing my dinner with a stranger. I am sharing this story to bring attention to the fact that there are disabled and elderly Ohioans who are likely going without dinner because of MyCare Ohio. That is abuse.

TO BE CONTINUED

Stuck In The System

Recently, I had to learn a harsh reality by making a bad decision.  In my defense, I did extensive research and truly believed I was making a wise decision.  This is my story...

I receive SSI because I was born with a significant disability.  I receive Food Stamps (EBT) because SSI is not enough to cover all living expenses.  I receive Home Care services because I can't get myself out of bed or to the bathroom.  I also have a wall full of professional credentials and a desire to provide for myself as much as possible instead of being a drain on the system because I have a great deal to contribute.  

Toward the tail end of 2012 I read about Ohio's Medicaid Buy-In Program.  It seemed too good to be true so I made a few phone calls to confirm that I was understanding the program correctly.  All parties agreed that by enrolling in the Medicaid Buy-In Program I could start my own business, earn money, and not lose any of the critical services that I depend on.  However, when I reach a certain income level, I will lose the Food Stamps and SSI and eventually have to make payments to continue Home Care services.  I thought that sounded great since my goal is to get off the system.  "Sign me up" I said!

My home-based business started out slow yet steady.  Like any new business, any money made the first year or so isn't really profit.  It just gets reinvested into the business.  All seemed to be going in a prosperous direction.  

Then I received two letters in the mail.  The first letter was from Medicaid, informing me that they were reducing my Food Stamps.  For every dollar paid to me from my Customers, Medicaid will take a dollar from my Food Stamps.  "Yikes," I thought.  I didn't panic until I opened the second letter though, which was from SSI.  For every dollar paid to me from my Customers, SSI will take a dollar from my SSI payments.  I thought this must be a mistake because it did not make sense to me that SSI/Medicaid would take away from me twice as much as I actually earned.  So, I called the Social Security hotline to clear up this misunderstanding.  

Now, if you personally know me or you are a follower of any of my blogs, then you know I'm pretty thick skinned.  It takes a lot to really traumatize me.  Well, after being on hold for more than ten minutes, I was finally connected to a Social Security representative.  While she was "pulling up my file" I started to state my case and explain that either I am not correctly understanding the wording of the letters sent to me or there was a mistake made on Social Security's end because the situation at hand just did not make sense.  I honestly don't know if this woman heard anything I said.  As soon as she retrieved my file, she started screaming at me.  I am not saying she used a stern tone.  I am saying that my friend who was in a different room in my house came running to see what was going on because he could hear her screaming at me.  She was not on speaker-phone either.  The message I got from her abusive behavior is that there was no misunderstanding on anyone's part.  This is how it is and I can take it or leave it.  

It took me hours to recover enough to react.  I felt victimized.  She treated me like I was stealing from her.  My next step was no more productive than the previous though.  I called my Medicaid case-worker, only to find that she had been transferred and the new case-worker had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the Medicaid Buy-In Program.

I think the Medicaid Buy-In Program is a great theory but is very, very poorly implemented.  Until the powers that be figure out how to make this program work, it is not practical for me to pursue employment.