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AARP and Gov. Phil Bredesen celebrate Long-Term Care Bill

AARP members turned out by the hundreds to join State President Margot Seay and Gov. Phil Bredesen for the signing of the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008. Seay kicked off the ceremonial bill signings by Bredesen in six cities across the state on June 17 and 18.

The events garnered widespread coverage for AARP’s efforts to expand home and community based services for long-term care that culminated in the passage of the long-term care bill this year.

Follow this link for news stories and pictures. http://www.aarp.org/community/groups/displayTopic.bt?pageNum=1&groupId=942&topicId=361211

Added: June 19, 2008
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Tennessee celebrates legislative victories for long-term care

TENNESSEANS NEEDING LONG-TERM CARE ARE BIGGEST WINNERS IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennesseans who need long-term care services are among the biggest winners in the just-completed legislative session. The major victory came this week as lawmakers passed and funded legislation, long sought by AARP, to restructure the state’s long-term care system.

“This was truly a year when everyone came together and made it a priority to provide care for the elderly and disabled in their homes instead of in an institutional setting. This year Gov. Phil Bredesen, legislators on both sides of the aisle, AARP and other advocates, and nursing home lobbyists worked together to pass the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008,” said AARP Advocacy Director Patrick Willard.

The legislation, SB 4181/HB 4144, was sponsored by Sen. Lowe Finney, Rep. Dennis Ferguson and others. It was approved unanimously by both the House and Senate.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, who made long-term care a priority this year, noted the accomplishment in his remarks following the adjournment of the General Assembly. Bredesen said he was pleased with the “overwhelming support for providing a richer set of home and community based health care options.”

Currently, Tennessee ranks at the bottom of the nation in funding for alternatives to nursing homes. The bill includes nearly all of the recommendations included in an AARP consultant’s study of needed long-term care improvements. It also includes protections for consumers that AARP requested.

Lawmakers also voted to increase funding by nearly $4 million beginning July 1 this year for the Options for Community Living program. The program, administered by the state’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities, provides funds for homemaker services, home delivered meals and caregiving services for the elderly or disabled who are not eligible for TennCare. Rep. Dennis Ferguson, chairman of the Joint Long-Term Care Study Committee, fought to include the funding for the program in the budget.

Funds also were included for legislation (SB 1157/ HB 941) sought by Sen. Diane Black and Rep. Debra Maggart to establish a pilot program for self-directed care. The three-year pilot program will allow individual patients to get the opportunity to choose services they think they need and the providers.

Consumers would receive a monthly budget based on their needs, and could use this money to hire personal assistant services, make home modifications, and more.

Residential Homes for the Aged received an increase from $19 to $25 per day reimbursement from the State Department of Health for residents whose total income does not exceed $600 per month and whose income is limited to payments made under the Social Security Act. The increase was funded under SB 3150/HB 3332, sponsored by Sen. Diane Black and Rep. Tommie Brown. These homes had not seen an increase in reimbursements for several years.

Finally, the budget included funds for an additional 2,700 slots under the state’s Home and Community Based Services TennCare waiver program. About $8 million will be used this year of the recurring $12 million in funding for the program, which brings to 6,000 the number of slots available for the HCBS program.

``There is no place like home and now many more Tennesseans will now have the opportunity to stay there,’’ said AARP State Director Rebecca Kelly. ``This by far has been the best year for Tennesseans who need long-term care, and AARP volunteers and staff deserve a lot of the credit for advocating so passionately on this issue,’’ Kelly said.

Added: May 23, 2008
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Boomers Must Discuss Aging Plans with Parents

AARP Tennessee President Margot Seay is quoted throughout The Tennessean's story on the difficult discussions about long-term care plans that boomers need to have with their parents before it's too late: www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.

Added: May 13, 2008
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AARP, State Provide Investor Guidance for Radio Listeners

Nashville, TN- -The Tennessee Securities Division and AARP have teamed up for ``The Campaign for Wise and Safe Investing.’’ The campaign, funded by the Investor Protection Trust, features the Investor Education Minute, a series of sixty-second radio spots broadcasting on 81 Tennessee radio stations. The spots will run through July 4.

The spots include broad-based topics such as investment scams and choosing mutual funds but will appeal directly to listeners age 50 and older, as they are most frequently victimized by investment fraud. Two of the stations _ in Davidson and Shelby counties _ are broadcasting the minutes in Spanish.

The spots include an introduction voiced by Gov. Phil Bredesen. There is also a dedicated website through which Tennesseans can listen to and read messages at www.investortn.com.

“By providing this service to Tennesseans, the Tennessee Securities Division and AARP give you access to unbiased educational information designed to assist you in making better informed decisions and to protect you from investment fraud,” said Daphne Smith, Assistant Commissioner of the Tennessee Securities Division.

``All consumers, particularly those nearing retirement, must make safe and wise investment choices, but rising levels of personal debt, declining savings rates and financial illiteracy can hamper their efforts,’’ said Rebecca Kelly, AARP Tennessee State Director. ``This campaign offers timely and focused information to help consumers.’’

Americans put more money into investments each year than into savings accounts. Unfortunately, millions of dollars are lost by Tennessee investors through securities fraud and sales abuses. Investors nearing retirement are particularly at risk of being targeted by phony investment schemes promising high returns to make up for losses in retirement accounts.

The Securities Division reminds investors to:

Hang up on aggressive cold callers and delete unsolicited e-mail messages promoting investment opportunities with little or no risk.
Contact your state securities division to check that both the seller and the investment are licensed and registered.
Use common sense. Get-rich-quick promises are usually signs of investment fraud.
If you suspect you’ve been scammed, report it to your state securities regulator. Your call could help others from losing money.
INVESTigate before you invest. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Check out the licensing and background of anyone dealing with investments.
Take your time. Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics.

For more information on the Campaign for Wise and Safe Investing, funded by a grant from the Investor Protection Trust, visit www.investortn.com or www.investorprotection.org

For more information on the Tennessee Securities Division, visit www.tennessee.gov/commerce/securities.

Added: May 12, 2008
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Knoxville News-Sentinel shows need for long-term care services

A story in the Knoxville News-Sentinel puts a human face - or rather two faces - on the need for additional long-term care services in Tennessee.

Added: May 6, 2008
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Get Two For the Price of One Driver Safety Class

Bring your friend, your spouse, your neighbor, and your family members. During the month of May and the first half of June, AARP members and a friend can attend theAARP Driver Safety Program classroom course together, for just $10 – a 50 percent savings! Both attendees will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course, which is good for a discount at your auto insuror.

To receive this special offer, the AARP member must just show their AARP membership card upon arrival on the first day ofthe course.

There has never been a better time to tune up your skills.

This special promotion is good through June 15, 2008.

Go to the AARP Driver Safety Program (DSP) course locator web site and type in your zip code to find the closest course: http://aarp.org/driver

Click on the link right below “Find a Class Near You!” Enter your zip code. Or, call 1-888-227-7669 and follow the prompts to have someone return your call and provide you the closest course information.

Added: May 6, 2008
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Senate passes Long Term Care Community Choices Act 32-0

SENATE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES BILL TO EXPAND HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES

NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ AARP applauds the state Senate for unanimously approving legislation on Thursday that would expand home- and community-based options for Tennesseans who need long-term care services.

``AARP’s hard work to provide more choices to Tennesseans who want to stay out of nursing homes and live independently is finally paying off,’’ said Patrick Willard, AARP Tennessee’s advocacy director.

``We commend the senators, particularly long-term care study committee members Lowe Finney and Diane Black, for recognizing that there is `no place like home’ for their constituents and their own families,’’ Willard said. ``We hope the House will unite behind Dennis Ferguson, the chairman of the long-term care study committee, and approve the legislation soon.’’

AARP also appreciates Gov. Phil Bredesen’s efforts to fulfill his commitment to broaden the choices available to Tennesseans. ``The Long-Term Care Community Choices Act would fundamentally restructure a system badly in need of an overhaul,’’ Willard said. AARP has been working for more than a dozen years to raise Tennessee from the bottom of the nation in providing the choices that citizens have overwhelmingly said they want.

The Senate action came one day after the AARP endorsed the version of the bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee, which included an amendment providing important consumer protections.

Senators including Beverly Marrero thanked AARP for the association’s work on this critical issue. Sen. Douglas Henry long a supporter of expanded services, said the legislation is the greatest accomplishment of the General Assembly this year.

Added: May 5, 2008
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Long-Term Care Bill offers more choices

The Long-Term Care Community Choices Act would give caregivers and others alternatives to institutional care, according to this news story from WSMV--4 in Nashville. AARP President Margot Seay discusses the legislation and what it means for Tennesseans.

Added: April 16, 2008
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Nursing Home Liability Bill dead until next year

Legislation that would limit the legal remedies for nursing home residents who’ve been abused or neglected is dead for the year. However, legislators will study the proposal this summer and fall, and they may resurrect it when the 106^th General Assembly convenes in January.

Proponents of the bill could not get enough support in a key subcommittee - in part because of ardent opposition by AARP members and volunteers, who called and visited the members’ offices often to express their disapproval.

Dozens of AARP volunteers wearing stickers that urged lawmakers to vote against the bill packed a legislative hearing room and were prepared to testify when the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Randy Rinks, D-Savannah, agreed to send it to a study committee.

The bill would have required nursing home residents - as a condition of admission - to agree to arbitration before filing suit against the institution. It also would have capped the maximum damage award for pain and suffering in injury or death lawsuits to $300,000. And it would have made it more difficult for cases involving injuries caused by negligence or abuse to be heard.

Although the bill - proposed by the nursing home industry - was called the ``Patient Protection Act,’’ it did absolutely nothing to protect patients or improve the quality of care in nursing homes.

Nursing home lobbyists said the bill was needed because too much money is spent on lawsuits and litigation, diverting funds from the care of residents. Opponents argued that if residents were receiving adequate care, there would be no lawsuits.

Last year, the state forced 22 nursing homes to suspend admissions – double the number of admission suspensions the previous year and triple the number in 2005. Also, there were 152 incidences where nursing residents were found in ``immediate jeopardy’’ of harm.

``Legislators wisely realized that this was not the time to do anything that would limit the legal remedies for people who have been abused or neglected in a nursing home,’’ said AARP Tennessee State Director Rebecca Kelly. ``Quality of care obviously needs to be addressed first.’’

The House and Senate speakers will each appoint five members to the study committee, which is expected to begin its hearings this summer.

``We look forward to participating in the discussions to ensure that the study committee members understand how important this issue is to AARP members, and to all Tennesseans and their loved ones,’’ Kelly said.

Added: April 16, 2008
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AARP TN President talks about Long-Term Care

State President Margot Seay appeared on WTVF Morning Line to discuss the efforts to expand long-term care in Tennessee. Seay answered viewers phone calls and discussed the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008.

Added: March 25, 2008
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