United Seniors of Maryland (USM)

United Seniors of Maryland (USM) Advocates for Maryland Seniors

USM keeps members informed about what goes on in Annapolis that affects seniors in Maryland.

USM maintains contact with the Governor's office, the Department of Budget and Management, and Legislators to influence budget decisions that affect the Departments, Offices, and Programs that affect Maryland seniors.

USM participates on State Committees, Task Forces, Studies, and other actions that review issues and make determinations that affect Maryland seniors.

USM monitors legislation and seeks membership consensus on issues.

USM takes action to support the consensus position, i.e. contact Legislators and testify before Legislative Committees.

USM holds a major, all day Legislative Forum in Annapolis every January at which the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and other dignitaries speak.

Each year, USM recognizes an outstand individual who has been a great advocate with the "Champion For Seniors" award.

UNITED SENIORS OF MARYLAND AIMS AND PRINCIPLES

SUMMARY

STATE ISSUES

 Adequate funding of the Department of Aging, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Office of Health Care Quality, and the Department of Human Resources

 Initiatives, innovations, and services that empower older adults to remain in their homes and engaged in their community with appropriate support

 Full funding for The Older Adult Waiver Program

 Income and property tax relief for those most at risk

 Ensured availability of energy

 Adequate funding for senior centers, vital services for vulnerable adults, and programs that promote late life vitality.

 Continued State funding of teacher retirement programs

 Enhanced funding for programs (and new legislation where necessary) designed for the protection of vulnerable adults against physical and financial abuse, neglect or fraud; malnourishment; homelessness; unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

 Work, training and job placement programs for seniors

 Improved transportation in urban, suburban, and rural settings

 Improved monitoring of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care providers

 Affordable health care for all Marylanders

 Incentives for all health care providers of to practice in Maryland with basic understanding of geriatric issues

 Advanced policies, practices and technology for improving health services, especially in underserved areas

 Promoting volunteering

FEDERAL ISSUES

 Health care for all

 Repealing the windfall elimination provision/government offset on Social Security Benefits

 Maintaining and preserving Social Security

 Increasing Older Americans Act funding

 Funding for the Nursing Home Transparency Improvement Act and the Elder Justice Act

 Ensure Medicare reimbursement rates that support quality of services

AIMS AND PRINCIPLES

STATE ISSUES

 The well being of many Maryland seniors depends on the Department of Aging, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Office of Health Care Quality, and the Department of Human Resources. As the senior population increases so do the demands placed upon these agencies. They must have the funding necessary to keep up with growing demand and do the jobs required of them.

 Statistics confirm that the majority of adults wish to age in the communities they live in. USM supports initiatives, innovations, and services that would empower older adults to maintain their homes and independence while their presence in the community continues to be a stabilizing influence. "Visitability" (construction design that allows everyone to visit any home) as well as other Universal Design features should be mandated in legislation in new homes and renovations.

 Available energy is essential to the well being of seniors. USM supports effective regulation of energy utilities, as reliable and adequate supply of electricity, establishment of reliability standards and authorize PSC enforcement, require utilities to have and deploy storm management plans and reimburse consumers for losses.

 The Older Adult Waiver program should be fully funded. The program costs Medicaid about half the cost of maintaining the client in a nursing home. Applicants should be screened for eligibility and prioritized by need as well as by the application date.

 Seniors on fixed incomes are having a particularly difficult time. Bankruptcies among seniors are soaring – they need consideration and help. Additional income and property tax relief is needed for those most at financial risk. All public employee pension income for seniors should be treated equitably. Tax exemptions for Maryland seniors should be equalized.

 The prospect of facing high energy costs is frightening to seniors on fixed, low, or moderate income. The ceiling for energy assistance programs should be raised to ensure that seniors most in need are protected from paying a disproportionate share of their incomes for energy costs. USM favors effective regulation of energy utilities that results in affordable energy for seniors.

 Senior centers are very important to many Maryland seniors. They provide socialization opportunities, physical activities, education, meals, health and wellness maintenance, preventive health programs, and more. Funding for senior centers should be maintained.

 Shifting the obligation to fund pensions of State employees and teachers to the counties has a profound effect upon all citizens of Maryland. Passing that funding responsibility to the counties would create locally devastating budgetary shortfalls. The State should not shift its responsibility to local jurisdictions.

 Senior Workforce development is necessary. As more seniors choose or need to work, training and job placement programs will be important. Private and public initiatives should be promoted.

 Adequate Transportation must be available. Without the ability to "get around," seniors can end up housebound with tragic consequences. Volunteers who supply transportation and other services should be shielded from increases in their personal insurance and other negative consequences. State funding should support public and volunteer transportation services in urban, suburban and rural settings.

 As the population ages, many seniors are likely to require long term care. Incentives to buy and maintain long term care insurance and other strategies to delay an individual’s need to rely on State assistance for long term care must be promoted. For individuals entering long term care, in any setting, there must be assurance that all care workers are qualified and competent, facilities are safe and well resourced, policies and practices are consistent with evidence based programs and quality standards, and that a full array of care services are

　

available to maximize an individual’s physical, mental and psychosocial well being. Standards for staff training, and best care practices should be incorporated.

 Fraud comes in two categories: fraud against Government which costs all citizens, and fraud against individual citizens. Increased penalties and more enforcement resources should be made available to reduce fraud and financial abuse against seniors as well as Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

 Far too many Marylanders are without health insurance. There should be affordable health care for All. Mental health and physical health benefits should be treated equally, and dental, hearing and vision should be included in the array of health services. To expand health care to the neediest, eligibility requirements for Medicaid should be further eased.

 Geriatric specialists and other medical practitioners are in short supply and it is getting worse. Incentives for physicians and other health disciplines to practice in Maryland must be strengthened. The growing need for geriatric informed health and human service professionals makes it imperative that strategies to facilitate geriatric training at state, academic and local levels should be enhanced.

 Senior volunteers are a valuable resource that makes a great contribution to the State. Seniors volunteer as mentors, drivers, home repairers, auxiliary policemen, and more. Volunteering provides meaningful activities that keep seniors mentally and physically healthy, and, at the same time, saves the State scarce dollars. Volunteering should be promoted, encouraged, and recognized. Reimbursements and insurance should be provided.

　

FEDERAL ISSUES

 Health care reform must address long term cost containment, while providing quality, affordable, dependable and accessible health care for all Americans. USM supports having provisions for long term care, eliminating the "donut hole" in Medicare Part D, allowing negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, allowing importation of prescription drugs, repealing the current means-testing under Medicare, and eliminating overpayments to private Medicare plans. USM opposes taxing health care benefits. USM supports tort reform to limit awards and reduce malpractice insurance costs.

 USM supports repealing the windfall elimination provision/government offset on Social Security Benefits. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces Social Security for retirees who paid into Social Security and also receive a government annuity: In many cases, the provision results in a penalty of more the $300 a month because government annuitants receive their Social Security benefits under a less-generous formula than the one used to calculate monthly checks for those in the private sector.

 USM opposes privatization of Social Security. Social Security is a vital safety net for many seniors. Privatization would increase funding risks, leave some people without income during down markets, and generally increase the cost of the entire program.

 USM supports increasing Older Americans Act funding beyond the inflation rate to reflect the exploding senior population. In order to keep up with an exploding senior population, funding should be measured against the population growth as well as inflation rate.

 USM supports increasing Medicare reimbursement rates. A growing number of providers are not accepting Medicare patients, and Maryland providers are moving to other areas where reimbursements are greater. The shortage of primary care physicians in Maryland is becoming acute.

 USM encourages individuals to purchase long-term care insurance and supports allowing pre tax payment of health and long term care insurance premiums. Individuals who are able to purchase long term care insurance will not only have more choices as they age, but the cost for long term care will not be borne by Medicaid.