COVE’s 2017 Legislative Priorities

COVE’s mission is to promote and protect a higher quality of life for Vermont’s elders, through education and advocacy. The needs, concerns, safety and well-being of elders who are economically disadvantaged, physically or mentally challenged, or geographically or socially isolated, are a central focus of our public policy work.

COVE Highest Priorities:

  1. Development of a Legislative Elder Caucus, through collaboration with aging network partners and Legislative leaders.
  2. Funding for affordable senior housing for the lowest income elders (30% of Federal Poverty Level or less).
  3. Adequate state funding for LIHEAP (federal fuel assistance program) to ensure that beneficiaries have at least the same level of purchasing power as they did last year.
  4. Transportation:
  • Advocate for expanded Elders & People with Disabilities Transportation services.
  • Monitor DVHA’s RFP to put Medicaid Transportation contract out to bid to ensure that services are maintained and improved.
  • Raise awareness of the connection between the availability of transportation and the quality of life for elders.
  1. Protection of vulnerable adults:
  • Work with partners to develop “Improvident Transfers” legislation that will protect elders from financial exploitation in asset or property transfers.
  • Continue to work with Adult Protective Services (APS) and other partners to strengthen the APS program.
  1. Choices for Care:
  • Decrease delays in eligibility determinations by 1) funding statewide the pilot that was successful at CVCOA and NEVAAA and 2) promoting implementation of presumptive eligibility for home & community-based services.(continued on back)
  1. Health care reform:
  • Continue to monitor All Payer Waiver and ACO evolution to make sure elders continue to receive needed services to live with dignity in their homes and their communities.
  • Support and expand independent watchdog for ACO complaints and a grievance procedure that is accessible for elders (or their caregivers).
  • Monitor efforts to control/decrease prescription drug prices.
  • Promote better access to non-generics for individuals who cannot take the generic.
  • Promote better access to durable medical equipment for Dual Eligibles.

COVE PARTICIPATES IN COALITIONS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES:

  1. Tax credit for home modifications
  2. Affordable oral health for all Vermonters
  3. Caregiving and workforce issues
  • Increase minimum wage to $15/hour
  • Develop paid family leave
  • Develop training & certification for non-medical caregivers (something like the Stars Program for children) – accomplishing this will require a clear definition of non-medical caregivers and what qualifications they should have

4. Creation of a state retirement savings plan

5. Efforts to release low-risk older prisoners

COVE VOLUNTEERS FOLLOW THESE ISSUES & KEEP POLICY COMMITTEE INFORMED:

  • Monitor rail passenger developments – Montpelier-Burlington-St. Albans commuter rail study, Amtrak service extension Rutland to Burlington - and continued improvement of rail passenger/transit interconnections
  • More roundabouts in downtowns & village centers.
  • SASH continuance and expansion
  • Poverty/hunger
  • Kinship care
  • Medicare rule changes and social security changes that impact state policy in COVE priority areas
  • Senior center and meal site needs