The Community Choice Act is a proposed United States federal

legislative initiative The right of (legislative) initiative is the constitutionally defined power to propose a new law (bill) in a legislature. The right of initiative is usually given to both the government (executive) and individual legislators. However, some sys ...

. The act has been advanced by people with

disabilities Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...

and their allies, as well as Senate and House co-sponsors, to ensure that people eligible for care in a

nursing home A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of elderly or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as skilled nursing facility (SNF) or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms have slightly different meanings to in ...

are also eligible to receive attendant care in their private homes, under a movement known as community-assisted living, or

independent living Independent living (IL), as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at society and disability, and a worldwide movement of disabled people working for equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect. In the context o ...

, in which people with disabilities or the elderly live in their own homes with community "supports". The

American Medical Association The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016. The AMA's state ...

supported the bill in 2007, as did then Senator

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

. As President, there was a strong statement of support on the White House website. It was re-worded to remove mention of the "Community Choice Act" shortly after a meeting with

ADAPT ADAPT (formerly American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) is a United States grassroots disability rights organization with chapters in 30 states and Washington, D.C. They use nonviolent direct action in order to bring about disability just ...

, contrary to their wishes. One can find a separate legislative effort in the healthcare reform bill of 2009 in the House commonly confused with the Community Choice Act. The

CLASS Act ''Class Act'' is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Randall Miller and starring hip-hop duo Kid 'n Play. An urban retelling of Mark Twain's ''The Prince and the Pauper'', the film was written by Cynthia Friedlob and John Semper from a sto ...

would allow more people with disabilities to receive

social security Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...

benefits if they paid into it for five years, shorter than a person without disabilities. Critics charge that the legislation does not address the need for personal care services, services which are often needed by people with disabilities. The lack of such services in the community forces many people with disabilities into nursing homes.

Legislative history

Sources and further reading

* on THOMAS * on THOMAS
National Council for Independent Living (page on legislative status as of 2008, reports on cost-effectiveness, and statements by Obama and the AMA)ADAPT
another organization behind the legislative effort United States proposed federal health legislation Proposed legislation of the 110th United States Congress Proposed legislation of the 111th United States Congress {{US-law-stub