Senior issues newsletter [Jan. 2016]

WEBSITE ABOUT US CO-AGE RESOURCES CONTACT US January 25, 2016: Session Issue 2
Budget hearings were held this week! Thank you to our Council Member & Legislative Chair, Joanne Mathis, who testified before Appropriations about the need for SSBG monies. Commissioner Crittendon also testified on behalf of the Department of Human Services about the amended FY 2016 budget and FY 2017 as it impacts the Department and DAS. Advocates are continuing to ask for the commitment of Senators to make Home & Community Based Services a priority for FY 2017. We hope to increase HCBS funds beyond the $2,055,000 the Governor put into the budget. Our Be There 4 Seniors Rally is this Thursday! Read just below for all the details. See you at the Capitol this week! Sincerely, Kathy Kathy Floyd, Executive Director
RALLY this Thursday, 11 AM
You have all heard of "Marching on the Capitol in DC" before. Well this is Georgia's SENIOR "March on the Capitol" as we turn out in numbers to show our support for increased funding of Home & Community Based Services that allow seniors to remain in their homes and communities and avoid institutionalization. Don't miss this! Join us. Simply click on the image to the RIGHT or on the link below for full details of where to be and how to RSVP for this event. www.gcoa.org/be-there-4-seniors-rally
Interesting News from Hawaii about valuing caregivers
Hawaiian lawmakers have introduced a "first of it's kind bill" to create a long-term care benefit for seniors. The benefit would provide eligible seniors with a daily benefit meant to assist family & caregivers with expenses and to off-set the costs associated with caregiving for an elder. The proposal seeks an increase in excise tax to pay for the benefit. Read a news article about the proposed legislation that was introduced Thursday, January 21, 2016 and is receiving National attention. Click here.
Funding for In-Home Services
Funding for HCBS Watch the issue video here!
Advocates continue to be asking both the Senate & House Appropriations

Committees to add in more funds to support Home & Community Based Services to further reduce the waiting lists! Please be on the look out for an Alert coming to your inbox soon and TAKE ACTION- we need you! TALKING POINTS simplified:
On average, In-Home Services cost $2,055/year vs. the state portion of a Nursing Home Medicaid bed that adds up to $19,200/year
In FY 2015, three hundred fifteen (315) people went from the HCBS wait list into a Nursing Home costing the state $6 million
The current wait list across the state for HCBS services is 13,700 unduplicated individuals
Our $10 million ask would take almost 5,000 people off the wait lists
Funding for Transitions Services
Transitions Funding Watch the Issue Video Here!
GCOA advocates continue to talk to legislators about this proposed budget ask. TALKING POINTS simplified:
$3 million will transition almost 500 people out of costly nursing home beds The MFP program is ending soon so Transition Funding would help the
state with their sustainability plan This funding would allow more flexibility to meet the needs of the individual,
for example, the ability to transition into a 6 bed Personal Care Home rather than the restrictive 4 bed requirement of MFP
Abuser Registry to Prevent Abuse
Creation of Abuser Registry Watch the Issue Video here!
In our meetings with legislators this issue has garnered a lot of interest! As we continue to discuss this important legislation, we are aware that some would like us to skip the creation of a study committee and get a basic Registry started in Georgia that we can build on. As we continue to explore the options we will keep you posted. TALKING POINTS simplified:
Tennessee has been successfully administering a public access Abuser Registry for over 20 years
An abuser registry would deter abusers from seeking employment within the caregiver/human services field
The registry could serve as a means of capturing people who plea down from felony charges of abuse, neglect and exploitation
A Joint study committee is the best way to drive our efforts of creating an Abuser Registry in Georgia
Increase Access to Oral Health

HB 684 Will Improve Dental Care for Seniors Watch the Issue Video here!
HB 684 is scheduled to come before the House Health & Human Services Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, January 26th at 2 PM in Room 606 of CLOB. Some members of our workgroup will be providing testimony and we hope the committee will vote unanimously to move HB 684 through Committee and to the House floor. TALKING POINTS simplified:
Georgia is ranked 49th in the nation in dentist per capita so with the current practice limitations this leaves many without access to any oral health care
The Public Health model has been operating safely for over 25 years Forty-five (45) other states already have this type of legislation in place Hygienists would still be operating under the supervision of a dentist, it
is simply that the dentist would not have to be physically present for each visit
Reduce Strain on Caregivers
The Family Care Act Watch the Issue video now!
We are awaiting both the House (HB 746) and the Senate version of the Family Care Act (SB 242) to be heard in committee. As soon as we have hearing dates we will notify you. As a reminder to share when discussing this legislation, both bills do not contain language regarding employee right of action. Read HB 746 here. TALKING POINTS simplified:
This bill simply allows employees to use up to five (5) already earned sick days to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, etc.)
The Family Care Act has bipartisan support Losing a day's wages for caregiving duties can be very challenging to a
family trying to help a senior remain in their home and out of an institution
Other Important News for You
Event Sponsorship's are available to our members!
Two different levels of SPONSORSHIP are AVAILABLE for SENIOR WEEK! Space is limited.
February 24 & 25, 2016 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

South Rotunda, State Capitol
Don't miss out on this opportunity. Showcase your business or organization to hundreds of seniors attending our event as well as State employees and State Legislators. You can even meet with your local legislator to discuss our priorities
and your impact on seniors in our state.
Click here or on the photo above to get more details and sponsor an event! Sponsorship levels vary and include table, newsletter exposure & more

Other Bills Impacting Seniors
Of course we always have our eyes and ears open for any legislation that potentially impacts the elders of our state. Below is a listing of what we have seen introduced thus far. Feel free to click on the Bill number to get to the full bill language via the General Assembly's website.
HB 765 - Social services; board member appointments for the County Department of DFCS should include retired individuals.
HB 768 - Establish a qualified ABLE program in the state to enable the contribution of funds to tax-exempt accounts to pay for qualified expenses of eligible individuals with disabilities. The "ABLE (Georgia Achieving a Better Life Experience)" Act.
SB 267 - Firearms; provide for reduced weapons carry license/renewal application fee; persons 65 years of age or older.

Our Events are Coming Up! Please join us!

DATES:

February 2, 2016 Gerontology Student Workforce
Day

February 11, 2016 GDHA Lobby Day

Click on the image above to get more info!

February 24-25, 2016 Senior Week

Support our Partners at the Capitol

FEBRUARY 24-25, 2016
Georgia Council on Aging
404-657-5343 | www.gcoa.org

Georgia Council on Aging, 2 Peachtree St. N.W., Suite 32-270, Atlanta, GA 30303 SafeUnsubscribeTM gadocs@uga.edu
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