Regional News From the AARP Bulletin
Source: AARP.org | November 9, 2006
September 2007
Power play – Consumers in St. Louis are facing an electric rate increase but, thanks in part to AARP Missouri, not as steep a hike as AmerenUE wanted. In the first general electric rate increase for the state's largest electric company in 20 years, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved an increase of about $43 million — 88 percent less than the $361 million the utility requested. AARP Missouri testified against the request. The approved increase translates to about $2.33 a month for the average customer using 1,000 kilowatts a month.
Also significant for consumers, the PSC ruled that AmerenUE could not adopt a fuel adjustment clause, a variable surcharge that would have allowed the utility to hike rates every time prices for coal, natural gas or other energy sources used in their power plants increase.
— Reports by Will Yandik
May 2007
All or naught... The state Department of Social Services is expected this month to unveil a plan that would make all kinds of durable medical equipment available to Medicaid clients with authorization based on electronic verification of patients’ needs. In 2005 the state ended Medicaid coverage of certain kinds of medical equipment, including feeding tubes, catheters, crutches and hospital beds. AARP Missouri testified against the cuts.
In March a federal judge ruled that while the state could drop coverage for medical equipment entirely, it cannot selectively pick and choose which equipment to cover. It cannot, for example, cover electric wheelchairs without covering wheelchair batteries. The judge temporarily restored full Medicaid coverage of medical equipment and directed the state to bring its plan into compliance with federal rules.
—Report by Will Yandik
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