Advocacy Secured Critical Home Care Hours to Support Independent Living

Lori Lee Bullington is a 60-year-old woman with spinal muscular atrophy, diabetes, and asthma. With help from the Medicaid Long-Term Care Waiver and the Participant-Directed Option program, she’s taken charge of her own care. For years, Lori balanced paid services with support from family. When Lori’s primary natural support, her 82-year-old parent, was no longer able to assist, her need for paid home care increased. Lori requested additional home care hours to meet her daily needs, but the request was denied. Concerned about her safety and ability to remain at home, Lori contacted Disability Rights Florida for assistance.

Disability Rights Florida stepped in right away. Together, we got organized for her fair hearing, reviewing paperwork, digging into how the program was being used, and making sure every detail was clear for the managed care plan. We challenged the outdated idea that Lori still had family support, setting the record straight on what she really needed.

Because of this advocacy, Lori’s managed care plan finally approved more home care hours. Now, Lori has the support she needs to stay safe and independent at home.