As Chair of the New York State Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, one of my top priorities is to take a close look at the current state of the New York State Medicaid Buy-In program. For those who might not be aware, the Medicaid Buy-In program went into effect in 2003 to allow people with disabilities to buy into the federal Medicaid program in order to maintain critical benefits, such as home care and pre scri ption coverage, while also working at a competitive wage. 

At the time of its creation, the program was a key component of the disability community’s legislative agenda that was intended to significantly improve the unemployment rate of people with disabilities. The establishment of the Buy-In program was a huge victory for advocates and people with disabilities. However, in some instances, it has fallen short of expectations. Advocates from across the state still herald the program as a great tool when made available to individuals with disabilities, but they have made the Assembly critically aware that there are some significant instances where the program is simply not working. 

For that reason, the Task Force on People with Disabilities and the Committee on Health are planning to hold a public hearing on the Medicaid Buy-In program in New York City this September. We hope to learn how well the program is working and then take the information gathered at the hearing and use it to work with the Legislature, the Governor and state and local agencies to help make the Buy-In program a more effective asset in the quest to get more people with disabilities back to work. 

At the hearing, we hope to hear from four groups in particular regarding the existing Buy-In program. The groups include:

• people with disabilities who are successfully utilizing the program.
• people with disabilities who have unsuccessfully attempted to enroll in the program.
• advocates who work with individuals who are attempting to enroll in the program.
• state and local employees who are responsible for administering the program.
• Furthermore, in the effort to improve the Medicaid Buy-In program, I have already taken a few proactive steps by introducing two pieces of legislation targeted toward our goal.  The legislation includes:
• A.7108, which expands the existing Medicaid Buy-In program to further enable people with disabilities to be self-supporting.
• A.9200, which allows people with disabilities over age 65 to be able to continue to participate in the Medicaid Buy-In program, allowing them to keep receiving the services that they need in order to work and live in the community.

I am looking for as much support and advocacy for these bills as possible. I am also eager to receive input regarding this legislation. I urge all legislators to support the Medicaid Buy-In program along with the enhancements we are trying to make to it. We cannot let this issue drop until we dramatically improve the unemployment rate for people with disabilities.    

Michele Titus, a Democrat representing parts of Queens, is chair of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities.