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.
As we approach the legislative session, the state of CFC continues to be a top priority for COVE and others in the elder network. First, we know that by and large, providers will have additional resources, through the use of CFC savings, to maintain the number of people they currently have in the moderate needs program. This funding will have to be approved through the budget adjustment process, but is supported by the administration. In addition, we anticipate that the program more broadly will be level funded in the FY ’17 budget, although the actual funding levels won’t be known until the budget is revealed in early January.
We are still waiting to see a report from the Administration regarding fixing the delays in CFC eligibility. Depending on the outcome of the report, COVE will be vigorously advocating in the legislature to ensure that such delays are minimal and within acceptable national standards, which they are not at this point.
As we review new legislation related to CFC, COVE has identified one bill which could have an important impact on Home and Community Based programs in Vermont. Senator Pollina has put in a bill, S. 192, which would require that rate increases for providers of Home and Community Based Services rise commensurate with the increases for nursing homes. This is an issue that COVE has worked on in the past and will be actively involved in this session.
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 released by the Administration last month will now need approval in the budget adjustment process. COVE will be actively working to secure this money to maintain an average seasonal fuel benefit of $663 per person. In addition, COVE and its allies will advocate for a return to base budget-ing for the LIHEAP program to provide predictability for those elders who rely on the program to provide essential warmth during the heating season.
Paid Sick Days: Paid sick days received another boost from recent comments made by President Pro Tem John Campbell. In an interview on Vermont Public Radio, Senator Campbell expressed support for paid sick day legislation and predicted it was likely to pass this session. Currently the bill has passed the House, and is awaiting action in the Senate Economic Development Committee. The bill would provide that any employee who works a sufficient number of hours in a year, would qualify for up to 5 paid sick days to take care of themselves or a family member, including a parent or grandchild.
All Payer Waiver: Currently the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) is in the process of negotiations with the federal government over an “All Payer Waiver” for health care in Vermont. Such a waiver would give the state the ability to set prices across the board for providers of health care. Importantly to COVE and other elder groups, this All Payer Waiver would include payments for Medicare. COVE is in the process of reaching out to the GMCB to discuss the implications of the waiver on Medicare recipients and to ensure both that benefits are maintained and that consumer protections are in place.
Elder Day: COVE and other partners are in the process of planning an “Elder Day” at the State House at which the House Human Services (HHS) Committee will take testimony about what it is like to be an elder in Vermont, both the positives and the challenges. This discussion is part of a process to elevate issues impacting elders in our State. We applaud the Chair of HHS, Representative Ann Pugh, for her interest and support in carving a full morning out of her committee’s very busy schedule to provide them with this important information.
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COVE has trained 3 volunteers to present our interactive workshop, “The Basics of State Government and How to Communicate with Your Legislators.” If you would like to offer this program to the folks who attend your senior center, senior housing, retirement community or place of worship, live at your senior housing or retirement community, etc., please contact COVE: 802-229-4731. (Free to COVE organization/business members; donation requested from others.)
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