Welcome to Health & Disability Advocates' website. Health & Disability Advocates (HDA) is a national organization, based in Chicago, Illinois, that uses multiple strategies to promote income security and improve healthcare access and services for children, people with disabilities and low-income, older adults.
HDA’s team of legal and policy experts provides a range of services including individual client services and legal representation, and customized trainings and technical assistance for a range of audiences, including consumers, service providers and state agencies. We also develop innovative projects and policies to protect and strengthen federal and state safety-net programs including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare and Medicaid.
For information on current projects underway at HDA, go to the Technical Assistance & Training, Innovative Program & Policy Work, or Client Services & Legal Representation, sections of this website.
What's New at HDA
Chicago Tribune Reports On HB.628
New Medicaid Income Limits Help Disabled Stay on Job - Chicago Sun Times, February 17, 2009
In this Chicago Sun Times article, John Coburn from HDA talks about the recent income level increase in Illinois' Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) program. This change makes the program's income limit 350 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), up from 200 percent of FPL. To learn more and view a copy of the article, click here.
HDA Releases its 2007-2008 Bi-Annual Report
HDA is pleased to announce the publication of its 2007-2008 Bi-Annual report. This report describes the organization's program and policy work over the past two years and highlights some of our success stories. To learn more about HDA, click here to view an online copy of the report. For more information, contact Julie Justicz at 312-223-9600.
Online Library
View these recent additions to the Library, or search our entire collection.(New) Ticket to Work Regulations At-A-Glance
This At-A-Glance brief summarizes changes to the Ticket to Work program made in the new regulations recently released by the Social Security Administration. The new regulations create a payment system based on the attainment of increasing levels of employment over time that is attractive enough to entice Employment Networks to participate. The regulations also modify the interaction of the VR cost reimbursement system with the Ticket system to encourage collaboration among state VR agencies and private ENs. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work webpage in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
Understanding the New Outcome Milestone Ticket Payment System: What Kind of Revenue Can My State Expect?
This briefing paper will assist MIG grantees in better understanding what is required to receive payment under the Outcome Milestone payment system, which is, by far, the most common payment system chosen by Employment Networks . By understanding of how ENs are paid, MIGs will be better equipped to analyze where Ticket outreach can be most effectively targeted, determine what work incentive infrastructure may be necessary to create a more "Ticket friendly" environment, and estimate reasonable projections of what new revenue a state can expect. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work webpage in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
Quick Questions for Analyzing Ticket to Work for Your Agency
This document will help service providers who are Employment Networks estimate how much the new Ticket to Work payment system could impact agency revenue. It contains a short set of questions and a simple chart to make the analysis easy. Visit NCHSD's new Ticket to Work page in the Hot Topics section for more Ticket resources.
