ADAPT organizers aimed this week's protests not a the Opryland Hotel, but at the hotel's guests--the American Health Care Association, which was holding its annual convention here. As the nation's nursing home industry lobby, the association is ADAPT's archenemy.

ADAPT is demanding that the United States provide more health care for disabled people in their own homes by redirecting more than $5 billion in Medicaid funds from nursing homes.

The activist group says 1.7 million institutionalized citizens could live independently at home if these services were offered. What's more, the group says it would cost less-- $8000 a year for each patient receiving in-home care compared to $30,000 for nursing-home care.

The nursing home industry opposes ADAPT and makes millions of dollars in political contributions to ensure its voice is heard in Washington. ADAPT claims profit is the motive for the industry's opposition.

ADAPT demonstrators have laid siege to the previous two association conventions. In 1992 at San Francisco, more than 100 ADAPT members were arrested, and 75 went to jail in 1991 at the convention at Orlando, Fla.

ADAPT members have been in Nashville since Sunday to protest and try to meet with the American Health Care Association, which is having its annual convention at the Opryland Hotel.

The group is demanding that 25 percent of all Medicaid dollars be diverted from nursing homes to home health care.

ADAPT protesters demonstrated Sunday at the entrance to the Opryland Hotel before being told they'd be able to meet with AHCA officials Tuesday.

Created on

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Posted on

Tuesday 4 February 2020

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