Take Action to Save MFP!

Last month, Senators Portman (R-OH) and Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the EMPOWER Care Act (S. 2227) to reauthorize the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program. MFP expired on September 30, 2016, and states are starting to scale back and end their MFP programs. But because there has not been a lot of public attention on MFP, very few members of Congress are aware of the need to reauthorize and fund it.

MFP was enacted in 2005 with strong bipartisan support. It was designed to help states transition people with disabilities from institutions into the community, and to assist states in rebalancing their long-term services and supports (LTSS) systems to increase access to home and community-based services. MFP is one of the longest running, most successful Medicaid demonstrations. Since it began, 47 states have participated and over 75,000 disabled people have been liberated from institutions, and Centers for Independent Living (CILs) have played a critical role in that.

Congress must work to save and fund MFP, and they need to hear from us! Please urge your Senators to continue the Money Follows the Person program by supporting the EMPOWER Care Act!

Take Action Now!

• Participate in Thursday’s National Call-In Day! Call your Senators and tell them to support the EMPOWER Care Act (S. 2227) and pass it immediately! Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY). Find more information at Thursday’s Facebook event. RSVP and share widely!
• Participate in Friday’s National Social Media Day! Tweet at your Senators and post on Facebook. Find your Senators’ Twitter handles and other contact information on Contacting Congress. Make sure to use the hashtag #FundMFP in your posts. You can find more information, including sample Tweets, at Friday’s Facebook event.
• Email your members of Congress before February 8! You can customize a message to your members of Congress and see the data on responses.
• Highlight MFP in the press! Arrange press interviews highlighting the stories of folks who were able to move home because of MFP, or individuals who are stuck in institutions and would benefit from MFP’s extension. Media coverage can be key to gaining the support of members of Congress AND the public. If you successfully get the press to cover MFP, please send a link of the coverage to [email protected].