Senior Advocacy in Action Alerts:
2/26/10
Programs funded by the Office of Services to the Aging (OSA), including meals, home care, caregiver services and volunteer programs, funded at $40 million one year ago, have been slashed by $7 million (18%) within the last year. Governor Granholm recently announced her recommendation of an 8% cut for next year. Your advocacy is needed to convince Legislators that more OSA cuts are ‘penny wise and pound foolish.’
What You Can Do:
Contact the members of the Community Health Appropriations Subcommittee, which makes recommendations to the full Senate about funding for the OSA budget.
Members of the Community Health Appropriations Subcommittee:
- Chair: Senator Roger Kahn, M.D. (866) 305-2132 senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov
- Senator John Pappageorge (877) 736-1384 senjpappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
- Senator Tom George, M.D. (866) 305-2120 sentgeorge@senate.michigan.gov
- Senator Tony Stamas (866) 305-2136 ofctstamas@senate.michigan.gov
- Senator Deb Cherry (866) 305-2126 sendcherry@senate.mi.gov
- Senator Jim Barcia (866) 305-2131 senjbarcia@senate.michigan.gov
- Senator Mickey Switalski (866) 303-0110 senmswitalski@senate.michigan.gov
Talking points:
- OSA services help vulnerable seniors stay in their own homes. They prevent seniors from going into nursing homes, spending down their assets, and then going on Medicaid.
- OSA services help seniors who are needy, some of whom are on waiting lists for the MI Choice waiver.
- Last year, $4 million in OSA services saved Medicaid $140 million
Background:
Within the past year, OSA programs have been reduced by $7 million (an 18% loss). The Governor’s FY 2011 budget includes cuts totaling $2.3 million. Without these services, caregivers get burned out and nursing home placement is frequently the result, with seniors spending down their assets and going on Medicaid to pay the $68,000 annual bill. If these are passed more than 2,000 older adults would be affected.
While the Governor makes a recommendation, the Legislature makes budget decisions. Home and community-based care has proven cost-effective and can save Medicaid money by preventing unnecessary nursing home placement. Last year, $4 million in OSA services for the most at-risk clients saved Medicaid $140 million.
