Texas Association of Goodwills
Campaign to create a Medicaid Buy-In Program

BACKGROUND
Jim Arnold & Associates was hired by the Texas Association of Goodwills, or Goodwill Industries, to manage a coalition of non-profit organizations whose goal was to create a Medicaid Buy-In Program authorized in federal statute by the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The coalition consisted of the Texas Association of Goodwills, Advocacy Incorporated, the University of Texas Center for Disability Studies, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.

The Medicaid Buy-In Program is a work incentive program that allows persons with severe disabilities who desire to work or to increase their employment to do so without losing critical services provided to them by Medicaid.

CHALLENGE
The challenge was to convince the legislature and governor's office that this was not an entitlement program, but instead was a program to encourage people to work and to contribute to their community through the taxes they pay.

ACTION PLAN
Jim Arnold & Associates led a team of advocates and grassroots groups, and developed a plan consisting of the following:

• Development of strategy and message
• Identification of key legislators to carry legislation
• Education of state leadership and members of the legislature
• Activation of grassroots communication
• Interface with Executive Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Health and Human Services Commission, with Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst's office and
  Speaker Craddick's office, and with Governor Perry's office
• Coordination of public testimony before legislative committees
• Creation, production and distribution of mailings and fact sheets to members
  of the legislature

RESULTS
In 2003 the coalition secured legislation authorizing a study to examine the barriers to employment for persons with severe disabilities.

As a result of the study, in 2005 a conservative model for a Medicaid Buy-In Program was crafted and approved by stakeholders, including the Health and Human Services Commission and the governor's office. The legislation was passed and the Texas Medicaid Buy-In Program became a reality in 2006.