Cuts endanger most vulnerable
Our elderly need your help
To the editor:
Gov. Lepage submitted a Supplemental Budget to the Maine Legislature reducing the cost of the MaineCare (Medicaid) program. If passed as is, many older people will be hurt and some of the most vulnerable elderly face homelessness.
Threatened with closure June 30, 2012 are places like Northwood Manor in Ashland, Crest View Manor and Madigan House in Houlton, Limestone Estates, Southern Acres in Westfield, Crosswinds in Fort Kent, Ridgewood Estates in Madawaska, Franciscan Home in Eagle Lake and several other care-providing facilities in northern Maine. Throughout Maine 4,291 elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other late-in-life debilities make their home in and receive their care from facilities slated to close June, 2012. If they are lucky to have a family member that can and will provide care, that family member will get the call from the facility to come and get them by June 30. Unfortunately some have no family able to provide care and no home to go to. Where do they go?
The Governor’s proposal has no answer nor do the staff of the Department of Health and Human Services who, in some cases, are the legal guardians of some of these people. These people are where they are because they need a roof over their head, food in their broken body and care for physical and mental needs. They cannot fend for themselves on the street! Unbelievable, think this is scare language – read the proposed law in Part D. If enacted by the Legislature as is, these care providing facilities will close by July 1, 2012.
The Governor proposes to eliminate the Maine Low Cost Drug Program for the Elderly as of April 1, 2012 and this means higher drug costs for 72,000 seniors and people with disabilities including more than 7,600 Aroostook people. This program was created when Maine voters authorized expansion of gambling by approving casinos and racinos several years ago. To assure the measure would pass, a promise was made that the revenues from the gambling would assist the elderly by helping to pay for prescription drugs. Now the Governor proposes to keep the revenue for other purposes and strip away low cost prescription drugs for the elderly.
The Governor proposes to remove from the Medicare Buy-in program those seniors with monthly incomes greater than $1,225 for one and greater than $1,655 for a couple. This means about 20,000 Maine seniors (about 3,000 in Aroostook) lose all assistance to help pay for Medicare premiums, co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, prescription drug costs and coverage in the “donut hole.” The impact on each is $300-plus from their pocket every month.
I don’t deny MaineCare has to change. However, the devil is always in the details. Some of Maine’s most vulnerable elderly are put at risk and they are unable to fend for themselves. It may be you or one you love that needs this care or help tomorrow.
If this concerns you, please come and let your State Representative and State Senator know. The Aroostook Agency on Aging has invited County legislators to meet with concerned people about these cuts they will be voting on. The meetings are: Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m., at the Fort Kent Senior Center on Pine St.; Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m., The Gathering Place Senior Center, 33 Davis St., Presque Isle; and Thursday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m., The Houlton Higher Education Center, Room 109, 18 Military St.
Stephen Farnham,
executive director
Aroostook Agency on Aging
Medicare Savings Program
To the editor:
Mainers really spoke up at the Statehouse on Dec. 14 in strong reaction to Governor LePage’s proposed budget cuts. These cuts would have an extremely negative impact for thousands and thousands of us across the state. I testified on behalf of the 72,000 who are in the Medicare Savings Program or MSP. I can only hope that the members of the Appropriations Committee were listening and heard what I had to say
If the MSP is cut, medical care and prescription drug coverage will end for 72,000 low-income seniors and adults with disabilities. Several years ago, legislators from both sides of the aisle approved the MSP for those on low, fixed incomes who were over 65 and on Medicare or disabled. We were pleased that the legislature decided that it was better for our seniors and more cost effective to pay for them to be part of this important program. MSP covers Part B premiums for Medicare which pays for all doctor visits, preventive care, screenings and outpatient care and costs.
The other great part about the MSP is that the federal government pays Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums for all eligible members so they have access to low-cost prescription drugs. What a great thing if you are a senior living on a low, fixed income of under $14,500.
Will 72,000 Maine people lose access to their doctors and their prescription drugs? What a nightmare that would create for our neighbors, our friends and our families.
Richard Farnsworth, chair
AARP Maine Task Force
Safety nets in danger
To the editor:
With the myriad of problems that older adults and challenged individuals in this state face, it is our job as both advocates and legislators to protect Maine’s most vulnerable populations. This is a tough economy, but it is even tougher when one is frail, elderly, alone and frightened. Seniors in Maine have watched all summer long as their hard-earned Social Security benefits were debated over and over again in Washington. For two years, they haven’t benefitted from a cost of living increase.
In the last 10 years, hunger among older adults has increased by an unbelievable 80 percent. Social Security is the only source of income for one-third of Mainers age 65 and older. Many older Mainers rely upon every dime, every penny, to get them through each month. The state has alternatives, but these are Maine residents who do not.
What has happened in Maine that our legislature and our governor would even consider balancing the state budget by ripping to shreds the already thread-bare safety net that exists for our poorest citizens? It is the poorest of the poor who could needlessly suffer if the right conclusions are not reached in the coming weeks.
Our elderly citizens need our support, and our state should not turn its back on them. At AARP, we extend our hand to work with all legislators, on both sides of the aisle, and the Governor, to develop a plan that will keep our elderly citizens safe and healthy.
Rich Livingston
AARP Executive Council
