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More Information How poor economic times hurt seniors (see below) To get help finding free or discount medications, try these options: For the lowest income retirees, this increase may have actually cost them more than they received due to increased client obligation costs for in-home Medicaid services. For those seniors fortunate enough to have some sort of retirement plan, plan payments often have not kept pace with inflation. Some, like KPERS, have no cost of living adjustment. The older the retiree, the more likely that their non-Social Security retirement benefits have lost value over time. In addition, the cost of living has dramatically increased, especially food and fuel prices. Medicare Part D (prescription drugs) premiums have increased for most insurance plans, and many have changes in their coverage. The costs of prescription drugs have also gone up. There are two major programs to serve low-income seniors who need assistance to stay in their home and avoid, or delay, placement in a nursing home – the HCBS-FE Medicaid program, and Senior Care Act. HCBS-FE serves people at, or below the poverty level. The Senior Care Act serves those seniors just above poverty, and has a sliding scale co-pay. There are about 6,000 seniors on each of these programs.
The Governor’s proposed budget for FY 2010 includes at reduction of $1,363,158 from current spending, for the state funded Senior Care Act (-17.3%), a freeze in funding for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Frail Elderly (HCBS-FE) waiver, and a cut of $333,229 for HCBS-FE Targeted Case Management (TCM), or a 5.4% reduction. In FY 2008, there were 6,085 Senior Care Act (SCA) customers statewide. 473 of those seniors are in the NEK-AAA service area. A 17.3% cut in services for our area would mean that 82 seniors could lose their services. The statewide number would be 1,038. The total cost in our area to keep a senior at home with SCA services is just $966/year, compared to about $30,000/year for a nursing home. So we can keep 31 people at home under SCA for what it costs taxpayers for one person in a nursing home. If just three seniors who may lose their services end up in a nursing home, it will cost taxpayers more than it would to keep 93 seniors at home. We currently have a waiting list of 86 people for SCA services. There are 495 seniors across Kansas awaiting SCA services. We simply cannot fund services for everyone who has a need, based upon the budget we receive from the state. Even though we are one of the most cost effective providers, serving the largest percent of seniors of any agency in the state, some people will not be served. We encourage seniors, and their family members or caregivers to write, call, or e-mail their elected officials and express their concern about funding cuts for senior services. The 5.4% cut to HCBS-FE TCM will also negatively impact our ability to help low income seniors stay at home. Our case managers assist low-income seniors by developing a comprehensive plan of care, coordinating services with in-home care providers, and monitoring the delivery of those services. We have been particularly cost effective in delivery of in-home services because we have been able to provide the case management oversight to work with customers and providers to keep care costs contained. We are the established leader in Kansas for high quality, customer satisfaction and cost containment. We welcome questions – people may call our agency at 785-742-7152. Jim Beckwith, Executive Director Doniphan County Jackson County Marshall County Nemaha County Washington County
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