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VOLUME XX NO. 1 Spring 2006 Official Publication of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature Success! Nursing Home Personal COMING ATTRACTIONS Needs Allowance Raised by LBB March 22 Steering Committee, WHCoA Forums, Austin, DADS, 1:30-3:30 pm Statistically, only five percent of all Seasoned Citizens March 31 TSHL Foundation Board meets, Austin, are in a nursing home at any given time. Yet those five out SBC, 10 am of every one hundred of the over 65-year olds receive more April 6-7 Money Follows the Person Conference, time and money for their care than the statistics suggests. Austin, DoubleTree Hotel Thus, the TSHL's top priority resolution of its 2004 April 17 Governor’s Special Legislative Session Legislative session stated, “Whereas the Human Resources April 20 TSHL Executive Committee Meeting Code set a Personal Needs Allowance of not less than $60 a April 21 Texas Delegation Pre-WHCoA Follow-up month for a Medicaid resident of a nursing home, and the Forums Work Session, Austin budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 only funds the PNA at April 29 Texas Round Up, Austin $45 for these residents, the TSHL encourages and strongly MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH recommends that the 79th Texas Legislature find that the $60 May 1-3 Texas Conference on Aging, El Paso, be reinstated for the PNA and should be a budget priority.” Hilton El Paso Airport Although the Texas Legislature failed to respond to this Info: www.riocog.org/AAA/TCOA2006 TSHL resolution before adjourning on May 31, 2005, TSHL May 3 DADS Council members persisted in pursuing their advocacy role before the May 15-26 WHCoA Follow-up Forums members of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). May 23 TSHL Election Day Perseverance paid off when, on February 16, 2006, June 27 Last day to file for TSHL Office the LBB authorized use of Health and Human Services July 10 11th TSHL New Member Training Commission (HHSC) funds for Nursing Home Rates, Personal July 10-13 11th TSHL Orientation Needs Allowance, Mental Health Facilities and Trauma Care . July 19-21 Texas Association of Area Agency on Continued on Page 3 Aging Directors quarterly meeting August 9 DADS Council Sept 10 TSHL Executive Committee ADELAIDE “ADDIE” HORN Sept 11-15 TSHL Legislative Session NEW DADS COMMISSIONER Nov 15 DADS Council “ Addie Horn has a wealth of experi- ence with the full range of our state's long-term care services, from in-home supports to our state schools,” said Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins in announcing Horn’s selection as commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). Having served as deputy commissioner, Horn took over as DADS commissioner on February 1, replacing Jim Hine who retired after a 35-year career in public service. Horn’s appointment was made with the approval of Governor Rick Perry . “I am confident she will continue the leadership and innovation needed at the State level to ensure that older Texans and those with disabilities are able to live dignified and productive lives in a safe envi- ronment,” Commissioner Hawkins concluded. Before joining DADS, Horn served as the director of Long-Term Care Services and Supports for the Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) where she was responsible for long-term care policy analysis and coordination. She has al- most three decades of experience in institutional and community-care services, direct-care services, quality assurance and improvement, regulatory programs, vocational rehabilitation, Medicaid services, and policy development and coordination. She is a graduate of St. Edward's University in Austin. Horn responded, “I am pleased and excited to accept the position of Commissioner for the Department of Aging and Disability Services. One of the goals of the agency is to provide the citizens of Texas with the highest quality long-term ser- vices and supports possible. I feel privileged to be able to serve in this role as we work to create a more coordinated system for health and human services across our great state.” DADS has more than 14,000 employees statewide and an annual budget of more than $5 billion. The agency regulates long- term services and nursing homes, provides state services for people with disabilities, and oversees state programs for aging Texans. Spring 2006 Silver Bulletin Page 2 Silver Bulletin Editor National Silver-Haired Congress reports from Feb 2006 session — Pat Porter reporting The National Silver-Haired Congress elected TSHL’s Carlos Higgins as NSHC Speaker of the House at the winter session held in the nation's Capitol in February. 36 states were represented at the session by “It’s not Cajun Louisiana, over one hundred members. but it’s still fun and beads.” The top five resolutions adopted by the NSHC are: — Ivan • To reauthorize the federal Older Americans Act; • To extend to December 31 the deadline for enrollment without penalty in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan; Ivan’s Insights — While I mardi grawed, the • To ensure that all seniors have access to dental care Sharp Commission held hearings and Governor Perry through Medicare; called a special session of the Lege to solve the school • To develop a national background check and registry financing problem. Thank God, friends with the Galveston for all health-care workers; and County Interfaith shared with me their concerns that the • To initiate congressional action on the recommenda- school tax reform issue affects every tax payer in Texas. tions from 2005 White House Conference on Aging. The Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of The nineteen Texas delegates made up the largest state the state property tax to fund public schools seems to thaw delegation at the session. Glen Peterson was re-elected out the freeze for the elderly and handicapped and conse- Chair of Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, quently puts us in the taxpaying pot whether it be an increase Oklahoma, Texas) and sits on the Board. Pat Porter was in sales taxes or sin taxes or business taxes (who is to say the one of the four delegates-at-large elected to the Board, mak- ing it four Texans on the Board. Homer Lear , previously business tax will not be passed on to the consumer?). Board Chair, remains on the NHSC Board as Past Chair. While the TSHL is in the midst of its election cam- Other Texas delegates were Adelaide Balaban , Ruth paign, the Legislature will be meeting in Austin. I strongly suggest that we collar our local state senators and represen- Bowling , Donald Brodnax , Nell Clark , Bill Cummings, tatives with accountability sessions to determine their posi- Chester Cunningham , Charlynne Elliott , Nancy Foster , tions on the tax proposals they prefer and will vote for. Oscar Garcia , Pete Hinojosa , Paula Johnson , Lewis It has been repeated often enough to be true: the Sharp Marshall , Betty Trotter, Margaret Williamson , and Commission can propose but only the Legislature will de- Hazel Wright . Also attending were Bobbie Brodnax , termine the taxing structure for Texas public schools. Katherine Higgins , Juretta Marshall , LaVerne Peterson , One factual presentation that hit me between the eyes Red Wilcher , Claude Williamson , and Harold Wright , is that families of four earning less than $22,000 a year pay who acted as facilitator. 14.2% of this low income on direct and indirect state and local taxes. Families of four earning more than $100,000 pay 5.1% of their much higher incomes on direct and indi- Valentine’s Day Gala: Fabulous! rect state and local taxes. That, to me, is more unconscionable than the former “It definitely was fabulous!” system was unconstitutional and must not be tolerated by confirmed Pat Porter , Chair of TSHLF any fair-minded Texas lawmaker or citizen. Gala/Event Committee, about the suc- Furthermore, it seems that the business community cessful fundraiser sponsored by the profits more by a well-educated workforce and Texas has TSHL Foundation and held Valentine’s allowed them to carry less than their fair share of the load Day evening this year. Esther’s Follies in Austin was the scene of the fun event. for our schools. More than 100 people attended, and “a fine large time Advocates, wherever you happen to be, be active and was had by all,” said Pat. All expenses were covered in agitating during the Special Session of the Texas Legisla- advance with sponsorships including AT&T (SBC) and ture that begins April 17. Emeritus Assisted Living . Final figures on funds raised and attendance are expected after March 31. Looking forward The Fundraising Committee is considering making this to seeing y’all at the a biennial event in years when Senior Day is not sched- 11th TSHL Orientation, July 10-13! uled. The next fundraising event is a gala planned for February 13, 2007, on the evening of Senior Day at the (I’ll bring beads) Capitol. Spring 2006 Silver Bulletin Page 3 Personal Needs Allowance Chris Kyker Continued from Page 1 Chris Kyker SPEAKER’S CORNER The Legislative Budget Board, a permanent joint committee of the Texas Legislature, develops recommendations for Older Texans lost a true champion with the legislative appropriations agencies of state government. The death of the Honorable Jim Caldwell . Lieutenant Governor and House Speaker serve Jim was head of the TSHL Capitol Crew and was at the as joint chairs of the LBB. Capitol daily during the session to advocate for TSHL pri- Speaker Chris Kyker reported to the TSHL, “ Commissioner Addie Horn , DADS, orities. Since that time, he had continued his regular visits has authorized me to release the following to the Capitol. statement regarding the personal needs allow- He followed the progress of the Personal Needs Allow- ance: The LBB has authorized DADS to ex- ance from the bills that were introduced in the 79th Session, Gov.