TRIPIL hosted a meeting for Ginger Monstat, Executive with Maximus, and with frustrated local applicants waiting for community services.

The People who are waiting REFUSE to wait any longer.

Publishing Date 6/15/11: Maximus is a managed care company that recently won a 37.5 million dollar Contract with the State of Pennsylvania to be the "one and only" enrollment broker in Pennsylvania for anyone applying for Medicaid paid home and community based services. No one can get Medicaid community based long term care services without an enrollment service from Maximus to determine part of the eligibility.

Maximus began providing the enrollment service on 1/1/2010. Prior to that date, no waiting list existed under the former enrollment process system and most enrollments were complete efficiently after submission of documentation. Now, there are over 3,000 severely disabled, Medicaid eligible people waiting for enrollment service. Few people even get answers to telephone calls. Many have waited many months. Documentation goes into a "black hole" without anyway to find out if it was ever received.

TRIPIL hosted a meeting for Maximus and invited interested applicants to be a part of the conversation. Several in attendance were people living in nearby nursing homes who are in the transition process and are waiting to receive approval for their services. This meeting gave them a chance to voice their frustrations with the lengthy delays.

Art Fuller, now in Greenery Nursing Home, said, " I have keys but I can't get in to my house. How much longer do I have to wait? I want to live in my own place -- LIVE my own life. It's been so long since I have had freedom. When is it going to be TRUE? July 4th is coming soon. I have promiseed many of my friendes to a barbequed ribs, chicken, and greens. FIVE YEARS is a long time. When is our day going to be FREEDOM DAY?"

Disability Rights Network is suing the Office of Long Term Living, State of Pennsylvania, over the incompetence of the contractor and state officials.

People who me with Maximus included many who are currently living in nursing homes and are anxiously left hanging in the transition process and are waiting to receive approval for their services. Many have resolved all other logistical problems such as finding accessible housing. In fact, they have been waiting for 3 to 6 months and risk losing the accessible, affordable housing because it cannot be held for them. This meeting gave them a chance to voice their frustrations with the lengthy delays and confusion that was preventing them from reaching their goals. Both sides hoped that this meeting might help bring about their independence.

Arthur Fuller, currently forced to live in nursing but has a key and ready to move out!

Ginger Monstat, Executive with Maximus

Diane Kemp, got out of a nursing home years ago with services and now helping others to get out.

Julie Kiger, a former home care attendant now helping others to get out of nursing homes.