News Release

HHS Awards Grants to Help People with Disabilities Work

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the award of $25.1 million in Medicaid infrastructure grants to 39 states to help people with disabilities find and keep work without losing their Medicaid benefits.

The grants, authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, commonly referred to as TWWIIA, allow states to implement and develop Medicaid buy-in programs, increase the availability of personal assistance services through the Medicaid state plan or waiver programs, and assure access to other health care supports that may support the employment objectives of people with disabilities. Through this program, HHS has given more than $125 million in grants to 48 states and the District of Columbia.

�This grant program helps Americans with disabilities get and keep jobs,� Secretary Leavitt said. �We have made great progress as a result of this Act, and these new grants will provide further help for individuals with disabilities to lead independent lives in their own communities.�

States receiving new awards in 2006 include: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia. The other 28 states are receiving funds that will help them continue programs they already have in place.

Grant awards are effective as of Jan. 1, 2006, and will run until Dec. 31, 2006. More information on this Medicaid Infrastructure Grant program may be found on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Web site http://www.cms.hhs.gov/twwiia/default.asp.