Advocacy









 

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas advocates for issues effecting seniors.  Below is a list of current activities.
 

Click Here to see the Legislative Victories of 2009
AAA Funding from the 2009 Legislative Session
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ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING, INC.
Legislative Priorities 2009

  1. Increase the Medicaid Personal Care reimbursement rate to $16.76 per hour.
  1. Increase the Elderchoices Homemaker service reimbursement rate to $16.76 per hour.
  1. Increase the Elderchoices In Home Respite service rate to $16.76 per hour.
  1. Increase the Elderchoices Adult Companion service reimbursement rate to $16.76 per hour.
  1. Increase the Elderchoices Home Delivered Meals reimbursement rate to $7.10 per meal.
  1. Increase the State Aging Service funds by an additional $1.8 million annually.
  1. Continue the AEDC annual set aside for Senior Center Construction and Renovation.
  1. Legislative support to continue the Senior Center General Improvement Funds program.
  1. Support and Work Cooperatively with the Senior Issues Caucus of the Arkansas Legislature.

 

The 2008 Silvered Haired Legislature was held at the state capitol in Little Rock on August 20-21.  Here are the bills that the Silver Haired Legislator Delegates passed in the session.
 

BILL NO. 01

EXEMPT ARKANSANS AGE 72 AND OLDER WITH AN INCOME OF $30,000 OR LESS FROM PAYMENT OF STATE INCOME TAX

BILL NO. 02

OBTAIN STATE FUNDING FOR THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM AND INCREASED STAFFING

BILL NO. 03

PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTERS

BILL NO. 05

INCREASE STATE AGING FUNDING TO THE AREA AGENCIES ON AGING BY $1.8 MILLION EACH YEAR AND TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL INFLATION ADJUSTMENT ON ALL STATE AGENCY SERVICES FUNDING

BILL NO. 06

PROVIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS IN ARKANSAS

BILL NO. 07

APPROPRIATE $5 MILLION TO ADDRESS THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM OF SENIOR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY INCLUDING THOSE IN RURAL AREAS WHO NEED TRANSPORTATION TO RECEIVE NEEDED SERVICES

BILL NO. 08

INCREASE FUNDING FOR SENIOR ADULT CARE

BILL NO. 10

GIVE MORE POWER TO ENFORCE EXISTING CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS

BILL NO. 11

ALLOW FOR A TAX CREDIT FOR GASOLINE ON INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX FOR PERSONS 65 AND OVER

BILL NO. 12

INCREASE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR HOME CARE, TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT, ADULT DAY CARE, AND HOME DELIVERED MEALS

BILL NO.13

CREATE A "SILVER ALERT" SYSTEM

BILL NO. 14

PROVIDE FUNDING FOR DENTAL, HEARING, AND EYE CARE SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE RECIPIENTS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND WHO ARE BELOW 150% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL

RESOLUTION NO. 01

ADOPT THE MEDICAID SERVICE RATE AS PROPOSED TO THE 2009 ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

RESOLUTION NO. 02

REGARDING MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT TO PROVIDERS OF IN-HOME PERSONAL CARE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS OF ARKANSAS

RESOLUTION NO. 03
 

PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS ACTIVITY CENTERS TO COVER THE INCREASED COST OF GASOLINE, FOOD, AND WAGES

 

    
 

THE CRISIS IN MEDICAID HOME CARE

·         The eight Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s) and the Arkansas Department of Health serve 14,514 Medicaid Home Care clients per year and employ 4,827 home care aides.

·         The average annual cost per person in home care is $7,097.  For comparison purposes, DHS reports that the average annual cost per person for nursing home care is approximately $45,000.

·         In October, 2006, the operating costs to in-home care providers such as the AAA’s increased from $5.25 to $6.25 per hour due to the state minimum wage increase.  Other upcoming federal increases, to $6.55 in 2008, and $7.25 in 2009, will be devastating without an increase in Medicaid rates.

·         Though the minimum wage increased in 2006, there was no additional state money to those providers in order to offset the mandated raises.

·         Rising costs have made recruitment and retention a critical problem.  Some AAA’s are now unable to accept new clients due to their inability to staff the cases.

·         Since 1992 the Medicaid Personal Care rate has gone from $11.40 per hour to $12.35 in 1997, then to $13.84 per hour in 2004; services provided by aides, nurses, supervisors, and others are included in this hourly rate.  By comparison, according to a 2006 survey, Missouri’s rate was $18.64 and Texas’ rate was $15.49.

·         Arkansas needs a 21% increase in the Medicaid Home Care rate, from $13.84 to $16.76, in order to remedy the current crisis and contend with future cost increases, including the two upcoming increases in the federal minimum wage.  The total cost to the state of Arkansas would be $4 million per year in matching funds.

·         Without home and community-based care as a viable option, homebound and disabled seniors, also the surging “baby boomer” population, will inevitably be forced into institutional care. 

·         We must act now to insure that older Arkansans have a home care choice in their future.