On March 18th, a group of disabled activists joined to fight NYS restrictions to Medicaid home care eligibility. Included in the 2020-21 budget was a policy that restricted the eligibility criteria for home care. This policy eliminates level 1 care from consideration of home care eligibility. This means that individuals who predominantly need help with Daily Living Skills would no longer qualify for home care. Individuals like CDChoices consumer, Blaise Bryant. “Bryant, who is completely blind, is able to live independently in his home in Troy thanks to home care. He relies on a home care aid to help him with the daily essentials. “My aid helps me with my laundry, cooking, cleaning going through the mail,” said Bryant.” There is a bill to repeal the cuts and advocates are calling on lawmakers and Governor Hochul to include it in the budget, due April 1st.
