Senior Advocacy in Action Alert

4/28/2011 9:30am

Advocacy needed today!

Our advocacy is having an impact. Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee voted to restore almost $8 million in cuts to senior meals, community services and volunteer programs in the OSA budget.  Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) recruited three other GOP colleagues to muster enough winning votes to pass an amendment introduced by Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing).

The full House is taking up the Community Health budget bill today.  Amendments can be introduced at this point as well and we need to make sure that the cuts are not put back in!

Please send short emails right away to the key legislators below and urge them to maintain funding for OSA/aging services in the Community Health budget bill.  

• House Speaker Jase Bolger                      jasebolger@house.mi.gov
• Appropriations Committee Chair               chuckmoss@house.mi.gov
• DCH Approps Subcomm Chair                 mattlori@house.mi.gov
• DCH Approps Subcomm VChair              petermacgregor@house.mi.gov

Here are a few more talking points you could add to your message:

• OSA services prevent seniors from going on Medicaid. 
• OSA services are extremely cost-effective.  The average annual cost of OSA services (meals-on-wheels and home care) was $1,000 in FY 2010.  In contrast, a nursing home cost an average of $68,000.
• There are over 6,000 seniors on waiting lists for OSA services like meals and home care.

Send messages now!

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