Walgreens Wellness Tour Comes to VirginiaMy Journals (64)
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AARP VIRGINIA SPEAKS OUT AGAINST BUDGET CUTS
oRGANIZATION SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN’T AFFORd to CUT HEALTH CARE
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The following information is from the Governor's proposed budget cuts: Health and Human Resources Health and Human Resources accounts for $9,885.4 million or 31.8 percent of the total general fund operating budget in the introduced budget bill for the 2010-2012 biennium. These amounts include the Health Care Fund which totals $575.1 million. General fund appropriations for, including the Health Care Fund, support for Health and Human Resources between 2000 and 2010 has increased by $1,780.3 million or 76.0 percent. The principle reasons for this growth: Growth in the Medicaid program increased by 133 percent and accounts for approximately 71 percent of the overall growth in Health and Human Resources. During this time, enrollment has increased by 68 percent and medical inflation has climbed by 50 percent. Caseload and expenditures for child welfare services has increased significantly. The funding needed to support the Comprehensive Services Act has grown by $160 million. In addition, costs associated with mandated foster care and adoptions have increased by an estimated $55 million. Community Services Boards appropriation has grown by 50 percent from $154 million in FY 2010 to $227 million in FY 2010. Required support for programs and operations in local departments of social services, including a federal settlement over Title IV-E expenditures, have increased by more than $60 million. Increased caseload in mandated benefits programs (TANF cash assistance and child care). Information technologies costs. The introduced budget contains $664.5 million in general fund reductions for this functional area. Spending Proposals: Community Services Boards ($13.9 million) Adds funding to provide community-based care for patients who might otherwise have been treated on an in-patient basis. This funding coincides with the proposed closure of 232 state mental health facility beds. The additional funding is equal to fifty percent of the general fund reduction at the facilities in each year. As state hospital beds close, these funds will be used to provide access to crisis stabilization, outpatient and day support services for individuals otherwise served by state facilities. Savings Items: Consumer-directed Medicaid services ($62.9 million) Eliminates coverage of consumer-directed personal/respite/companion care services, which allow an individual to hire and fire their own caretaker. Consumer-directed services exist in the HIV/AIDS, Elderly and Disabled, Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disability Medicaid waivers. Individuals in need of these services will still be able to receive them through agency-directed services. The savings assumes that 50 percent of the individuals receiving the consumer-directed services will no longer receive any of those services. The remaining 50 percent will begin to receive services through personal/respite/companion care agencies. Income eligibility for Medicaid long-term care ($53.3 million) Reduces the income eligibility to 250 percent of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), $20,220 a year, which is equivalent to 186 percent of the federal poverty level. Medicaid covers individuals eligible for long-term care services (nursing facility or Medicaid waivers) with income up to 300 percent of SSI ($24,264 a year). The introduced budget reduces the income limit for this eligibility group from 300 percent of SSI to 275 percent. Most of the individuals in nursing facilities will be able to "spend down" to continue to be eligible for Medicaid. This proposal mainly impacts those eligible in the Medicaid waivers and is estimated to impact 2,000 enrollees. Freeze FAMIS enrollment ($33.8 million) Freezes enrollment in the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) program, which covers children and pregnant women up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The freeze means that beginning July 1, 2010 no new individuals will be covered in the program until the freeze is over. An estimated 28,566 individuals will not be enrolled due to the freeze. Medicaid provider reimbursement reductions ($27.8 million) Reduces reimbursement for community mental health services (i.e. mental health supports, day treatment) by five percent. ($13.7 million) o
Community mental health services have not been reduced in any previous round of budget reductions and are some of the fastest growing services within Medicaid.
o Reduces reimbursement for dental services by five percent. ($5.4 million) o Reduce number of staff and close state mental health beds ($26.0 million) Eliminate 390 direct care positions and 49 support positions and closes 232 beds at various facilities statewide. Closure of beds will begin in the second half of FY 2011, and continue through the beginning of FY 2012. This cut represents a fifteen percent reduction in operational bed capacity at state facilities statewide. Separation costs for employees are assumed in the net savings figure. Reduce community services board funding ($24.4 million) Reduce funding for community services boards by an additional five percent, resulting in a 10 percent cut when combined with the cut included in the introduced budget. This cut will also result in the loss of federal mental health block grant funds. Reduce funding for Comprehensive Services Act ($24.3 million) Reduce the non-Medicaid general fund appropriation for the Comprehensive Services Act by five percent. The additional reduction will require language that caps state reimbursement for services at the appropriation level. The additional cut, when combined with cuts proposed by Governor Kaine, represent a general fund reduction of twenty percent from FY 2008. Eliminate one-time expanded TANF spending and supplant general fund ($11.4 million) This strategy would eliminate one-time FY 2011 TANF support for the following expanded activities: o o o o o The one-time TANF surplus resulting from these cuts will be used to supplant $11.4 million of general fund being spent for mandated benefits. Virginia must maintain federally required maintenance of effort (MOE) spending and since federal TANF dollars do not count as MOE other state spending must be found. This strategy assumes that current state spending for the pre-K program will be used to meet the required MOE; pre-K already accounts for about $9 million of state MOE. Capture funds generated from sale of Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents ($9.0 million) Account for the revenues generated from the sale of land after the proposed closure of the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents, located near Western State Hospital in Staunton. The facility is slated for closure before July 1, 2010. Language will be required to divert funds from the Mental Health Trust Fund, which is where the Code of Virginia currently requires proceeds from sale of facilities to be deposited and used for community-based services. Eliminate general fund support for Healthy Families of Virginia ($6.3 million) Healthy Families of Virginia is a voluntary program that offers home visiting services for up to five years to high risk families who need individualized and comprehensive support. Services include in-home parenting education, child development, preventive health care and support services. The Healthy Families model is designed to promote positive parenting, improve child health and development, and reduce child abuse and neglect. Hampton Healthy Start pilot project was funded in FY 1994 and state funding has since been provided to expand programs across the state. The Healthy Families program in Virginia has grown to 38 local sites serving at-risk families in 88 communities. One state level organization, Prevent Child Abuse Virginia (PCAV), also funded with the state dollars, provides training, technical assistance, quality assurance, and evaluation to the local sites. Health Families currently (Chapter 781) receives $5.5 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) support. The introduced budget supplants the TANF with general fund and reduces the overall state support by 10 percent. This strategy will eliminate funding added in the introduced budget to offset the reduction of TANF for Healthy Families of Virginia ($1.4 million FY 2011 and $4.9 million FY 2012). Reduce funding for the Tobacco Settlement Fund ($6.0 million) The introduced budget diverts 15 percent of the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation's payment from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with tobacco companies to the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) program. This action increases the redirected amount to 25 percent (or 2.5 percent of the total MSA payment) in FY 2011 and 50 percent (or 5 percent of the total MSA payment) for FY 2012. The Settlement Fund, administered by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, currently receives 10 percent of Virginia‟s total MSA payment to prevent youth smoking and childhood obesity. Reduce funding for local departments of social services ($5.5 million) This strategy increases the reduction included in the introduced budget for local departments of social services by eliminating the remaining state support for other purchased services. Other purchased services is a „catch-all‟ category of expenditures that cannot be allocated to other funding resources. Specifically, these services are associated with protecting abused, neglected, or exploited adults and children. Approximately 65 percent of the funding is used for supplemental adult chore and companion services. Based on FY 2009 expenditures, approximately 20 percent of budgeted funds were unspent by localities; likely a result of an unwillingness to provide the required local match. The introduced budget cuts this spending by about $800,000 each year; this action will eliminate the remaining support. Reduce funding for chore and companion services ($5.3 million) The chore and companion program provides home-based care services to needy adults. These services allow the clients to maintain some self-sufficiency and avoid the need for admittance to more restrictive facilities for as long as possible. o o Although section 63.2-1600 of the Code requires local boards (social services) to provide for the delivery of home-based services (chore and companion), the program is not mandated since the provision is subject to available appropriation. In FY 2007, 6,348 individuals (83 percent over age 60) received chore and companion services; however, this number dropped to 5,058 in FY 2008 and is expected to further decline in FY 2010. The primary reason for the decline is increased wages (i.e. minimum wage) since the services are primarily provided by minimum wage individuals with oversight provided by local departments of social services. There is no concrete data to determine the impact of reducing/eliminating the services supported with this funding. It is expected that many clients will be either re-located to a relative‟s home or be admitted to an adult living facility (ALF). It is also believed that a substantial percentage of these clients will qualify for the Auxiliary Grant program which subsidizes a client‟s income to provide admission to an ALF. The elimination of this program would impact an estimated 4,500 adults. The program currently (Chapter 781) has a budget of approximately $7.8 million each year. The introduced budget reduces this amount by approximately $0.7 million. This strategy increases the reduction included in the introduced budget for chore and companion services provided by local departments of social services to approximately 25 percent in FY 2011 and 50 percent in FY 2012. It is anticipated that localities will maximize the use of volunteers and nongovernmental organizations to assist with this population's needs. Eliminate adult components of the general relief program ($4.8 million) This strategy will limit the scope of the general relief program, leaving $1.1 million each year, to support only unattached children who otherwise would enter foster care. The general relief program is an optional program designed to provide cash assistance and services to individuals with little or no income in an effort to avoid other, more intensive, welfare services. Localities can participate in this program at their discretion; but they must agree to match state funding on a 62.5 percent state/37.5 percent basis. There is currently $3.5 million general fund budgeted for general relief; this strategy will reduce that amount by $2.4 million. Reduce support for unemployed parents cash assistance program ($3.6 million) The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)-Unemployed Parent (UP) program is the cash assistance program for families with two parents. The program eligibility requirements are identical to the regular TANF program; however, it is not in the state's TANF plan and completely funded with general fund dollars. The decision to separate UP from the TANF program was made, in part, by the very restrictive work participation requirements for two-parent households imposed on states by the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Two-parent households must have a ninety percent work participation rate, whereas single-parent households only have a fifty percent work participation rate. Programs that are funded with all general fund dollars are not subject to the federal work participation requirements and, therefore, cannot be sanctioned by the federal government for failing to meet the work participation rate. Based upon current economic conditions resulting in an increase in Virginia‟s unemployment rate, the UP caseload began to climb in July of 2009. For FY 2009, the caseload nearly doubled, increasing from 1,181 cases to 2,074 cases. Expenditures during this time, however, increased by seventy-two percent. Virginia‟s UP benefits ($320 for a family of three with no other income) ranks as 16th lowest in the nation. The program is required by state law and there are no federal requirements. The introduced budget includes funding ($7.3 million general fund) to cover the anticipated FY 2011 cost of maintaining benefits at current levels; however no support was added for FY 2012. This strategy reduces the funding added in the introduced bill by 50 percent. It is assumed that the Department of Social Services will restrict the program's eligibility to meet available resources. Administrative budget for Department of Medical Assistance Services ($3.1 million) Reduces funding for the personal services costs and other discretionary operational costs of the department by 10 percent. The contractual costs necessary for the claims processing, medical management and audit functions are not included. An equivalent amount of federal funding will be lost. Local dental services ($2.4 million) Eliminates funding for local dental services in 24 health districts. This is a non-mandated program that provides dental services to approximately 24,066 clients. Virginia Health Care Foundation ($2.2 million) The introduced budget reduces funding for the Virginia Health Care Foundation by 10 percent each year. This action reduces funding by an additional 15 percent in FY 2011 and 40 percent in FY 2012. The foundation provides access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Eliminate funding for child advocacy centers ($2.0 million) Child advocacy centers provide services to children and families who experience abuse and neglect through a multidisciplinary team approach. Per budget language (Chapter 781), the Department of Social Services (DSS) provides $290,000 to various child advocacy centers each year. $200,000 ($100,000 general fund and $100,000 TANF) for the centers in general and $45,000 TANF for each of the centers in Bristol-Washington County and Lenowisco Planning Districts. In addition, the 2005 General Assembly appropriated $1.0 million general fund in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources (OSHHR) for the development and enhancement of children's advocacy centers in Virginia. The introduced budget cuts funding for these organizations by $305,000 ($190,000 TANF and $115,000 general fund). This strategy eliminates the remaining funds set-out in both the Department of Social Services ($85,000 general fund) and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources ($900,000 general fund). Reduce Personal Attendant Services ($1.9 million) Reduces Personal Attendant Services at the Department of Rehabilitative Services by 25 percent in the first year and 50 percent in the second year. It is expected this strategy will result in a significant reduction in the number of consumers utilizing this service. At this time that number is undetermined. Eliminate general fund support for local domestic violence grants ($1.8 million) Funding is used to provide grants to support the victims of domestic violence through local programs. Domestic violence services include: a 24-hour crisis telephone service; shelter; crisis counseling; supportive counseling; information and referral; transportation; coordination of services; legal advocacy; and basic services for children of domestic violence victims. The target population is women who are victims of domestic violence and have dependent children with them or are pregnant. Although there is state oversight, these programs have no state employees and range from local governments to non-profit entities. The domestic violence grants have been funded with TANF dollars for at least five years (FY 2003 through FY 2008.) The introduced budget supplants the TANF with general fund and reduces the overall state support by 10 percent. This strategy will eliminate the funding added in the introduced budget to offset the reduction of TANF for local domestic violence grants ($555,000 FY 2011 and $1.2 million FY 2012). Virginia Association of Free Clinics ($1.8 million) The introduced budget reduces funding for the Virginia Association of Free Clinics by 10 percent each year. This action reduces funding by an additional 15 percent in FY 2011 and 40 percent in FY 2012. Funding is used to purchase pharmaceuticals, medically necessary pharmacy supplies, and provide services to low-income, uninsured patients of free clinics throughout Virginia. Virginia Community Healthcare Association ($1.3 million) The introduced budget reduces funding for the Virginia Community Healthcare Association by 10 percent each year. This action reduces funding by an additional 15 percent in FY 2011 and 40 percent in FY 2012. The foundation provides access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Reduce Department of Rehabilitative Services administrative budget ($1.3 million) Reduces the Department of Rehabilitative Services administrative costs by five percent. Reduce Department of Social Services administrative funding ($1.2 million) This strategy reduces the administrative and support services budget in the Department of Social Services central office by approximately five percent each year. This amount excludes approximately $40 million ($20 million general fund) that is budgeted for unavoidable information technology charges (VITA). It is assumed that an equal amount of federal matching dollars will also be lost for a total reduction of $2.4 million (general and federal) in the 2010-12 biennium. It is estimated that 15 to 25 positions will have to be eliminated to realize the savings outlined in this strategy. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative ($0.9 million) Eliminates funding for the program that provides prevention education in the Richmond, Roanoke, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Eastern Shore, Crater, and Alexandria health districts. Community service organizations ($0.9 million)
All community service organizations noted below have already been reduced by 15 percent each year in the introduced budget. This strategy:
o
Reduces funding for the AIDS resource and consultation centers and one local early intervention and treatment center by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. These early intervention centers provide medical treatment and support services to HIV infected low-income, underinsured, and uninsured persons living in the Lynchburg area. ($0.2 million)o
Reduces funding for Virginia Health Information by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. This nonprofit health data organization develops and implements health data projects that provide useful information to consumers and purchasers of health care, to providers including health plans, to hospitals, nursing facilities, and physicians. ($0.1 million)o
Reduces funding for the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The consortium was established to create and support medical residency preceptor sites in rural and underserved communities in Southwest Virginia. ($0.1 million)o
Reduces funding for the Patient Advocate Foundation by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The foundation assists uninsured patients in obtaining medically necessary health care and ancillary services. ($0.1 million)o
Reduces funding for St. Mary's Health Wagon by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The health wagon provides medical and dental services in the Central Appalachia area. ($40,613)o
Reduces funding for the Arthur Ashe Health Center by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The center provides support for the AIDS early intervention and counseling programs in Richmond. ($40,055)o
Reduces funding for the Bedford Hospice House, Inc. by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The healthcare organization provides end-of-life care for terminally ill individuals who are unable to remain in their home. ($40,500)o
Reduces funding for community-based sickle cell grants by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. Grants are distributed to community-based programs that provide assistance, education, and family-centered support for individuals suffering from sickle cell disease. ($40,500)o
Reduces funding for Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The center provides accessible, culturally sensitive, preventative, prenatal, primary and minor pediatric illness care to women and children in Alexandria. Most of its clients are Hispanic, female, and uninsured. Almost half of the clientele is compromised of children who under five years of age. ($36,792)o
Reduces funding for the Community Health Center of the Rappahannock Region by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. Funding is provided for the health center to address the growth in clinic patients served. ($22,500)o
Reduces funding for the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The clinic provides access to healthcare to low-income residents in Fairfax County. ($20,250)
o
Reduces funding for the Mission of Mercy dental project by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. Funding is used for purchasing dental equipment and supplies to provide dental services for Virginia‟s uninsured. ($11,250)o
Reduces funding for the Chesapeake Adult General Medical Clinic by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The clinic provides medical care for non-insured adults with chronic illness living in the South Norfolk area. Services provided by the clinic include diagnosis, treatment, medications and education. ($9,197)o
Reduces funding for the Fan Free Clinic by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The clinic is operated by the Richmond AIDS Ministry and provides housing, nursing services, and education. ($7,369)o
Reduces funding for the Olde Towne Medical Center by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. The center provides general medical, pediatric, women‟s health, immunizations, family planning; dental and home health care services in Williamsburg. ($5,416)o
Reduces funding for the Louisa County Resource Council by an additional 10 percent in FY 2011 and 35 percent in FY 2012. This council implements initiatives to connect low-income individuals to medical and dental services. Services include locating appropriate care, transportation, and payment of medical services. ($4,134)Limit Medicaid waiver services ($0.9 million)
Reduces the annual limit from $5,000 to $3,000 per individual for environmental modifications and assistive technology services (the limit is separate for each service).
These services are provided in the Intellectual Disabilities, Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support, Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction, HIV/AIDS and Technology Assisted Medicaid waivers.
In addition, this strategy imposes a lifetime limit of $15,000 per service for each individual.
Replace administrative support services with nongeneral funds ($0.9 million)
Currently the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) makes an annual payment to the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) for the administrative functions such as HR, fiscal, purchasing, and IT. DBVI also pays, using their general fund, DRS for the same services provided to the Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB). This strategy will require VIB to pay their own share which will free up general fund at DBVI.
Consolidate disability service agencies into the Department of Rehabilitative Services ($0.8 million)
Eliminates the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI), the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH), and the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) into the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS).
All services provided by these agencies will continue to be provided by DRS.
The savings associated with this strategy comes from eliminating the positions of the director from DBVI, DDHH, and VBPD as well as other efficiencies.
At this time there are no deputy directors or clear successor at these agencies to assume the roll of leadership and guide the services to the respective consumer groups.
A review of federal legal requirements for the structure of state-provided services to these populations must be undertaken before finalizing this action.
Reduce funding for the Early Childhood Foundation ($0.7 million)
Established in 2005, the Foundation is a public-private partnership that provides grants, training and technical assistance in an effort to implement long-term strategies for improving school-readiness for all young children, ages birth-5.
The Foundation currently (Chapter 781) receives $1.5 million annually.
The introduced budget reduces earmarked funding provided to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation by 15 percent ($225,000 annually).
This strategy will increase that reduction to 25 percent in FY 2011 ($1.125 million) and 50 percent in FY 2012 ($0.75 million).
Central office dental program activities and administration ($0.7 million)
Reduces funding for child and adult oral health programs, clinical oral health surveys, oral cancer initiatives, nursing home training, and community water fluoridation.
Reduce Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired administrative funding ($0.6 million)
Reduces administrative expenses by five percent at the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired $292,557 each year.
This strategy in combination with other proposed strategies may result in the agency not being able to meet the maintenance of effort (MOE) for the vocational rehabilitation grant. If that happens the agency will lose a portion of the federal match and may be fined by the federal Department of Education.
Other sources of MOE may be available.
Eliminate funding for the Earned Income Tax Coalition ($0.4 million)
The Earned Income Tax Coalition is a non-state entity that provides tax preparation services to Virginians who may be eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Coalition currently (Chapter 781) receives $218,500 general fund each year.
The introduced budget reduces the earmarked funding by fifteen percent.
This strategy will eliminate the remaining state support ($185,725 each year).
Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy ($0.3 million)
Eliminates the Information Technology Specialist position.
Eliminates funding used to administer scholarship programs.
Eliminates the Program Support Technician position.
Eliminates the administrative oversight of the healthcare workforce and scholarship programs.
Reduce child welfare training and support contract ($0.2 million)
This savings strategy reduces by 50 percent the amount of a contract that provides training and support services to adoptive and kinship parents.
Some of these functions will be absorbed through existing family placement specialists.
Public Guardian and Conservator program ($0.1 million)
Reduces funding for the Public Guardian and Conservator program by five percent.
The Department for the Aging administers this program by providing grants to local not-for-profit organizations to provide court-ordered guardianship services to incapacitated individuals.
This program is considered the guardian of last resort in the Commonwealth.
This reduction is in addition to the five percent included in the introduced budget.
Eliminate the Child Day Care Council ($0.1 million)
The Child Day-Care Council is authorized by the Code of Virginia to adopt regulatory standards for licensure and operation of child day care centers in Virginia.
The council is comprised of a minimum of 28 members who are appointed by the Governor.
The council‟s elimination will free the out-of-pocket administrative support costs incurred by the department. This strategy will capture these savings.
The Council‟s responsibilities will be absorbed by the State Board of Social Services.
Eliminate library operations at the Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing ($0.1 million)
The agency will discontinue the operations of its resource library.
On average 25 individuals utilize this program each month.
The contents of the library will be transferred to a local nonprofit or outreach contractor that serves the deaf and hard of hearing. Library services have dropped significantly over the past few years.
Dental Hygienist Loan Repayment Program ($0.1 million)
Eliminates the loan repayment program that places dental hygienists in underserved areas throughout the state.
State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program ($0.1 million)
Reduces funds used to provide insurance premiums, coinsurance payments, and other out of pocket costs for approximately 146 individuals meeting the eligibility criteria in the Virginia AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
Strategy reduces funding by an additional 20 percent in FY 2012.
Limits indigent care funding to the UVA and VCU health systems to their FY 2010 level. ($8.7 million)
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It’s Time for Tough Budget Choices.
We Can't Afford to Get it Wrong.
Call 1-800-211-0914 now to tell your state senator not to cut health care.
Balancing Virginia's budget means making tough choices. But big health care cuts would be very unhealthy for Virginia and its people.
Call your state senator now at 1-800-211-0914 to stop risky health care cuts.
The Virginia Senate is voting on budget cuts that would mean that many elderly adults and people with disabilities could not get the health care they need; thousands of children would lose their health coverage; and free clinics and health centers would have to turn away hundreds of people who need care.
Call now 1-800-211-0914 to tell your state senator not to cut health care.
We need to balance the budget, but not by risking the health of Virginia's citizens.
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Tell Virginia Lawmakers: Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Older Virginians!
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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's nearly 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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A bill that will protect seniors by establishing a uniform Power of Attorney passed the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday, February 2. HB 719 establishes in the Code of Virginia the Uniform Act that was adopted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2006. The bill contains provisions that will provide recourse if someone with Power of Attorney for another person abuses their responsibility.
The status of AARP Virginia's legislative priorities are outlined below:
Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Older Virginians
HB 902 & SB 556 Financial exploitation of elderly or disabled adults
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Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Older Virginians
HB 902 & SB 556 Financial exploitation of elderly or disabled adults
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- No prepaid metering program should require mandatory participation, including for renters or consumers with outstanding debt.
- All prepaid metering programs should adopt an opt-in approach (in which customers must indicate that they want to participate), as opposed to an opt-out approach (which automatically includes customers in the program unless they specifically indicate that they do not want to participate).
- Prepaid metering programs should not target low-income customers.
- Prepaid rates should be no higher than the regulated or standard rate set by regulators.
- The disconnection protections for customers with prepaid meters should be equivalent to those for customers with standard billed service. For example, service should not be disconnected at a time when a customer is unable to recharge a prepayment card.
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AARP CEO Reacts to State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON—AARP CEO A. Barry Rand released the statement below following tonight’s State of the Union Address by President Obama:
“AARP is encouraged by the President’s commitment to help older Americans get through the challenges of a rocky economy and a health care system that costs too much and leaves too many people behind. It’s clear that much work remains to help millions of older Americans who face tough challenges getting through today and preparing for tomorrow.
“While economic statistics point towards a rebound, Americans still need relief. We are encouraged by the President’s commitment to help current workers build their own lifetime economic security through the creation of the Automatic IRA, a low-cost, high-impact tool that would help tens of millions of American workers who do not currently have access to a retirement savings plan at work. As many Americans try to re-build retirement nest eggs, they deserve to know that lax financial oversight won’t lead to another economic meltdown. So we are pleased that the President called on Congress to enact measures, including the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which would overhaul a failed regulatory accountability system.
“We would ask the President to go further to help Americans—particularly those nearing retirement or who already live on fixed incomes. In particular, we hoped to hear the President renew his request to Congress to provide immediate economic relief to help the 41 million Americans who depend on Social Security but did not receive an annual Cost of Living Adjustment for 2010.
“We are committed to helping put the country’s fiscal house in order because older Americans care about the legacy we’re leaving ours kids and grandkids. However, we need to make sure that any budget driven cuts don’t cause more harm than good, particularly when it comes to lifeline programs like Medicare and Social Security. Any recommendations from a proposed debt commission should require a full and open debate by Congress without fast-track treatment that short-circuits the accountability of representative government. Social Security and Medicare should not be viewed as piggy banks for deficit reduction.
“AARP is also encouraged by the President’s commitment to continue progress on comprehensive health care reform. As Washington turns its focus to the economy and job creation, we must not forget that access to affordable, quality health care is among the most important and personal economic issues for the vast majority of Americans.
“We have come too far to give up now on health care reform. Both chambers of Congress have passed comprehensive reform legislation—something neither had done before in our nation’s history—that would help tens of millions of Americans have access to affordable care while strengthening and protecting guaranteed Medicare benefits. AARP will continue to urge the Administration and Congress to enact health care reform this year that meets the priorities of older Americans by cracking down on insurance company abuses, especially those that deny affordable coverage based on age or pre-existing conditions; protecting guaranteed Medicare benefits; lowering drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare ‘doughnut hole’ coverage gap; and helping people get the services they need to help them live in their homes and communities.
“We look forward to working with President Obama and members of Congress from both parties to work on the issues critical to our members and all older Americans. It’s time to find solutions that work for Americans who have done the right things, but still struggle to build a nest egg, find an affordable health plan or care for a loved one.”
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's nearly 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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