Hhs Awards $2.5 Million To 5 States To Enable More Disabled
The Department of Health and Human services has awarded grants of $2.5 million to five states to help people with disabilities in those states to become and stay competitively employed.
Each of the states — Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina — will receive $500,000 to support efforts to increase services and supports to workers, as well as help others return to work without the fear of losing health coverage.
Including today’s grants, HHS has awarded more than $59 million to 40 states and the District of Columbia to expand their health coverage for disabled workers through the Medicaid program.
The grants advance the goals of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA), a law passed by Congress to encourage people with disabilities to work without fear of losing their Medicare, Medicaid or similar health benefits.
The grants will help states build the systems they need to allow individuals with a disability to purchase health coverage through Medicaid at affordable rates. People with a disabling condition often cite the fear of losing health coverage as one of the major barriers to a possible return to work.
The grants can be used to support systems that provide personal assistance and supports. Such assistance can include help with bathing, dressing and other activities at home or on the job.
States can also use the funds to reach out to people with a disability, train staff in new employment possibilities and improve transportation or other support programs that allow people with a disability to become productive members of the American workforce.