Imagine Different Coalition
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06/16/2026
The PA House Committee held an informational meeting on June 9, 2026 on Complex Care Assistant Programs and any other business that may come before the committee.
The panelists were the following:
Panel 1 - Meghann Luczkowski (parent), Hannah Brown (parent),
Panel 2 - Deanna Pack (Area Director of Clinical Services/Administrator, 365 Health Services, LLC.), Bill Sczepanski (Executive Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Team Select Home Care), Michele Werner (RNC, BSN Regional Director of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health)
Panel 3 - Emily Katz (MPH Executive Director, PA Medicaid Managed Care Organizations PAMCO).
Watch the entire hearing share some important and valuable information.
Human Services Committee -- June 9, 2026 Informational meeting on Complex Care Assistant Programs and any ot...
FB LIVE: CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS
How to talk to your legislators?
Critical Conversations co-hosted by Imagine Different Coalition and Vision for Equality had a conversation on, “How to talk with your legislators?” Streamed live on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET on FB Live. An informative conversation about how to engage with your elected state and federal legislators regarding the importance of Medicaid.
Featuring State Representative Dan Frankel, State Representative Joe Hohenstein, David Gates (attorney at law, Imagine Different Coalition), Erin Gabriel (PHAN), Tom Carasiti and Ned Whitehead (Vision for Equality)
Facilitated by David Gates Esq. (Imagine Different Coalition).
05/27/2026
The Children's Medicaid Defense Project is seeking to establish a family action network to help with responding to issues that may come up with pending Medicaid cuts and to educate policymakers and other stakeholders on how essential Medicaid is to supporting wellness and family life for children with developmental disabilities and/or complex medical needs.
Complete the survey TODAY! It will take no longer than 4 minutes. Visit our website at https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense.
Check out our other family stories at https://www.youtube.com/ and subscribe TODAY.
05/26/2026
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IMPACT ALERT:
TIPS FOR FAMILIES WANTING TO TALK TO THEIR LEGISLATORS
Identify the legislators (House & Senate) in whose district you live- Legislators are more responsive to voters who live in their district (“constituents”).
Find your state legislators (PA Senate and House).
Find your Congressperson and US Senator.
Be aware state legislators don’t have authority over the federal budget, federal laws or policies of federal agencies and vice versa.
Request a meeting
The best way is to ask for an in-person visit with your legislator in their local office.
May just be with their staff but still worthwhile.
Go to legislators with optimism and ideas to share, and help your legislators see and feel your issue.
Prepare your family’s story- not just the challenges, but also the value that comes to your community when your loved one has the support needed to be a full member of their family and community (community engagement, enabling family life, financial benefits from family members being able to keep jobs and pay taxes).
If you want to see all of the tips, visit our website at https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense.
Family Stories: In their own words
Introducing Alyssa Mierta
The Children’s Medicaid Defense Project has been interviewing parents of children who rely on Medicaid due to medically complex conditions or developmental disabilities. You can see our most recent interview with Alyssa Mierta on the Imagine Different You Tube channel here. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
"I know from experience, when we don't have nursing care, [my son with complex medical needs] doesn't go to school. I don't get sleep. I spend all my time taking care of [that son] and [my older son] falls behind because [his brother’s] needs are more intense. Medication multiple times a day and overnight, tube feedings."
"[M]y long-term goal is that they have as many options to choose from, both of my children. I want [my son with complex medical needs] to be able to live as independently as possible or as reasonable…. And I want [my older son] to not have to worry about taking care of [my son with complex medical needs] as an adult. [My older son] may wind up as an astronaut or working on a space station and I don't want him to have to worry about his taking care of his brother. And if those waivers go away, if that Medicaid funding goes away now, we may not be able to afford college, the same way we would. We may not be able to afford to have these things in place for their future, not just for right now, but for their future, for their whole lives. So that we can make sure that our children, both of our children, get to live the lives that they want to live. We just want our children to be happy and healthy and learning and growing and be members of their community and a community that wants them to be members of the community"
If you are interested in sharing your story with us, complete the family survey on our website at https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense.
05/21/2026
PAYING FAMILY CAREGIVERS ATTACKED BY TOP US ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We believe that paying parents to provide approved medically necessary care is not fraud but essential to enable children with medical complexities and developmental disabilities to live with their families, attend school, and participate in their communities. The caregiving needed by these children is well beyond that needed for typically developing children. It is well established that there are not enough nurses and home health aides to fill the medically necessary shifts approved by Medicaid. Paying family members allows them to provide the exceptional level of care their children need and still pay their household bills. To learn more, please visit the website below for the full impact report.
If you are a family member who is being paid to provide care by your child’s home health agency, we would like to hear from you. Please complete our family survey on our website at https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense.
05/15/2026
Today is International Family Day. The Children's Medicaid Defense Project is seeking to establish a family action network to help with responding to issues that may come up with pending Medicaid cuts and to educate policymakers and other stakeholders on how essential Medicaid is to supporting wellness and family life for children with developmental disabilities and/or complex medical needs.
Complete our survey TODAY! Will take you less than 4 minutes at https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense.
Check out our other family stories on our You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/.
05/15/2026
PAYING FAMILY CAREGIVERS ATTACKED BY TOP US ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We believe that paying parents to provide approved medically necessary care is not fraud but essential to enable children with medical complexities and developmental disabilities to live with their families, attend school, and participate in their communities. The caregiving needed by these children is well beyond that needed for typically developing children. It is well established that there are not enough nurses and home health aides to fill the medically necessary shifts approved by Medicaid. Paying family members allows them to provide the exceptional level of care their children need and still pay their household bills. To learn more, please visit the website below for the full report.
If you are a family member who is being paid to provide care by your child’s home health agency, we would like to hear from you. Please complete our family survey on our website at https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense.
05/13/2026
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IMPACT ALERT: PAYING FAMILY CAREGIVERS ATTACKED BY TOP US ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We believe that paying parents to provide approved medically necessary care is not fraud but essential to enable children with medical complexities and developmental disabilities to live with their families, attend school, and participate in their communities. The caregiving needed by these children is well beyond that needed for typically developing children. It is well established that there are not enough nurses and home health aides to fill the medically necessary shifts approved by Medicaid. Paying family members allows them to provide the exceptional level of care their children need and still pay their household bills.
If you are a family member who is being paid to provide care by your child’s home health agency, we would like to hear from you. Please leave your contact information on our family survey at: https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense
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A graphic featuring a yellow grid background with blue elements, including a light bulb illustration and text that states "DID YOU KNOW" and "Children's Medicaid Defense Project." It also includes a quote that reads, "Caring for children with disabilities is not fraud, waste or abuse," along with a web address at the bottom.
05/13/2026
The Children's Medicaid Defense Project is seeking to establish a family action network to help with responding to issues that may come up with pending Medicaid cuts and to educate policymakers and other stakeholders on how essential Medicaid is to supporting wellness and family life for children with developmental disabilities and/or complex medical needs.
Complete our survey TODAY! Will take you less than 4 minutes. https://www.imaginedifferent.org/medicaiddefense
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