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-- Programs and Services -- Contact InformationApril 2004 - Requests shared with Senator Nuciforo:
April 22, 2004
Elder Services of Berkshire County requests your support of the following:
1. Expansion of the 2176 home and community-based waiver so that more nursing home eligible elders can choose to be served at home and that the state can receive additional matching federal dollars for these services. (The federal government will match 50 cents of each dollar the state spends).
Currently an elder is not eligible unless his or her income is equal to or less than $769 a month. There is also an asset limit of $2,000. An amendment in the House seeks to expand the income eligibility to the amount allowed by federal law, which is 300% of the federal benefit rate under supplemental security income, or $1,656 a month. The amendment also seeks to raise the asset level to $20,000 a year. This would allow more elders, many of whom are currently ECOP clients, to receive higher levels of service and the state to attract matching federal dollars for all ECOP clients who would be eligible under the expanded waiver even if they do not need more service at this time. The state currently appropriates $37.47 million for ECOP program.
2. Deletion of outside section 36, which gives the Administration the authority to make unilateral changes to the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Program. The administration is currently looking to create a group of state employees to perform statewide screenings/assessments of clients in place of current system whereby screenings/assessments are performed at the local level by designated Independent Living Centers and ASAPs.
3. Addition of $2 million to the Protective Services line item 9110-1636. New total with addition would be $11.6 million
4. Creation of language to add self-neglect as part of the statutory definition of elder abuse.
5. Support for the Prescription Advantage Plan, the Councils on Aging, CHOICES, and the State Home Care Programs, including the enhanced program, at the levels proposed by the House Ways & Means FY 2005 Budget.