Michigan State budget news....

Final decisions on the Department of Community Health budget for FY 2012 

(beg. October 1, 2011) were made yesterday and there was both good and 

bad news:

The good news is that the previously proposed cuts to the Office of 

Services to the Aging budget for  nutrition, senior volunteer, and other 

programs will not go into effect.  This is especially fortunate since 

OSA has been cut repeatedly in recent years and area agencies on aging 

would have had great difficulty absorbing further reductions in 

funding.  Also, instead of flat funding for the MI Choice Home and 

Community Based Waiver program as the Governor had proposed, the 

Conference Committee approved approximately $24 million in additional 

funding, presumably to fund the additional nursing home transitions DCH 

has planned.

The bad news is that two of the Governor's proposed cuts were adopted by 

the conference committee: there is no funding for the Michigan Quality 

Community Care Council which maintains a registry to match Home Help  

consumers find suitable Home Help providers.  In addition, Home Help 

consumers who need chore services only  (but not personal care services) 

will be denied services as of October 1.   The Center for Civil Justice 

and the Michigan Poverty Law Program have advised the Department that 

denying chore services to this population while still providing them to 

individuals who need personal care services is a violation of federal 

law.  The Department has referred the matter to its lawyers but does not 

appear to have made a final decision on whether the Department can 

proceed with terminating services to these Home Help consumers.

-- 

Alison E. Hirschel

Elder Law Attorney

Michigan Poverty Law Program

3490 Belle Chase Way, Suite 50

Lansing, MI 48911

Phone: (517) 394-2985 x 231

Fax: (517) 394-4276

www.mplp.org

 

Welcome to the 26th Annual Parkinson's Summer Forum

Mark you calendar and make your reservations for the 26th Annual Parkinson's Summer Forum Thursday June 2, at the Hagerty Conference Center. Registration is due before May 25  for $25.00 after that date Late Fee is $40.00.   Flyer is available at the Senior Expo or go on line www.gtaparkinsonsgroup.org to view the Flyer and make reservations. Daniel Weintraub, M.D. will be the keynote speaker: "Psychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: Assessment and Management" will his topic.   Maxine Meach Grand Traverse Parkinson's Support Group 10049 E. Grandview Ct. Traverse City, MI 49684-5307 Phone/Fax 231-947-1946 mmeach@sbcglobal.net www.gtaparkinsonsgroup.org

 

Senior Summit Save the Date

Save the date!

You are invited to attend

The 2011 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Summit
On Monday, August 15th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At Lansing Community College's West Campus

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided, and keynote
speakers will introduce topics
relevant to those who work with the Medicare population. Breakout
sessions will provide attendees
the opportunity to interact with value-added service providers.

The 2011 Senior Summit is a must for anyone who works with Michigan's
Medicare beneficiaries.
Invitees are staff from the Michigan Medicare/Medigap Assistance Program and
the Area Agency
on Aging, as well as from senior centers and senior living facilities. We
encourage coordinators,
counselors, directors, and other support staff who work closely with
Medicare recipients to attend.

Since this much anticipated event is still in its planning stages, we are
asking for discussion topic
suggestions. Please feel free to send us your ideas at any of the email
addresses below.

We are look forward to seeing you in August!

Sincerely,

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Marketing Consultants

John Dowsley Juliann Morelli
Rose Cook
jdowsley@bcbsm.com jmorelli@bcbsm.com
rcook@bcbsm.com