Maine Disability Campaign Questionnaire
Below please find the Maine Disability Campaign Questionnaire, circulated to candidates running for office in 2018. Responses for each candidate who completed the survey are below, and clearly marked.
In the current election cycle, official conversations around policies that will affect people with disabilities and their families have typically varied between two extremes: holding up disabled people as an example of the deserving poor, and using their mistreatment as an excuse to continue austere policies for other vulnerable groups; and complete silence. Given that 1 in 5 Americans, and nearly 230,000 Mainers have some form of disability, we are surprised that more candidates aren’t taking the disability vote seriously.
To that end, we invite you to engage with our survey to the maximum extent you’re able. If you can speak to only a few questions, please do so. Within this companion document (follow below link), you will find versions of the survey questions with embedded resources for each question. Even if you choose not to participate in the survey, you are welcome to use the companion document to inform your policy positions going forward.
Your answers will be shared with thousands of Mainers via Disability Activists and Allies of Maine, Community Connect ME, the Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services, and other partner organizations.
The questions are broken down into sections based on the office you are seeking, - All Candidates, Gubernatorial and State Offices, and Congressional - but please answer questions in any category if you have a position you’d like to share with us.
All Candidates:
The following series of questions is for all candidates:
1. What is your name, and what office are you seeking?
This series of questions is most suited to the above office seekers, but input from all candidates is welcome.
1. How do you plan to address the recently uncovered crisis in community-based housing for people with disabilities?
The following series of questions is best suited to candidates seeking election to the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, but all candidates are welcome to respond.
1. What is your position on HR 620 - The ADA Education and Reform Act? Do/did you support it, or any other ADA notification legislation?
Thank you for participating in our survey!
In the current election cycle, official conversations around policies that will affect people with disabilities and their families have typically varied between two extremes: holding up disabled people as an example of the deserving poor, and using their mistreatment as an excuse to continue austere policies for other vulnerable groups; and complete silence. Given that 1 in 5 Americans, and nearly 230,000 Mainers have some form of disability, we are surprised that more candidates aren’t taking the disability vote seriously.
To that end, we invite you to engage with our survey to the maximum extent you’re able. If you can speak to only a few questions, please do so. Within this companion document (follow below link), you will find versions of the survey questions with embedded resources for each question. Even if you choose not to participate in the survey, you are welcome to use the companion document to inform your policy positions going forward.
Your answers will be shared with thousands of Mainers via Disability Activists and Allies of Maine, Community Connect ME, the Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services, and other partner organizations.
The questions are broken down into sections based on the office you are seeking, - All Candidates, Gubernatorial and State Offices, and Congressional - but please answer questions in any category if you have a position you’d like to share with us.
All Candidates:
The following series of questions is for all candidates:
1. What is your name, and what office are you seeking?
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District
- Lucas St. Clair and I am seeking the office of U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District
- Mark Eves and I am seeking to be the Governor of Maine
- Adam Cote, Governor
- Janet Mills, Governor
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: My 12 years with Port Resources and 8.5 years with Creative Work Systems has provided with over 20 years of experiencing many disability issues.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: No.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I am a firm believer in the policy, “Nothing about us without us.” During our campaign, I’ve leaned on a staff member who has almost 40 years of experience working on progressive disability issues in Maine. Also, the CEO of Disability Rights Maine hosted a house party for us this spring and I would not hesitate to call on her for assistance and advice.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: My policy agenda includes expanding Medicaid, strengthening our community mental health system and decreasing the ever-growing waitlists for section 21 and 28. Throughout my time in the state house, I worked closely with advocates and service providers for people with disabilities. To make decisions on disability issues as Governor, I would consult with key organizations, like DRM, MACSP, and the Behavioral Health Collaborative. I also think it is critically important that families members caring for people with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves are at the table and would make it a priority for my staff to seek input from a variety of stakeholders when making important policy decisions.
- Adam Cote, Governor: Yes, Betsy Mahoney, mother of an adult son with autism and intellectual disabilities who is a longtime member of the Coalition for Housing and Quality Services, has been advising the campaign since September 2017. I have come out in favor of proposals that will improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families , such as Medicaid expansion, increasing the reimbursement rate for direct service providers, and advocating for greater oversight of the treatment of people living in group homes. As governor, I will continue to involve individuals with knowledge of disabilities in decision-making.
- Janet Mills, Governor: We don't have designated advisers on any policy issues yet, but if I'm lucky enough to be the nominee, I'd look to form policy working groups with the input and participation of people with disabilities. I've heard the slogan "nothing about us, without us" used before, and I strongly agree. I also think it's critical that people with disabilities aren't "siloed" into only working on explicitly disability-related policies; we need to ensure a diverse range of input on everything from healthcare and education to economic development and energy policy.
I have advocated for Medicaid expansion, reversing the LePage-era cuts to public health nursing, and restoring MaineCare reimbursements to direct care workers. I've heard from dozens of leaders and employees at direct-care nonprofits, especially those caring for adults with intellectual or developmental issues, that our entire system is on the verge of collapse, from huge waiting lists to outright insolvency, and even to abuse and neglect that has gone ignored by the state. I'd increase staffing levels at DHHS, and make any appointments there with the input of advocates and members of affected communities.
Closing Pineland in 1996 was a tremendous step forward for our state. I believe neglect and apathy have reversed many of those gains. As Governor, I would fight to ensure our state is again a leader.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: Support and recommendations through emails and Facebook, yes I am accessible. For a physical plant, a campaign head quarters, no, I do not have a campaign location, everything is done out of my home.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: Yes. So far, our campaign is only two part-time staffers other than me.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: Our campaign is accessible and inclusive. We have provided transportation to events for individuals with disabilities and seniors who do not have transportation, and we have active campaign volunteers who have disabilities.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: We could definitely do more to make my campaign accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities. If I do win the primary, I would welcome input in how I can make my campaign more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities. I would be extremely interested in sitting down with your network to discuss my policy agenda, hear your recommendations and determine steps that I can take to make my campaign more accessible and inclusive. If I am in the general, I will have the opportunity to grow my staff and focus on changes like this.
- Adam Cote, Governor: Yes.
- Janet Mills, Governor: Yes. Our campaign office is ADA-compliant and accessible, and we've tested our website to ensure it meets basic standards for text-to-speech users and parsers.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: My 20 plus years of handling the financial picture of two nonprofits. The financial long term approach to provide a healthy and safe residential programs. How to support clinical outreach and transitional programs.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: It is an important issue because everyone must be treated fairly and with respect and have the same opportunities as their neighbors.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I strongly believe that as a society every single person has valuable contributions to make and that we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Our communities are richer for their diversity, and I will work to assure that our policies support inclusive practices and universal design from their inception and planning.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Prior to running for the legislature I became involved and interested in advocacy and policy when I took a trip to Augusta to advocate for access to quality mental health services. As a licensed family and marriage therapist, I have worked with families struggling with mental health disabilities. As Executive Director of Woodfords Family Services, I have the honor of working to support the inclusion of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in our communities. As a member of the Health Human Services Committee and Speaker of the House, I worked closely with advocates, family members and service providers on policies to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Unfortunately over much of my time in the state house, we were focused on playing defense, working to protect programs and services. I was proud of our work to stop proposed rule changes that would have gutted mental health services for adults and children. We were also able to secure funding to bring down the Section 21 and 28 waitlists in the budget. As Executive Director of Woodfords Family Services, I worked with other providers and legislators to provide more funding for shared living programs and to lift the cap so families can serve as providers as well as use the funding for important services like day care.
- Adam Cote, Governor: Unanswered.
- Janet Mills, Governor: My daughter, Tammy spent time as a caregiver in LEAP’s group homes. For seventeen years these clients were family. That's where her son, my grandson, first learned to sign. Another close member of my family is autistic. These issues are deeply personal for me. I refuse to live in a state where we return to neglecting, separating, or warehousing people who aren't neurotypical or who have unmet needs.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: I support providing a program similar to Share Living Options or In Home Supports. Similar to the current Adult Foster Care Programs, where family had have supportive assistance for their disabled family members through extra services through the medicaid services for home services, community transition, work supports, or just temporary respite care.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: We should expand Medicare to insure universal healthcare for all and allow caregivers to take paid leave to care for those whom they are responsible for, whether as a family member or guardian.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I am impressed with Maine’s excellent cross-disability Employment First law that was passed in the Maine Legislature in 2013 as well as state policy supporting employment as a first and preferred service dating to 2010. Maine’s EF policy has been used by other states in their attempts to draft such policies.
However, there remains significant work to realize the vision and intent of the law. Maine’s employment services providers are facing real challenges especially in recruiting, hiring and retaining employees to support employment and I am disturbed by the number of provider agencies that have eliminated employment services in the last two years. In great measure this is a result of poor reimbursement rates from DOL and DHHS and disincentives within MaineCare funding that provide higher reimbursements for group activities. Employment services must be individualized.
Currently MaineCare doesn’t provide adequate funding that recognizes the critical importance work plays in individual’s life; increasing their economic security and power and eliminating the pervasiveness of loneliness, segregation and poverty.
I agree with the Maine State Chamber that Maine’s workforce needs will not be met without the inclusion of thousands of Maine citizens with disabilities. Our businesses need the gifts and talents that all Maine citizens bring to our workplaces.
I believe we need to remove the institutional bias in Medicaid’s long term funding. To be aspirational, meaningful, community-based integrated and customized employment should be an expected outcome of long term services.
Families should not have to choose between keeping a job and supporting a disabled family member. I support fully funding family support and respite programs that provide support services for disabled family members, allowing parents or guardians the ability to maintain employment and an income, health insurance, and payments into retirement. We take two steps back when we force families into dire economic situations in order to the do the right thing. - Mark Eves, Running for Governor: We must do more to support family caregivers. As Governor, I would champion legislation to implement paid family leave. However I recognize that paid family leave is temporary and will not support parents and others caring for family members over a longer period of time.
In my work as Executive Director at Woodfords, I’ve seen families struggle to juggle to balance work and the demands on them as caregivers. It is critical that families have access to programs and services that support them to juggle it all, for example, I would support efforts to ensure that families with young children with special needs have access to programs like Woodfoods and for families with adults with disabilities, I would continue to support increased funding for adult day services and for respite services for family care givers. - Adam Cote, Governor: I understand that it is extremely difficult for families with children with disabilities to go work when they don’t have sufficient in-home support. The waiting lists for Medicaid waivers show that there are many families who aren’t receiving the services they need to live their lives. I support increasing the reimbursement rate for direct service providers and increasing the state’s Medicaid budget to eliminate the waiting lists for Sec. 21 and 29 waivers, and increasing the reimbursement for providers under Sec. 17. In addition, I oppose the Sec. 1115 waiver application that would impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients (see my answer below).
- Janet Mills, Governor: 1) Finally enact a paid family leave policy to allow parents to react to emergencies or illnesses
2) As mentioned above, restore funding for nonprofits which provide direct care, ranging from temporary to long-term
3) Fully fund family support / respite care programs
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: IDEA, Must work within the school system to provide every opportunity for an individual to succeed. ESSA, is putting back the structure of success for each student back to the local schools, where it should of been all along. You can not set standards with mandates from afar and look for success. Teachers are the front line experts, who know how to impact each student and in their own learning style and provide opportunities for success.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: I support any program that is in the best interest of the individual with a disability that helps them lead a long and fulfilling life.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I fully support the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and believe this law has stood as the cornerstone of the movement to ensure all students, including those with disabilities, have access to a quality education, and that parents of disabled students play an active role in their child’s educational experience. I also believe that the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) can support students with disabilities, but only if we properly and adequately fund public education. Setting higher standards, like those set forth through ESSA, can have a positive impact on students with disabilities, but again, only if the entire system is properly funded.
I absolutely support Universal Design for Learning, or UDL. Setting universal design as the baseline in education means our education system will be accessible to the widest number of students, removing barriers to success.
Recently released data on the inclusion of students with disabilities and the outcomes of youth with disabilities exiting our public schools should cause us to take pause. Our current efforts are not being successful in integrating all students into the fabric of our schools and the poor post-school outcomes of youth with disabilities suggests that we must change how we approach our efforts. A multi-faceted approach must be adopted that includes changes in our pre-service teacher preparation programs; the expectations and aspirations we have for all students must be greatly elevated; and, parents and educators need support, education and technical assistance to study, implement and sustain new and innovative practices. - Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Inclusion of children with disabilities in our schools is critically important. It is important to the growth and learning for all of our children. Too many of our school districts have been cutting back services for children with special needs. As Governor, I will fully fund our schools so that local school districts have the funding that they need to support children with special needs. In addition, I would work with my Commissioner of Education to ensure that the Department of Education is facilitating stronger partnerships between public schools and community service providers like Woodfords family services through section 28. This will support children with special needs to stay in the mainstream classroom.
- Adam Cote, Governor: I strongly support the full implementation of IDEA and ESSA, and as such, I will appoint a commissioner of the Department of Education, and members of the State Board of Education who also believe in these important laws. As a member of the Sanford School Committee, I became familiar with these issues and realized the importance of hiring a special education director who supports students with disabilities. I support UDL as I understand it. I believe that no every student can or should be educated in the same way, and that educational offerings must be adapted to different learning styles.
- Janet Mills, Governor: I believe it's critical that we integrate students with disabilities to the maximum degree possible, including developing genuinely (as opposed to in-name-only) individualized education programs. I strongly support fully meeting the states obligation to fund education, and would make strong knowledge and understanding of disability issues a prerequisite for any education-related appointment in my administration.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: As with all students, the choices involve the support team, parents and school systems, to make sure the proper level of support systems exist in whatever school chosen to provide the best outcome.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: I have not considered those ramifications and am unsure on my school choice position in that regard. In Maine we are allowed to have "Superintendent Agreements" if the shift to a different school or district is what is best for the student -- I would hope that it also would carry in these types of cases.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I support fully funding public education. I do not support school vouchers or “scholarships” that take funding away from our public schools in order to fund private charter schools. I believe that “school choice” is misleading for families and especially so for families of students with disabilities. Charter schools are not required to provide the same level of service as a public school when it comes to students with disabilities.
School choice faces particular challenges in rural areas like Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. This issue has been left out of most state and national discussions regarding school choice and charters. Most districts in Maine are large, geographically, but more importantly don’t have choice available within the public school system. Families who might choose to enroll their child in another town or charter school are responsible for transportation, which for many would be many miles. Only families of means are likely to have the resources and/or time to provide transportation. - Mark Eves, Running for Governor: We must start with fully funding our schools to ensure that local schools are able to support the needs of the children in their communities. In general, I have not been supportive of school choice or expanding the number of charter schools in our state beyond the current cap. I understand that enrollment of children with special needs in the handful of charter schools has been higher than expected. I would like to better understand this, but I think the first and most important step that we can take to support children with special needs to get the supports and services that they need in the classroom is to fully fund our schools.
- Adam Cote, Governor: I have concerns about school choice. State education departments and private schools have been promoting choice and vouchers for special needs students because the government foots the bill. However, when students use vouchers to get into private school, they lose most of the protections of IDEA. School choice allows public schools and states to transfer out children who put a big drain on their budgets, such as special ed students, while some private schools end up with students they are not equipped to handle, sometimes asking them to leave.
- Janet Mills, Governor: I support fully funding public education, not diverting resources from our schools to charters that in effect opt out of many of the protections for students with disabilities (as well as ESL students, among others).
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: I support the application, it is similar to the community supports provided to disabled individuals. Section 1115 provides an extension that allows the States to set up pilot programs that would assist in eliminating barriers to education and develop programs that enables individuals to succeed.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: We can not waive Medicare for Maine families in need of that coverage and who qualify.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: After reading the pending application, I share the concerns of Families USA that submitted in response to the application.
It appears that the application has a number of provisions that, in fact, actually violate federal Medicaid rules and, frankly, appears designed to punish our most vulnerable citizens rather than provide the support and services that would make a difference in their lives and our communities. It seems to be a lost opportunity to use this experimental waiver authority provided to states to propose a unique and meaningful pathway to employment and community supports. It could be an outstanding complement to Maine’s Medicaid expansion but not as it is currently proposed. - Mark Eves, Running for Governor: I am opposed to the pending Section 1115 waiver. Under this waiver, Mainers will lose access to vital lifesaving health care coverage and I do worry about the impact on people with disabilities. The proposal will take health care away from people who are unable to work a certain number of hours or prove that they meet certain exemptions. Adults receiving disability benefits would be automatically exempt from these work requirements, but many people with disabilities do not receive those benefits and would have to prove they qualify for an exemption. I worry that people could fall through the cracks and lose vital, life-saving health coverage. People may not know that they qualify for an exemption or may be unable to navigate the process of obtaining an exemption. And MaineCare recipients with health conditions who weren’t exempt but couldn’t comply with the requirements would lose their health coverage all together.
- Adam Cote, Governor: I strongly oppose the pending Section 1115 waiver application because there is little doubt that the work requirements, co-pays and other provisions in the application will have the effect of reducing access to healthcare services, which is the purpose of Medicaid.
- Janet Mills, Governor: I strongly oppose this wrongheaded, cruel, and flatly inhumane policy. We need to be working to increase access to healthcare, not strip it away from people who need it the most in the name of marginal savings.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: NO! We need to provide community supports for individuals challenges with mental health issues, but that does not mean all individuals present a threat to themselves or the communities.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: No. They need initial treatment and if at that assessment institutionalization is necessary then that should be determined by a mental health professional, not law enforcement.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I believe we need more resources to help individuals with mental health disabilities in general, but as a practice I would never support “institutionalization. I believe that creating opportunities for everyone to live, with the support services and supports they require, in their homes and communities should be a priority. I do not support President Trump’s proposal for increasing institutionalization as a way to deal with gun violence. Instead, I support ensuring access to mental healthcare, including assuring that school counselors are readily available with the time and resources to work meaningfully with those in need.
I believe that there is a need for ready access to crisis services, especially for families, but see no reason why institutionalization of any kind is necessary for individuals who have not been adjudicated of a crime. - Mark Eves, Running for Governor: I do not support Trump’s proposals to increase institutionalization for people with mental health disabilities. His proposals further stigmatize a population that needs our support. The answer is not to lock up more people. The answer is to increase access to and strengthen our community mental health services which have been dramatically weakened under this Governor. We must reinvest in the community mental health system to make sure that providers are able to meet the varying needs of people struggling with severe and persistent mental illness. While I do not support Trumps proposal to unnecessarily institutionalize more people with mental health disabilities, improving the conditions at Riverview Hospital will also be a top priority. Our mental health hospitals are a critical part of our mental health system and we must ensure that our receiving the quality of care that they deserve.
- Adam Cote, Governor: I do not support this approach. First off, mass shootings by people with serious mental illness represent only 1 percent of all gun homicides each year. Barring sales to people who are deemed dangerous by mental health providers could help prevent mass shootings. But other measures — including banning assault weapons and barring sales to convicted violent criminals — would be more effective.
A 2016 academic study found that the large majority of people with mental disorders do not engage in violence against others, and that most violent behavior is due to factors other than mental illness. - Janet Mills, Governor: No. It's critical that we remember that people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than to be violent themselves. Further stigmatizing an already-marginalized community isn't just bad policy, it's simply wrong. I believe we must expand mental health services broadly, including both community services and mental health programs at hospitals.
I do believe that we should allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from some individuals with outpatient psychiatric orders, if those individuals are assessed to pose a danger to themselves or to others.
This series of questions is most suited to the above office seekers, but input from all candidates is welcome.
1. How do you plan to address the recently uncovered crisis in community-based housing for people with disabilities?
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: I would like to see an interest group research other cities or states that have established programs to support the abilities to acquire an accessible, clean and safe location at a fix price and develop possible incentives to the landlord to compensate for the possible decrease of rent cost.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: We must immediately increase reimbursement rates to ensure that we do not see community-based housing for people with disabilities close.
- Adam Cote, Governor: The community-based housing crisis stems primarily from the cuts in Medicaid reimbursement rates for services provided in group homes. Some homes have had to close their doors for lack of funding. The crisis can best be addressed by restoring spending for Medicaid reimbursement to Direct Service Providers, which was proposed during this legislative session (in LD 967). If this bill is not funded, DSP rates will revert back to previous rates, an approximate 12% cut. If the legislature doesn’t approve the additional funding, more group homes will close.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: Evaluate the processes around the incident reports submitted to DHHS from agencies throughout Maine. Agencies provided oversight should be doing their job and the State should have adequate staffing to follow through on all incident reports. Check and balances should be established with a punch list of steps to follow for the safety of the disabled and the public.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: I would start by ensuring that DHHS had the staffing needed to adequately respond to incident reports. Because of high caseloads staff has been unable to stay on top of Staffing and caseload so that the department is adequately to respond to incident reports. I would also remove the office of advocacy from DHHS and house it at an independent agency, like Disability Rights of Maine.
- Adam Cote, Governor: I support two pieces of legislation currently pending that would: 1) create a Death and Serious Injury Review Panel, and 2) give the Maine Developmental Services Oversight and Advisory Board (MDSOAB) access to reports which it is already supposed to have under the existing statute.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: My 20 years of experience indicates the lack of crisis beds as a result of not fully funding the ability to establish those crisis beds as independent programs throughout the State. In the past 8 years the diminished funding, resulting in diminished staffing, creating a higher risk to independent agencies has resulted in the phasing out of crisis beds in the community. All of this at a time when more crisis beds were needed. Incarceration is not the answer to stabilizing individuals that need supports to address their needs and transition them back into the community.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Again, we must work to strengthen our community mental health system. DHHS has made harmful rule changes and cut backs to community support services and other mental health services that have weakened our mental health system in this state. I will work with my team at DHHS to identify the areas where the rules need to be strengthened to ensure that we are providing comprehensive services to people with disabilities.
We do need more crisis beds and we can increase access to crisis beds for those in need through a combination of getting health coverage through Medicaid expansion and a modest investment of state dollars. - Adam Cote, Governor: Research shows that supportive housing helps people with disabilities use fewer costly systems like emergency health services and become less likely to be incarcerated. Appropriate support services in the home, in group homes and elsewhere, and access to preventive care are absolutely critical to reducing the need for crisis care and hospitalizations.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: It is the constant evaluation of the usage of medicaid funds and the effectiveness of programs that may not be fully funded. The State has on many occasions since 2008 determined a cost value to supporting disabled with a set amount of financial support with conservative increases. All done with the hope of doing more with less. We need to bring to the table agencies who are on the front line and determine how to effective fund and decrease the number to individuals on the wait-list.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: For too long, legislators in Augusta have given lip service to bringing down the wait list for the Medicaid waivers. When I was speaker, we did invest funding to bring down both the section 21 and section 28 waitlists. As Governor, I would make invest state dollars every year to bring down the wait lists.
- Adam Cote, Governor: The state must restore funding for Medicaid services so that workers who provide services in Medicaid recipients’ homes and in group homes receive a more livable wage. This would ease the extreme worker shortage.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: We need to establish a training process that includes immigrants already working to help support the language barriers, english second language, ESL, and provide training programs to
fill the open positions. I support minimum wage starting at $11.50 and over four years getting to
$14.50, so agencies can transition the wage scale to effect all employees not just entry level staff. - Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Addressing the direct worker shortage was a top priority of mine while I was in the State House. First we need to pass LD 967 to ensure that we provide a needed increase in reimbursement rates for direct care worker services.
I do believe that immigrants are an important part of the puzzle. We must be identifying ways to train and support immigrants and others to enter the direct care worker field.
Along with increasing pay for direct care workers, We need to change the entire system so that people can see entering the health care field as a direct care worker as a stepping stone to other career opportunities. - Adam Cote, Governor: As noted above, the best way to address the shortage would be to increase reimbursement rates and thus wage increases to direct service providers. Immigrants are already easing the worker shortage in group homes, and I support continued employment of immigrants in group home and day programs.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: Of my limited information I have witnessed the slow expansion of children support services through medicaid coverage but limited and so few that the impact is positive but too slow, classes at schools are witnessing higher behavior problems with no strong on going support systems, all to the detriment to the child themselves.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: As with the adult community mental health system, our children’s behavioral health system has been neglected and weakened. Children are waiting much too long for needed services. Rebuilding a strong system that will be a top priority.
In addition we need to close Long Creek Youth Development Center. This cannot be done overnight, but as Governor, I would work with stakeholders to remove children from Long Creek and provide services in smaller community based treatment centers. - Adam Cote, Governor: I would suggest 1) expanding Medicaid as the voters decided, 2) increasing the reimbursement rate for direct service providers who work in group homes supported by Medicaid waivers, and 3) appointing a DHHS commissioner who is strongly supportive of services and programs for people with disabilities.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: Logisticare, was an additional to the solution in the past 5 or so years but additional transportation systems must be develop to open up the ability of more independence for the disabled individuals. Extensive problem needed many specialist coming together to address possible options.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Many families throughout Maine struggle with access to reliable and affordable transportion.
I am very concerned about the changes to MaineCare transportation under the Governor. I know that many on MaineCare still struggle to get reliable transportation services for necessary medical appointments. We must assess where there are still challenges and problems in the new system and address them.
As Speaker of the House, I supported making strategic investments in public transportation in Maine. I supported legislation proposed by Transportation Committee Chair Andrew McLean would have increased funding to build upon the existing transit systems in Maine in order to meet the recommendations of the Department of Transportation's Strategic Plan. We were unable to pass the bill but it is something I would like to revisit if I become governor. - Adam Cote, Governor: First off, OADS (Office of Aging and Disability Services) and OMS (Office of MaineCare Services) must confer with groups representing people with disabilities and their families to assess the need for transportation services.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: Yes, I do support the expansion. I believe the implementation takes place with all facilities providing supports to individuals follow through the crack and currently have no supports and are costly if forced to enter the emergency room at hospitals. Additional support systems for families.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Expanding Medicaid has been a top priority of mine since the passage of the ACA in 2010. The small amount of state dollars that we must invest at the end of FY 2018 and beyond will yield incredible dividends as we pull down hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for essential health care and services to meet the health care needs of 70,000 people in our state. In the long run this investment will bring down the cost in overall health care system.
I was very frustrated to see legislators in Augusta trying to pit those who advocate to decrease the Medicaid waitlists with those advocating for expansion. Thank you for your help in debunking the connection! - Adam Cote, Governor: I absolutely support Medicaid expansion and have been very vocal about this since the beginning of my campaign. The expansion will allow tens of thousands of Mainers to have health insurance. The state has sufficient funds in its budget to pay its share of the cost of Medicaid expansion, and I would fund it that way. Allowing Medicaid expansion will give non-disabled family members access to critical health services that will allow them to take care of themselves and thus be better able to care for their loved ones with disabilities.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: State by State I see individuals with no financial support, getting support early on and preventing more serious impacts, less cost, upfront support medical supports and returning back to the community. Provide a healthier community.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Yes. Expansion will provide critical health care to people wait to qualify for both SSDI and SSI benefits.
- Adam Cote, Governor: Medicaid expansion will undoubtedly help people with disabilities access at least some of the health care services they need, but is not a full solution to this problem.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: Yes, I have witnessed in my immediate family the positive impact of early intervention and the support services provided for a period of time and the success of that individual right into adult hood and options that became available as a result of detected support needed in early ages.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Yes. Early detection and intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life. It is critically important that we have a well-coordinated and streamlined process for early screening and detection that ensures children are screened and linked to appropriate services as early as possible. I would start with expanding and strengthening the state’s child development home visiting programs and strengthening the partnerships that exist between home visitors, CDS and pediatricians.
- Adam Cote, Governor: The first step is to appoint a commissioner of the Department of Education who prioritizes early invention, and would work with stakeholders to affect the strengthening measures.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: (unanswered)
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: Overall I do not support the proposal to transfer special education services for 3 to 5 year olds from CDS to school districts. Most school districts are not equipped or prepared to provide needed quality intervention services and supports that are now provided by local providers through CDS. However, there are gaps in quality services in many rural communities across the state. The Department of Education must work with CDS, local social service providers and programs like Head Start and local school districts to identify where gaps exist and how we can strengthen special education services for 3-5 year olds.
- Adam Cote, Governor: It is not clear that shifting special education services for preschool-age children from the state to Maine’s school districts is a good idea, so I am glad that the legislature decided to create a task force to study the issue instead of making that change. It is not clear how local school systems could take over these service or how they would pay for it, or whether they would be able to do better than CDS, which regularly has waiting lists for services, budget overruns and other issues. I would like to wait until the task force meets and provides this information before I provide suggestions.
- Donna J. Dion Democrat Running for Governor: this is an area of weakness if you do not have strong advocates. At 20 years of age all automatic educational support services end. More transitional programs need to be developed with proper support systems to provide the best options for people with disabilities to transition as active members of their community.
- Mark Eves, Running for Governor: This can be a difficult transition for young adults and their family members. As students make the transition into adulthood, they lose eligibility for many services. We need to support programs for transition case managers that focus on late adolescents and helping them and family members to link to available services and understand what services will no longer be available. I would like to understand better the gaps that exist in the system and identify how we can ease this transition. I would pull together a working group of service providers, education programs like Jobs for Maine Graduates, parents and other stakeholders who can help to identify needed services to improve this transition.
- Adam Cote, Governor: In terms of easing post-high school transition, I would ask the Department of Education, the Office of Child and Family Services, and the Office of Aging and Disability Services to work together to identify children coming out of the system to develop a budget and a set of proposals. There has long been a lot of emphasis on how to support young people with disabilities until they graduate from high school, but very little on how to prepare them for the job market or to enter day programs.
The following series of questions is best suited to candidates seeking election to the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, but all candidates are welcome to respond.
1. What is your position on HR 620 - The ADA Education and Reform Act? Do/did you support it, or any other ADA notification legislation?
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: I am against HR 620. We cannot water down and remove protections that allow disabled Americans to participate fully in life.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I strongly oppose HR 620. This bill would gut the ADA (and its almost 27 years of implementation) and would put the onus on Maine citizens with disabilities to take legal action against a business that fails to meet ADA requirements. Many individuals with disabilities do not have the resources to take on legal actions case by case. This bill would require every person with a disability to be a legal advocate and an expert on the ADA, and this is not acceptable. This bill is strongly opposed by state and national disability rights organizations and advocates. I support Senator Tammy Duckworth’s testimony to her colleagues in opposition to this bill.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: No.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: No. I fully support single-payer health care, often described as Medicare for all. I do not support block grants or per capita caps. They are cuts dressed up as reform and would lead to reduced services.
Fully 20 percent (one in five Americans including newborns, children, seniors in long term care and middle-class individuals who’ve had a catastrophic accident or illness) get their health care coverage through Medicaid. In Maine, the percentage is even higher: 23 percent of all Mainers and fully 50 percent of Maine children are covered by Medicaid. Medicaid keeps our small rural hospitals viable and care accessible in rural areas. Medicaid covers the long-term services and supports people with disabilities need to live, work and recreate in their communities as well as nursing home care for elders.
Attempts to severely cut federal Medicaid funds using block grants or per capita caps pose real and unnecessary risks to states’ progress to supporting people to remain in their homes and communities instead of institutions and nursing homes as their only option. As a country we have made great strides in improving life for individuals with significant disabilities and our elderly as well as in reducing the percent of Medicaid long term support services funds that go to institutional care; block grants and caps would be devastating to disabled Americans and their families.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: Introduce legislation to streamline the process.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: Filing for SSDI can take months, but more likely up to a year, or longer. Often times the information provided for the claim is inadequate, resulting in a denied claim. A denied claim can be appealed, but that process can take additional months. If you need a hearing, scheduling can take up to a year.
There are two issues that resonate for me in this area beyond the challenging application and approval process. First, as current rules state, you must wait 24 months for the health insurance (Medicare) that is the companion to receiving SSDI. This is unacceptable; first, those who are applying are newly disabled and may have their greatest need for health insurance and coverage. I would advocate that SSDI applicants immediately qualify for Medicare (as it is with applications for SSI—applicants immediately get access to Medicaid). Secondly, I would advocate strongly to remove the “cash cliff” in the SSDI program. There are significant work incentives in the Social Security Act (sadly woefully underutilized). If you are on SSI you lose one dollar for every two dollars earned working. This provision doesn’t apply to SSDI and actually serves as a real disincentive to returning to work on SSDI.
I am also interested in US Sen. Angus King’s recent analysis of SSDI and would collaborate with him on next steps to reform the SSDI program.
Of course, if we had a universal, single-payer health insurance, the issue of access to health coverage when newly disabled would be moot.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: I am against the ACA repeal and it was the main reason I entered this race. The ACA saved my life but also almost pushed us into bankruptcy. First, it needs to be improved, we then need to move Medicare eligibility to 55, and then the next step is to create a universal system of healthcare for all.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I do not support the repeal of the ACA, nor do I support the removal of the mandate that people buy insurance. Eliminating this requirement results in younger, healthier people choosing not to purchase insurance, while older and more expensive people raising the overall cost of healthcare for those who choose to purchase a plan. I will fight to ensure the ACA, and any health insurance system, does not discriminate against people with preexisting conditions. I do not support changes to Medicaid as part of the ACA/repeal.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: By being a watchdog for those with disabilities and working with groups like yours to make sure that we monitor bills and legislation coming forward that would harm that community.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I share the concerns of many that, ultimately, the gross redistribution of wealth and tax breaks to the wealthiest, will fall on the shoulders of our most vulnerable (children, seniors, disabled), education and all the safety net programs. Mainers have told me on the campaign trail their concerns about loss of LIHEAP, for example. We must overturn the recent tax reform legislation and restore adequate and reasonable funding to addresses the basic needs of our citizens.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: Yes.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: Absolutely! Maine is dependent on a seasonal workforce for its hospitality and agricultural communities. I’ve experienced this first hand as a restaurant owner on the Downeast coast. My business would not have prospered without access to immigrant and seasonal workers. I understand that Maine disability providers are also becoming dependent on immigrant workers to address their workforce shortages.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: I did not. I would hope that we could secure additional funding at the Federal level to increase housing stock, with therapy rooms and other treatment facilities built in to help everyone residing there to lead more productive lives.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: That is a staggering number; I knew that there was a significant waitlist, but this is absolutely unacceptable. I believe that the solution must be part of the rollback of the tax bill passed last year and referenced in my response to question 5, above.
- Craig Olson, U.S. House of Representatives, Maine's 2nd District: Yes.
- Lucas St. Clair, U.S. Congress representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District: I strongly support the Disability Integration Act as well as the full implementation of the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) “Settings Rule.” I reject the ongoing efforts of institutional providers, including sheltered workshops and other organizations using the “choice” argument to continue to segregate, isolate and impoverish people with disabilities. Our precious and limited resources should be used to include individuals in all aspects of our communities.
I am also against the payment of subminimum wages and will work to eliminate the 14C authority in the Fair Labor Standards Act that permits providers of services to the disabled to pay as little as .22 cents/hour. I believe providers of services have a conflict of interest and should never be the employer of record for individuals for whom they are drawing down Medicaid long-term services.
Thank you for participating in our survey!