Action on Social Security, Medicare and Notch reform resumes with new budget challenges this year.  After the September 11th attacks, work on these issues was all but suspended while lawmakers focused on urgent national security, health and economic issues the remainder of 2001.  While TSCL continues action on the Notch, obtaining a fair and accurate COLA and other Social Security and Medicare issues in 2002, we have identified additional opportunities to help our members.  The following are several that merit attention.

1. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP):  Available in many communities nationwide, these programs provide lower-income seniors with assistance for heating and cooling costs.  These programs need continued funding to provide benefits and ensure seniors are made aware of the programs.
2. Affordable Senior Housing and Health Care Facilities:  The number of people aged 75 and older will expand to 30 million by 2030.  This age group is the most likely to experience problems with the activities of daily living and need supportive housing.  They are also at the highest risk of needing more costly institutional health care unless they are able to receive supportive care in their communities.  Legislation that would fund and promote a more comprehensive approach to affordable senior housing and supportive service is a growing need.
3. National Family Caregiver Support Program:  Currently Medicare pays only very limited benefits for long-term care.  Nursing home coverage or home health care is available only under certain circumstances and then for a limited time. There are no Medicare benefits at all for assisted living or adult day care. Medicaid is available only for those who have exhausted all other financial means.  Families and friends currently provide the bulk of care giving services. Continued expansion and funding of such programs as the new National Family Caregiver Support Program will enable more families to benefit from community services for those giving or requiring care.
4. Nursing shortages:  In the nation's 17,000 nursing homes, bedsores and malnutrition are rife.  Medical mistakes are becoming all too common.  The problem is exacerbated by a nationwide shortage of nurses and support personnel. There is an immediate need for federal and state incentives to attract higher quality nursing and support personnel to staff nursing home and assisted living facilities.

Please tell us what you think TSCL legislation priorities should be by responding to our online Senior Survey and clicking here http://www.tscl.org/newcontent/101272.asp. It only takes a few minutes and will help us out tremendously.

If you would like to review our entire 2002 Legislative Agenda, click here: http://www.newtscl.org/content/101274.asp

January 2002