Advocacy
Among our roles under the Wisconsin Elders Act is to “Assist in representing needs, views and concerns of older individuals in local decision making and assist older individuals in expressing their views to elected officials and providers of services.”
The Kenosha County ADRC will work to provide older adults and persons with disabilities with information about public policy and issues that are relative to services, benefits and access to care.
We strive to provide you with the facts as we know them, and the possible implications of proposed policy changes. We don’t know whether all the current proposals will pass, or if all the potential results will occur. However, it is important for people to consider the possible effects of legislative actions, in order to fully participate in thoughtful discussion and critical thinking. We encourage you to share your point of view. Policy makers cannot know what their constituents are thinking about specific issues unless those thoughts are communicated.
Federal BudgetNational Council on Aging Public Policy and Action
MEDICARE
The Medicare Rights Center advocates to make Medicare work better for everyone. Recently the Medicare Rights Center created two videos to help you stay informed.
The first video explains the preventive care services available at no cost for people who have Medicare, as well as some recent additions to the list of covered services, such as cardiovascular disease counseling and depression screenings. This video is also available in Spanish!
In the second, Medicare Rights Center President Joe Baker describes the concept of Premium Support—how it works, where the Medicare savings are found, and what it would mean for people with Medicare.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
MEDICAID
Due to efforts by some Members of Congress to turn
Medicaid into a block grant program or to cap the amount of federal
funding are continuing. In light of the federal fiscal crisis, these
efforts have become serious and are gaining traction.
Medicaid block grants or caps would especially threaten home- and
community-based services. More than 66% of the federal Medicaid budget is used for long-term care services, including nursing homes and
community-based services. Nursing home services, however, are an
entitlement under current law; home and community-based services are not entitlements.
Block grants or caps on federal Medicaid funding would essentially have
the same effects. States could make their own rules about eligibility and
services. With a federal cap on funding, states would have the choice of
either using more state money or cutting services as costs increase as more people age and need services.
SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Senior volunteer programs in Kenosha County could be eliminated if provisions of the 2011 budget bill passed by the House of Representatives is approved by the Senate and president. The bill eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service which funds Senior Corps, including RSVP and Foster Grandparents, and Americorps/Vista. Without the federal funding, there would be no state funding as it is in the statutes as "match" money.Goodwill’s Foster Grandparent Program has 50 volunteers in Kenosha and Racine, helping youngsters in 21 elementary schools and two after-school programs with reading and positive support. They are part of a statewide program that has a total of 600 low income older adults in 30 counties. All would lose out if the bill passes.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), run by Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services in Kenosha, last year placed 620 volunteers with 77 local organizations. Those volunteers provided 53,186 hours of service. That’s the equivalent of over 26 full time positions—without vacations or holidays. The jobs they do, not only provides a service to our community, but provide meaningful activity to many retirees. The budget for KAFASI’s RSVP is $104,062, 82% federal funds, 9% state match and the balance local contributions. This program will not be able to continue if congress passes the House version of the budget bill.
State Budget
2011−2013 Biennium Budget Assembly Bill (AB40)
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/AB-40.pdf2011−2013 Biennium Budget Senate Bill (SB27)
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/data/SB-27.pdf
Program Issues
Public Informational Meetings for the Kenosha County Transit Development Plan
Kenosha County Transit Development Plan: 2010-2014
Action Steps For You
To identify your Senators, click on your state at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
To identify your Congressman/woman, go to http://www.house.gov/ and enter your zip code. Some districts require a 9 digit zip code, which you can find at http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
Letters to the Editor
Voice of the People
Writers limited to 1 letter per calendar month
Don’t exceed 275 words
Must include name, address and phone number for verification purposes; may request that name be withheldGoogle Kenosha News Voice of the People, or write:
Kenosha News Voice of the People
5800 7th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
Kenosha County Legislators
Find your legislator: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx
Advocacy EVENT Information
Joint Finance Hearings
Joint Finance Committee hearings to invite public input have been announced and can be found here:
2011 Joint Finance Hearings
ADRC Contact Information
To contact the Kenosha County Division of Aging and Disability Services with your views, E-Mail ADRC@kenoshacounty.org and put “Advocacy” in the subject line.
