An earlier post discussed a problem with the Affordable Care Act. The Oregonian reports on a potential fix:
Federal officials have reversed course on a new provision of the Affordable Care Act that would have largely barred guardians from serving as paid caregivers for adult children with developmental disabilities.
Officials with the state Department of Human Services said Friday that federal officials have agreed to work with the state to develop "the right processes" to allow guardians -- often times relatives -- to continue as paid caregivers. It's unclear yet what those processes will be, said Patrice Botsford, director of developmental disabilities services for the department.
"We'll be working on it next week," she said. "We will do it as rapidly as we possibly can."
The news comes as a relief to parents such as Deana Copeland, who feared the provision could have forced her to place her 22-year-old daughter in foster care. Her daughter, Andrea Hood, suffers from cerebral palsy, spina bifida and autonomic dysreflexia, a potentially life-threatening condition, and requires around-the-clock care. The pair was featured in a story by The Oregonian earlier this week.
