By David Mickenberg
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): The federal LIHEAP provides assistance paying for home heating for people of all ages, including many elders whose household income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
As we’ve reported in the past, the Legislature funded the state portion of LIHEAP at $6 million for the FY 15 budget with another $2 million of carry forward to keep the recipients at the same level as they were at last year. However, given that we’re facing a serious budget deficit we must be vigilant in defending the money that has been allocated. Furthermore, this budget environment will create even more difficulty in pushing for greater benefits and higher purchasing power for individuals.
- Choices for Care (CFC): CFC is Vermont’s long-term care (LTC) program for low-to moderate-income elders and adults with disabilities. It provides for both nursing home and home-and community-based care for those with financial and clinical needs for the same. The program has been very successful in giving Vermonters a choice as to where to receive services and in saving the state significant dollars. The biggest problem CFC has repeatedly encountered is how to use those savings - whether to reinvest the savings in an improved home and community based services program, as required by the Federal waiver, or to offset other pressures and priorities in the state budget.
Over the last few weeks COVE pulled together a meeting of the leading advocates and providers of LTC services in Vermont to discuss the upcoming budget issues and how to mobilize in advance of the session on this important issue. According to current estimates and representations from DAIL, the CFC budget is not generating any savings for this year and it will be unlikely that there will be any money available for reinvestment. COVE and its allies continue to attempt to understand the opaque CFC data related to expenditures and savings and we are in the process of scheduling a meeting with DAIL officials to discuss these issues.
On Oct. 1st DAIL issued its annual “Adequacy of the CFC Providers System”. In the report DAIL highlighted survey results which showed there was generally high satisfaction about the CFC services offered. However, an ongoing theme of concern was “access” to programs. This is important to note given the demand for expanded services. In addition, DAIL continued to report that there were waiting lists for the moderate needs group, approximately 500 as of June 2014. Both concern about access to services and the ongoing moderate needs waiting list demonstrate a need for greater reinvestment into HCBS.
Despite the need, we anticipate, given the budget pressures, that even if there are savings, there will be an attempt to divert those savings to other uses. COVE and its partners are in the process of putting together a coordinated campaign in the statehouse to demonstrate to law makers the value of the CFC, the upward pressures on those services, and the dramatic consequences of not fully funding the community based system. COVE will be presenting some initial thoughts to the Health Care Oversight Committee on October 16th as well as raising these issues at its legislative forums through this election cycle.
If you/someone you know/a client you serve has been on a waiting list or experienced a delay in eligibility determination for CFC services, and that delay has resulted in negative health consequences or institutionalization, please contact Gini Milkey, Executive Director of COVE with your story: [email protected]; PO Box 1276, Montpelier, VT 05601; 802-229-4731, extension 2#.
- Telephone Lifeline: Act 105 changed the recipient of applications for the Telephone Lifeline program from the Tax Department to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). During the process, DCF agreed to develop an interagency MOU that would continue to promote the program through tax outlets such as in the tax booklet; on the tax department’s website; and through outreach to tax preparers. With the change at the Commissioner’s office and staff level at DCF, COVE will need to reengage with new staff and the Commissioner to ensure that this MOU moves forward expeditiously.
- Adult Protective Services (APS): APS investigates reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults. When reports are substantiated, APS can take steps to protect the victim and can put the perpetrator on the adult abuse registry to ensure that person cannot get another job working with vulnerable adults. There are statutory requirements as to how much time is allowed for opening an investigation and notifying the reporter and victim of progress, etc.
While there has been progress made on enhancing protections for vulnerable Vermonters, advocates continue to raise concerns about APS and how it is administering the program. For instance, there are legitimate reports of abuse and neglect that seem to be referred erroneously to Survey and Certification and then apparently not followed up on. In addition, despite law requiring written coordinated treatment plans when there is evidence of abuse, neglect or exploitation, those plans are not being done consistently or comprehensively. Finally, and of serious concern, is that cases of financial exploitation are being delayed in their resolution. It appears that there may not be adequate staffing for those cases, and Vermonters are being exposed to serious and dire financial consequences as a result of the delays.
- Senior Housing: COVE met with leaders from Cathedral Square to discuss a policy change at Vermont Housing Finance Agency that would have limited the extent to which senior housing developers would be able to take advantage of state tax credits. Following this meeting COVE signed onto a letter that includes both senior housing groups and advocates and that asks the VHFA board to reconsider their position. The issue was brought up at a subsequent meeting and the Board is now looking for additional input on the issue over the next few weeks. COVE will monitor this as part of its coalition work.
- Earned Sick Days: COVE continues to participate in the Earned Sick Days Coalition. Currently the coalition is working to build support in the business community and throughout VT to advance a bill next session. COVE’s role is to ensure that elders’ concerns are taken into consideration as the legislation advances. This issue is tied into both the ability of people to take time from work to care for an aging loved one and to elders’ ability to take time from their work to care for a parent, child or grandchild.
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NOTES OF INTEREST FROM COVE
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Enclosed/attached are fliers about GMP and VT Gas energy assistance programs and 3Squares VT. Please pass them on to someone you know who might benefit from those programs, if you do not need the information yourself. Thank you!
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Preventing falls is of utmost importance for elders. Even if no serious injuries result, many people find it very difficult to get up on their own after a fall. You will find an interesting video by a physical therapist on how to get up after falling, at this link: http://www.techenhancedlife.com/articles/fallen-how-get-up
