New rules call for grandfather clause

I was glad to read that Sen. Tom Harkin has vowed to continue his fight for people with disabilities. For years, we've been able to count on him to stand up for the rights of the disabled. We are at a defining moment in Harkin's fight for people with disabilities. The new Medicaid rules issued will mean the end of sheltered workshops. Funding from Medicaid will only go for job training that is time limited (up to one year), fully integrated with able bodied and disabled people, and that pays minimum wage. None of these conditions are satisfied by sheltered workshops, such as Options or Goodwill.

A Harkin staff member assured me that Harkin would do something with the new Medicaid rules for Iowa. She specifically mentioned a grandfather clause. A grandfather clause - allowing Iowa's sheltered workshops and those working in them to be grandfathered in and hence immune to the new Medicaid rules - would be a great start. It would keep our severely disabled employed and allow time for an objective evaluation of the benefits of the new Medicaid rules for the severely disabled.

Why is Harkin not acting now? Why the delay? Why doesn't Harkin get involved so that the work option is not taken away from the severely disabled? Harkin, keep fighting for those who can't fight for themselves. Put a grandfather clause in the new Medicaid rules for Iowa.

Let the enduring legacy of Harkin be education, opportunity and employment for all - even the severely disabled.

Janet Sullivan

Marion