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MBA sets five priorities for upcoming legislative session
A new governor, a new commissioner of human services and a huge state budget
deficit.
It all adds up to everything being on the table for consideration when the
2003 legislative session convenes on January 7. In preparing for the coming
session, the Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) has defined five priorities it will
be pursuing.
The overall theme the MBA will deliver to the capitol is of community
solutions and quality care. People want options and need the tools to make
critical choices in considering those options. The MBA’s five legislative
priority areas are:
1. Personal responsibility – which relates to family-centered caregiving,
developing age-sensitive communities and offering guidance through the Senior
LinkAge Line® and the Resource House online database, to help people find care
solutions.
2. Maintain vital community services and development – in the past, the
state has made grants totaling $6 million a year in which communities or
organizations can apply for funding to develop new ways of dealing with aging
issues. Much of that money has been targeted to places where nursing home
closures or cutbacks in other programs have resulted in limited choices.
3. Keeping seniors healthy – which is a broader concept that happens in a
number of ways, including:
• Programs for affordable prescription drugs.
• Transportation alternatives for appointments and grocery shopping.
• Ending consumer fraud and telemarketing exposure.
• Creating volunteer opportunities for older adults.
4. Affordable housing – which strives to get quality housing alternatives
available at affordable prices. Along with that is consideration of programs for
home modifications to allow people to live longer in their homes. Much of the
work in this area is tied to federal programs that the state administers.
5. Long-term care reform – major progress was made on that issue two years
ago. This year, efforts will focus on maintaining rate equalization and continue
the trend toward less reliance on nursing homes and more use of community
services. In addition, they will be working for cost-of-living pay raises for
nursing home staff members, an effort to keep those jobs competitive with other
jobs in the market place.
Those wanting to keep tabs on how aging issues wind their way through the
legislature have several options. Committee schedules and bill progress reports
are tracked on the legislature’s Web site: www.leg.state.mn.us.
The MBA sends out the biweekly Senior Advocate FYI by e-mail and fax. Those
wanting to get on the list can call 651-296-2770. Also, a biweekly meeting of
senior advocacy groups – Senior Organizational Network – meets every other
Monday at 10 a.m. during the session at the Transportation Building.
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