• Health
• Money
• Leisure
• Make a Difference
• Family
• Online Community
• Membership

AARP South Carolina Scores Legislative Victories

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-06-28 12:13:27.085736-04:00

• Comment
• E-mail
• Print
• Bookmark

E-mail to a friend

Your E-mail:


Your Name:


To:

(Separate multiple addresses with commas)

Message:

(Maximum length: 1,000 characters)

CC me

With a legislative agenda focused on increasing long term care choices and consumer protection, AARP South Carolina scored several victories during the legislative session. State appropriations at the Office on Aging more than doubled previous appropriations for programs and services vital to older South Carolinians.

For the first time in almost two decades, state funding for home- and community-based services increased significantly, according to the Office on Aging. The budget provided $2.9 million dollars to address local waiting lists of people needing services such as home delivered meals, home modification and home care services.

In addition, the budget of the Department of Health and Human Services was increased by $1.2 million to fund 500 new Community Long Term Care slots in the elderly/disabled waiver that provides community care to Medicaid recipients who medically qualify for nursing home admission.

On the consumer side, the Hospital Infection Disclosure Act requires hospitals to publicly disclose infection rates. The bill passed with overwhelming support in both the Senate and House and was signed into law by the Governor. An estimated 26,151 to 52,302 people in South Carolina develop one or more infections while being treated at acute care hospitals in the state.

The General Assembly also made a change in how the state taxes bingo games. Over $200,000 in additional funding will be available resulting in a total of nearly $1.6 million to fund senior center construction and provide home- and community- based services.

Another funding coup is $140,000 to provide permanent funding for the geriatric loan forgiveness program. This new funding will help pay the costs of the medical education for eight physicians who have agreed to stay in the state for five years and provide specialist care for our 660,000 seniors. Prior to the creation of this program South Carolina had only 30 board-certified geriatricians.