“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.
What Wait List?
A perspective from Isabel Geffner
The North Carolina General Assembly continues its political shenanigans and disregard for our state’s most vulnerable children and young adults. The airspace this week has been filled with all the news about the $248 million it has appropriated for Opportunity Scholarships to help pay for private school tuition for families on a waitlist. It is anticipated that by 2032 up to $825 million annually may be allocated for these privileges.
But WAIT: what about the children and families who have been on the waitlist for the Medicaid Innovations Waiver? Let’s name the 17,000 people who are waiting for essential housing and life supports. What is the NCGA doing about these individuals whose lives are defined by significant intellectual and developmental disabilities – and whose futures hang in the balance without the services they rightly deserve in order to live life?
I am a passionate advocate for an ebullient 25-year-old who has been on the Medicaid Innovations Waiver waitlist for 10 years – since he was 15. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services — where applications for the Waiver are processed — has a backlog of applications and, as of today, is working on applications from 2007.
It is more than likely that some of the people on the waitlist will die before the system reviews their case.
What is our state doing to expedite the review of and payment for services to support these precious human beings? Why isn’t the media shining a glaring spotlight on this failing of our state to take care of them?
Let’s get the most important wait list addressed NOW. This is a not a partisan issue; it is a human rights issue, a civil rights issue, and an ethical and moral imperative.
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
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