February, 2011

 

1.Please join us at our next statewide meeting on March 19^th at the law offices of Chalgian & Tripp in East Lansing, 1019 Trowbridge Road (near the Trowbridge exit for I-496 and Route 127). Please also plan to join us at our next meeting on May 21, 2011 at the same time and place. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Alison Hirschel at hirschel@lsscm.org or 517-394-2985 x231.  We need your help!

2.Governor Snyder’s Budget Safeguards Many Medicaid Program But Proposes Harsh Cuts to the Home Help Program—On Feb. 17^th, Governor Rick Snyder released his budget proposal for FY 2012 and FY 2013.  Medicaid -- the joint federal and state program that provides health care to a rapidly increasing number of low income Michiganians and many long term care consumers – accounts for approximately a quarter of the state budget. Despite the state’s continuing fiscal crisis, Gov. Snyder did not propose cutting reimbursement rates to health care facilities and professionals who serve Medicaid beneficiaries.  The Campaign applauds this decision because Medicaid rates in Michigan are already among the lowest in the country and create real access problems for Medicaid beneficiaries seeking health care.  The Governor also decided against tightening eligibility requirements for Medicaid programs or eliminating Medicaid services like prescription drugs or dental care. 

 

            In addition, Gov. Snyder recommended stable funding for the MI Choice home and community based care program. However, the Governor did propose a devastating cut to another important and cost-effective program that keeps low income seniors and people with disabilities in their homes: the Home Help Program.  Currently, Home Help pays for approximately 60,000 individuals each year to get help with both activities of daily living like bathing, toileting, and eating, and with “instrumental” activities of daily living like shopping, laundry, cleaning, and meal preparation.  The Governor proposed terminating services for all individuals who require help only with instrumental activities of daily living (beneficiaries who need help with both kinds of care will continue to receive it).   Although the Administration has alleged that Home Help beneficiaries who need help only with instrumental activities of daily living are less needy than beneficiaries who also need help with basic activities, some individuals who cannot do chores, meal preparation, and errands for themselves will likely be forced to seek institutional care, a much more expensive option than the very inexpensive and cost-effective Home Help program.

            In addition, the Governor proposed eliminating funding for the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQCCC), a small agency that helps to match Home Help beneficiaries with providers (workers) who can meet their needs, and that provides training, screening, and support for both workers and beneficiaries.  MQCCC serves a vital function in the Home Help program and the Campaign has long supported it.

 

 

3.New MSU Study Finds that 21% of Michigan Nursing Home Residents Are Neglected—A new study led by Michigan State University researchers reported that more  than one in five elderly nursing home residents in Michigan was neglected on at least one occasion in the last year. The report, which appeared in the January issue of the Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, asserted neglect is “a very serious problem” that calls for changes in care and policy.  The study also concluded that the most vulnerable residents are most likely to be neglected. The federally funded study was conducted by random and anonymous surveys of residents’ family members.  The principal researcher of the study, Zhenmei Zhang, noted that the findings of the surveys were probably only the “tip of the iceberg” because family members were often unaware when neglect occurred.  Professor Zhang and her colleagues noted that the study looked only at instances of physical neglect and did not address physical, emotional, or sexual abuse which have also been found to be significant problems in long term care facilities.  The study recommends more training on recognizing and reporting neglect, careful initial assessments of residents and good care planning, more attention for victims of resident-to-resident abuse, and better education of family members in how to monitor care.

            The study’s concern about neglect is borne out by other data.  In 2009, the second most frequent complaint by consumers to the Michigan long term care ombudsman program was “failure to respond to requests for assistance.”   Moreover, numerous studies have reported that adequate staffing is essential for quality of care.  Since most Michigan nursing homes, like facilities across the country, fail to meet nationally recommended levels for nursing home staffing, facility staff face great challenges in meeting residents’ needs. To contact your local long term care ombudsman, call 1-866-485-9393.  To file a complaint with the agency that licenses and inspects nursing homes, call 1-800-882-6006.

 

4.U.S. Senate Aging Committee and Elder Abuse Survivor Mickey Rooney Bring National Attention to Elder Abuse – On March 2^nd, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will bring national attention to the issue of elder abuse when it holds a hearing featuring Mickey Rooney and experts from around the country.  Long time celebrity Mr. Rooney, age 90, will testify at the hearing about his own recent experiences with elder abuse when his stepson allegedly withheld food and medicine and intimidated and exploited him.  Advocates are grateful to Mr. Rooney for being willing to share his experiences in an effort to protect other seniors.  In addition to Mr. Rooney, experts will discuss a new report by the Government Accountability Office on Adult Protective Services programs across the country, a new study from New York on the prevalence of elder abuse, and some proposals to increase federal coordination and support for efforts to combat elder abuse. 

 

5.The Campaign is on Facebook! – Thanks to the Campaign’s tech-savvy vice chair, Brittany Koziol, the Michigan Campaign for Quality Care is now on Facebook.  Search for us under: Michigan Campaign for Quality Care and let everyone know you like our page.   Make sure you check out our website, too, at campaignforqualitycare.org.

 

 

6. Family Councils in Michigan Invited to Apply for Grants from the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long Term Care to Support Family Council Activities—The Consumer Voice (formerly “NCCNHR”) is offering grants of $250 -$1000 to independent family councils in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Michigan and Virginia to support council activities.  Funds could be used to pay speakers’ travel costs to attend meetings, create materials for meetings and public education, purchase refreshments for meetings, or whatever the family council believes will best advance its goals and mission.  A check will be sent directly to the council or one of its members and all funds must be used for family council activities.  To learn more and apply, go to theconsumervoice.org/familymember. Consumer Voice is also supporting and networking with independent family councils across the country and will be inviting them to participate in educational conference calls, as well as providing them with a webpage, listserv, and mailings with information and resources for family councils. And please note: You are cordially invited to The Consumer Voice’s national conference which will  be held in Grand Rapids, MI this year from October 25-28.