[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 87 (Friday, June 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            AMERICANS DISABLED FOR ATTENDANT PROGRAMS TODAY

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition today to 
discuss programs proposed by the Americans Disabled for Attendant 
Programs Today, a group known as ADAPT, that is working to help people 
who are disabled live normal lives.
  There is a curious provision in the Medicaid laws, one of many 
curious provisions in the Medicaid laws, which does not permit people 
to live at home in community-based settings as opposed to being in 
nursing homes. I have sought to persuade the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to change that program with a letter which I wrote to 
her on February 28, 1997, pointing out that ``it has been brought to my 
attention that considerable savings to the Medicaid Program could be 
achieved by redirecting long-term care funding toward community-based 
attendant services, and by requiring States to develop attendant 
service programs meeting national standards to assure that all people 
with disabilities have full access to such services and can live at 
home.''
  When the Secretary came for a hearing, the question was propounded 
and the response has been that ``HHS is currently considering such 
programs as a policy option but has not yet put them into effect. The 
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is funding a demonstration program that 
will be operational next year, and the Department is looking toward the 
results of that program before acting.''
  It is my thought, Mr. President, that there is a clear-cut need for 
this kind of a program to be put into effect forthwith, and if the 
Department of Health and Human Services does not do so, then it may be 
necessary to enact legislation which would require the Department to 
act in that way. In the meantime, the appropriations subcommittee, 
which I chair, has increased the funding for the independent living 
program by some $2.1 million for a $74.6 million allocation this year.
  I had occasion earlier this year to visit a group of people who are 
living at home and told them that I would display on the Senate floor 
their sweat shirts and send to them a video cassette. Sweat shirts are 
very popular these days. This one says, for those who might not be able 
to read it on C-SPAN2: ``Our Homes, Not Nursing Homes.'' Underneath the 
logo is ``ADAPT,'' which is Americans Disabled Attendant Programs 
Today.
  They are a very courageous group. They are principally in 
wheelchairs, with very, very substantial disabilities, struggling to 
live independent lives and doing a great job at it. What they want is 
the flexibility to be able to live at home and to have home services.
  I think this is another area where Medicaid ought to have a little 
flexibility, understanding the needs of people. One way or another, Mr. 
President, we intend to get there and reasonably soon.
  (The remarks of Mr. Specter pertaining to the introduction of S. 943 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  (The remarks of Mr. Specter pertaining to the introduction of Senate 
Concurrent Resolution 34 are located in today's Record under 
``Submissions of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions.'')
  Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair. I note the absence of any other 
Senator seeking recognition and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Enzi). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent in the period 
of morning business, the following Senators be permitted to speak for 
up to the following periods of time: Senator Murkowski, 30 minutes, and 
Senator Coverdell or his designee for up to 60 minutes from the hour of 
2 o'clock to 3 o'clock.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________