New Orleans

Louisiana: 
How Far To Olmstead Compliance?

DOJ 2016 Louisiana Findings Letter:  Over-Reliance on Nursing Homes for People with Mental Illness Violates Title II of the ADA

This is a common problem and it is a problem in Colorado.  In Colorado, there are actually efforts to transition people out.

One of the biggest problems for people with mental illness is that the array of services is insufficient to allow successful transition.

People are sometimes hit with -- "you have to be able to live 'independently."   Well, NO!

One has to have ADEQUATE SUPPORTS!  

So this is a BIG TIME Olmstead issue and the STATE needs to tackle this in an INCLUSIVE way.

Additionally, issues involving people with mental illness and or substance issues who are incarcerated or homeless need to be tackled in an INCLUSIVE way as well.

Pitts v. Greenstein – 10-CV-635 – (M.D. La. 2010) -

In September 2010, a group of four individuals with disabilities who receive and depend on Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS) in order to remain in the community and to prevent hospitalization and institutionalization filed suit to prevent the State of Louisiana from reducing the maximum number of PCS hours available each week. Read more