Bill offers help to caregivers

Legislation would allow spousal caregivers to get Medicaid

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
BY CLARE HOWARD
OF THE JOURNAL STAR

Because of two local women, Illinois Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, will introduce legislation today called the Family Member Caregiver Initiative.
Kathi Kupferschmid and Stefanie Eklund are 24-hour caregivers for their disabled husbands.

Full-time spousal caregivers in Illinois and most other states are excluded from receiving Medicaid payments. Koehler's proposed legislation would change that.

"Kathi Kupferschmid was a turning point for me. When you sit down and hear the stories of 24-hour care for someone totally paralyzed with ALS, you want to take this issue out of the political arena and put it into the arena of common sense. Is this the right thing to do? Bipartisan support confirms it is," Koehler said.

Kupferschmid of East Peoria was told she could receive caregiver payments only if she would divorce husband Dennis, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He is paralyzed except for his eyelids.

Eklund of Knoxville was told she'd lose her Medicaid payments if she married Bryan Eklund, who is partially paralyzed because of ALS. The lost income would amount to $1,800 a month.

Both women say marriage is too sacred to be dictated by Medicaid regulations. Both households struggle with finances and both are excluded from caregiver payments through Medicaid because the caregiver is married to the patient.

"The state will pay for brothers, sisters, partners, anyone off the street, but not for me," said Kathi Kupferschmid, 46.

State Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, is co-sponsor of the bill. He said the legislation resolves an injustice, does not open up an area for abuse and does not cost the state money.

"A fine piece of legislation," Risinger said.

Koehler, who spent a career working with labor unions, said the bill is crafted to have no negative impact on unionized home health care workers.

"No one will be out of work because of this legislation. There is plenty of need out there," he said. "I hope other states contact us about our model."

Melissa Black, Democratic senate staff analyst, said only two states, Oregon and Vermont, have similar legislation providing payment to spousal caregivers, but the Illinois legislation is not a copy of either of those programs.

The Illinois bill would allow payments to a qualified spouse or parent providing care for a family member diagnosed with a terminal illness. That would include ALS, multiple sclerosis and terminal cancer.

Illinois Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Galesburg, plans to sponsor similar legislation in the house.

"Every once in a while a piece of legislation is simply the right thing to do. This does not add cost to taxpayers. It is the same cost if care is from a spouse or a non-spouse," he said. "This legislation may save the state money."

Kathi Kupferschmid and her husband live on his disability payments and help from family members.

"I save the government money," she said. "This would be much more expensive if I went back to work and Dennis went into a nursing home. This new legislation is not going to cost the government a lot of money. This is money already allocated for home caregivers."

The couple rapidly wiped out their life savings, but Kathi Kupferschmid said she feels blessed to be able to care for her husband at home.

"We don't have anything. We've exhausted our savings," she said. "But I married till death do us part, and I intend to keep my vows. Sadly, I know people who have divorced so the spouse could receive payment."

Kathi and Dennis Kupferschmid intend to go to Springfield when Koehler invites them to testify on behalf of the bill. The soonest the Family Member Caregiver Initiative could become law is 2009.


Clare Howard can be reached at 686-3250 or choward@pjstar.com.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/021308...P79BUS.046.php