The Lowe-Down

PROGRESS FOR OUR SENIORS

Hello! I hope that you've had a wonderful summer, that family vacations were fun and safe, and that you are looking forward to an exciting fall as students return to school and our farmers plan the harvest. It's been a busy summer for us, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few months reveal as we continue through the last half of 2008.

I wanted to give you a brief update on a critical piece of legislation that I sponsored this past year, the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008. A few days ago, I was advised by the personnel at the Bureau of TennCare and the Department of Health that the new legislation is proving to be effective.

As of October 2007, approximately 3900 people across the state were being served in the TennCare waiver program and receiving various long-term care services including Meals on Wheels. With the passage of the new long-term care bill, an additional 2300 slots are open, and 200 of those slots have been filled. Although we are still waiting for federal approval for the opening of these additional slots, people can contact their local Area Agency on Aging and ask for Medicare waiver services to find out if they are eligible for more program assistance. Based on the current rate of enrollment, we anticipate that all 6,000 currently funded "slots" will be filled before the end of fiscal year 2009. That means more choices for seniors!

Starting July 1, 2008, through contracts with the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability, the Area Agencies on Aging and Disability began using the nearly $4 million in newly appropriated Options funding to expand access to the following services for aged and/or disabled persons that do not qualify for Medicaid: Personal Care Services, Homemaker Services, and Home-Delivered Meals. The new funding will significantly reduce waiting lists for these services across the State. In fact we have already received word that the waiting lists for Meals on Wheels and other Options program services are down.

We are progressing further and faster than many anticipated. This is great news for Tennessee's senior citizens! I am hopeful that over the course of the next year, we can continue to expand long-term care options for those who need them.

A few weeks ago, I had the amazing opportunity to visit with over 400 National Guardsmen and women while they trained at Lavinia. Most were from West Tennessee, but many were also from other states and throughout Tennessee. We are fortunate to have a facility in Lavinia that provides specific types of critical training for troops from all over the country. Many of them were preparing to be deployed to Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East. To say that I was impressed would be a great understatement. I witnessed first-hand their hard work and tireless training. I've no doubt that these women and men are prepared to face their challenges with success! Our thoughts and prayers are with them for safe, speedy tours of duty so that they can return home.

I hope you have a great week.