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News and Events
2012 Legislative Update
(By Jim Croteau, President and CEO, Elder Care Services) The current legislative session started early this year due to the need to have redistricting complete for the fall elections. That item, and a $2 billion budget shortfall, will get most of the attention on the hill this season.
At this time it appears as if the general revenue grants Elder Care receives (Community Care for the Elderly, Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative, Local Service Provider, etc.) will remain at 2010 levels as recommended in the Governor’s budget. Medicaid reform has been slowed down by negotiation with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington. If talks are complete before the end of the session, changes may be made in the legislation, including a delay in implementation.
A Level 2 background screening reprieve has been proposed for volunteers with less than 20 hours of incidental contact with seniors per month and for immediate family members. A bill in the House has moved forward and a few more changes are anticipated to allow agencies to accept each other’s clearances. The Alzheimer’s Day Care Act in the House allows for special advertising if certain conditions are met and is moving forward as well.
Most of the health and human services committees’ attention has been directed to increassing Assisted Living Facility oversight and Nursing Home and hospital rate cuts. The proposed cuts and increased regulations will mean a reduction of services for many of our clients who will be served by these institutions.
The session is early, but it appears that education and Medicaid funding will be battling for limited dollars, with little hope for increased revenues to ease their burdens.