By David Mickenberg
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.
In October the administration reported on the annual needs assessment of the Choices for Care program (CFC). While there were multiple needs identified, the key take-away was that they agreed to continue the moderate needs enhanced funding that has been in place for the last two years. This funding was initially implemented to help alleviate pressures on the moderate needs programs run by Adult Days, Area Agencies on Aging, and Home Health Agencies. The funding did alleviate those pressures, although it is clear that there is additional need beyond what the current funding levels can meet. However, without the administration’s use of the current FY ’16 CFC savings, those individuals who were placed on the program over the last two years would risk losing their services.
In addition, the Administration continues to examine how to reduce waiting times associated with CFC eligibility determinations. They have participated in a variety of stakeholder meetings and are in the process of drafting recommendations to the legislature on how to reduce or eliminate these chronically long wait times. COVE will continue to engage on this issue and will support any credible efforts to reduce wait times for accessing CFC benefits.
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.
The LIHEAP benefits were released by the Administration this week and the average seasonal fuel benefit amounted to $663 per person. This amount, while lower than last year, still allows for the same level of purchasing power per person of 36% of their annual fuel needs. Because of low fuel costs, the Administration only needed to use approximately $3.3 million to keep Vermonters at the same benefit level they received last year. Indications from Washington are that Vermont will receive approximately $18 million in federal LIHEAP support this year, the same as last year. These numbers could change if there were a dramatic spike in fuel costs, which could necessitate having to return to the Legislature for additional funds to keep people’s benefits at the same level of purchasing power.
Paid Sick Days: Paid sick days have received a great deal of attention over the last few months, including public support from the Governor, Speaker and key Senate leaders. The House-passed bill is currently in the Senate and will likely be taken up early in the 2016 session. COVE will continue to monitor the bill to ensure that Kinship Care and families’ ability to care for sick elders remain part of the legislation. If the bill were to pass in its current form, it would be one of the best paid sick day bills in the country and could serve as a model for other states.
Transportation: VTrans (Vermont’s Agency of Transportation) is undertaking two transportation studies requested by the Legislature. The first is on public transit funding, to “identify and evaluate funding sources, other than local property taxes, to use as the non-federal share of funding for Vermont’s public transit system.” The full language is contained in section 10 (pages 7-8) of Act 40 of 2015, which may be viewed at the following link: http://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2016/Docs/ACTS/ACT040/ACT040%20As%20Enacted.pdf
The second is a comprehensive review of the Elders and Persons with Disability (E & D) Transportation Program. The language may be found in section 12 of the same act.
Both reports are due to the Legislature by January 15. COVE will be on the lookout for them, and will keep you up to date.
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In the spirit of “Giving Tuesday” (December 1, 2015), please consider a year-end gift to COVE, to help keep our vital advocacy work going! (You may simply send a check marked “donation” to COVE, PO Box 1276, Montpelier, VT 05601.) Here is the explanation of Giving Tuesday from their website:
“We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.
It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.”
Thank you!
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