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AARP Michigan Wins Key Budget Fight

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-09-22 10:42:00-04:00

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Before the Legislature adjourned, AARP won key language in the Michigan Department of Community Health's budget. AARP worked with the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan for the change. The department can now move money from nursing homes to home and community-based services if the patients are moved. Why is this important? It establishes for the first time the principle that money should follow the patient.

Other big wins require the state insurance bureau to publicize the health insurance complaint system and to restore funding for the Elder Prescription Insurance Program.

MI Choice Waiver Reopened

The Home and Community Based Services Waiver, known as MI Choice, lets seniors and persons with disabilities receive care at home. MI Choice serves 6,500 people but was closed to new enrollees. Gov. Granholm's budget for 2004 reopened MI Choice and directed the department to reopen the program for the rest of 2003.

In February, AARP helped the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan launch a group of organizations and individuals to support MI Choice. The coalition grew from 200 partners in February 2003 to more than 1,100 now.

Other Key Legislative Action

• AARP opposes Senate Bill 734. While it attempts to regulate the payday loan industry, the bill allows annual interest rates of more than 400%.
• We testified in favor of a bill that allows people with low income a one-time free access to information on their medical records.
• House committee action on House Bill 4030 and Senate Bill 1 was postponed until fall. The bills allow the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) to decide whether phone companies may charge up to $5 a month in end-user carrier-line fees. AARP supports the bills, which would give the PSC power to end the fees.
• AARP testified in support of and participated in a work group on a bill signed by the governor. The bill requires all unsolicited e-mail containing advertising to include "ADV:" in the message heading. It also provides users with a free and easy way to remove themselves from an e-mail list. The law includes penalties, including fines, for spammers.

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