Tag Archives for Gov. Dan McKee

Benefits for seniors from Rhode Island’s next budget

Published in RINewsToday on June 17, 2024 

With a 35-2 vote in the Senate early on Friday the Senate gave its approval for a $13.963 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year, comprising 13 articles that direct additional funding toward education and children, raises Medicaid reimbursement rates, health care support, and includes a $120 million affordable housing bond. The 300-page budget bill – read here, 2024-H 7225Aaa has now gone to Gov. Dan McKee, who is scheduled to sign it at an event Monday, June 17, at 11:15 a.m. in the State Room on the second floor of the State House.

Rhode Island’s FY 2025 Budget and Seniors

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) reeled off specifics as to how this year’s budget proposal impacts senior programs and services, noting that it aims to lower the rising housing and health care costs that impact the quality of life of older Rhode Islanders. “We have asked the voters to approve an additional $120 million in funds to increase affordable housing production. The budget accelerates a commitment to raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for services to care for our most vulnerable seniors and people living with disabilities to stabilize our health care and human service provider networks,” noted Shekarchi. 

Under the budget proposal tax relief is provided to seniors who rely on retirement income, raising the exemption to $50,000 for qualified single filers and $100,000 for joint filers. It also repeals the suspension of annual cost of living (COLA) adjustments for retirees in the state pension system who retired before 2012 and moves up the timeline for resumption of COLA for other state retirees. 

Lawmakers changed the calculation for pension benefits to base it on the highest three consecutive years of earning instead of five. Finally, the House Speaker noted that this budget fully funds Medicaid rate increases for home care and other services that help seniors age with dignity in the community and stay in their homes if they so desire, and also increases support for services provided in nursing or assisted living settings. 

Adds Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio(D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), “I am pleased that the budget will invest in many Senate priorities, particularly in the areas of health care, child care, education and providing some needed relief to retirees,” says Ruggerio. “Specifically, the budget incorporates $2.7 million for primary care provider training sites, as well as $500,000 for tuition assistance for students who enter the primary care field and remain in Rhode Island. The budget also includes funding for purchasing medical debt for pennies on the dollar,” he says. 

But how does the aging network view this spending plan? 

According to Maureen Maigret, Policy Advisor with the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI (SACRI), under the spending plan approved by the Assembly $103.2 Million in all funds was added to the Governor’s proposed budget to fully fund the social and human service provider rate increases as recommended by the state’s Office Health of Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) based on the comprehensive legislatively mandated Rate Review Study performed in 2023. According to Maigret, who served as a member of the Advisory Task Force for the Rate Study, the full funding was especially important for those older adults and persons with disabilities seeking access to home and community services. 

“Too many persons on Medicaid have been waiting three months or longer to access needed home care supports which can cause health to deteriorate or to consider nursing home placement at far more expense to the state,” Maigret said. Maigret noted the increases would raise rates for providers of home care, assisted living, shared living and adult day services – all critical to helping persons with support needs to be able to stay at home where most persons with care needs prefer to live. 

Senior Agenda Coalition has worked for many years to promote better access to home and community-based services and to advocate for better wages for the direct care workers who provide this care,” she added, noting that these individuals are usually women, mostly women of color, and for too long have been undervalued and underpaid she noted. In 2022 the SACRI advocated with the legislature to set a minimum wage of at least $17/hour; however, the budget only called for a minimum of $15/hour. With full funding for the recommended home and community care provider rates, we would like to see these essential workers get a minimum starting wage of at least $25/hour in order to recruit and retain the necessary workers. 

SACRI also successfully pushed along with other housing advocates for the addition of $20 Million more to the Housing Bond to go on the November ballot for a total of $120 Million, Maigret added, noting that the coalition continues to advocate for paying adequate attention to the housing needs of older adults in the allocation of the bond funds. “Increasing affordable housing options for this population is critical,” says Maigret, stressing that census data shows that 53% of older RI renters pay more than 30% of their income on housing and studies show that 43% of extremely low-income RI renters are seniors. In the housing space, passage of bills to streamline development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) advanced by House Speaker Shekarchi along with most of his housing package was also a major win for expanding housing options and development. 

The legislature also addressed SACRI and its advocacy partners push to increase income eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) that helps lower-income Medicare enrollees not on Medicaid afford needed healthcare and save dollars for other needed basic needs by covering Part B premiums ($176/month in 2024) as well as required co-payments for some with very low-incomes. “The budget includes a provision requiring the state to seek federal approval to increase the eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program for “qualified individuals” (currently persons with annual income between $18,312 and $20,331) up to 185% of the federal poverty level ($27,861),” says Maigret, adding that the Coalition plans to monitor the approval process and to seek additional legislation, if needed, next Legislative session to further expand the program. Maigret says that lawmakers expanded the Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program up to 8 weeks but SACRI was disappointed that siblings and grandchildren were not added to the list of persons for whom a worker could get paid leave.

“We will continue to advocate for these additions and to increase the number of weeks of leave up to 12 which is provided by most states that have such a program,” she says. And finally, SACRI will continue to advocate for additional funding for the Office of Healthy Aging to provide each of our communities with at least $10/per person age 65 and over to help support local senior centers and programs for older adults, says Maigret, as well as increasing the income cap to $50,000 for eligibility for the state Property Tax Relief Program (called the Circuit Breaker program) that provides a tax credit or refund for older homeowners and renters and those on Social Security Disability. 

FY 2025 Budget Helps State’s Nursing Homes  

James Nyberg, Executive Director  of LeadingAgeRI is pleased with the infusion of much-needed funds in the FY 2025 Budget to help support financially-distressed nursing homes as they continue to provide quality care in a very difficult environment.  “The providers are clearly in distress and we need to avoid any further closures to ensure access to care, resident choice and well-being, and support for the workforce,” he says.  “We also are grateful that the OHIC-recommended rate increases for various programs, including assisted living and adult day services, were expedited with full implementation this October.  Assisted living providers are scheduled for a 10.8% rate increase and adult day a 19.8% increase.  This will help support our home and community-based providers and those for whom they care, says Nyberg, who serves on the Advisory Task Force for the Rate Study. Lastly,

LeadingAgeRI supports the FY 25 Budget’s increase in the housing bond to $120 million, and calls for a portion of it to be used to expand safe and affordable senior housing, the lack of which is well-documented, including a recent report by the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council. According to Nyberg, one legislative priority that remains is to establish a Medicaid rate add-on for private rooms in nursing homes, since Medicaid is the primary payer for nursing home care.  “This would be an important step in helping to support a more homelike environment and resident privacy and dignity,” he says.

“RI nursing homes have been chronically underfunded since the implementation of the reimbursement methodology over thirteen (13) years ago,” charges John E. Gage, President & CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care Association, representing 62 nursing home providers. “Cuts to the annual inflation index, failure to re-base rates every three years since, and skyrocketing costs since the beginning of the pandemic have put RI nursing facilities at significant financial risk,” he says.

“The FY ’25 Budget passed the Rhode Island General Assembly includes funding for the first-ever rebase of Medicaid Rates since the inception of the Priced Based Reimbursement System back in 2013,” says Gage, noting that this increase represents a 14.5% increase with an estimated increase in revenue of $66 million beginning October 1, 2024, based on actual expenses from the most recent Medicaid Cost Reports from 2022. 

Additionally, Gage says that the budget as passed includes $10 million in State Fiscal Recovery Fund Grants to stabilize RI’s nursing facilities from July 1, 2024, through the implementation of the new rates on October 1. 

Pension changes initiated 

“Our primary task during this past General Assembly session has been to strongly support Bill H-8193, introduced by Rep. Pat Serpa, which would see the return of the COLA which was so ruthlessly slashed away in 2011. It applied to all current and future retirees, including teachers, state workers, and some municipal employees, says Sandra Paquette, representing Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform, a non-profit representing 4,700 retirees.

However, the actual pension provision in this year’s budget provides for the restoring of a compounded COLA to those who retired prior to July 1, 2012, notes Paquette. “Initially, this was a disappointment to our organization, as we had hoped for much needed relief for all who have been so detrimentally affected by Rhode Island Retirement Security Act — creating a financial crisis in the lives of so many lifetime workers. But further thought and consideration caused us to realize that the pension benefits in this year’s budget represent a huge step in a 13 year’s duration of no progress whatsoever in alleviating the injustice, she adds.

“And we are delighted that after so many years, older persons in the state retirement system who retired prior to 2012 will finally see a COLA,” says Maigret, “This is especially important for those who do not receive Social Security benefits.”

Editor’s Note: Added comments

Union thoughts…

Jesse Martin, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199 NE and President of Rhode Island SEIU State Council said, “For months, union members of Rhode Island SEIU State Council have been working to raise awareness of issues that matter most to working Rhode Island families and, as a result, made great strides in healthcare, wages, funding, retirement, career training and more to the benefit of all. This year’s budget contains emergency funding to keep Linn Health open until August, provides funding to paraprofessional healthcare workers to help them advance in their careers, streamlines the hiring process at DHS and DCYF in order to attract new qualified candidates and finally enables domestic workers to earn the minimum wage. We thank all our elected leaders who offered their steadfast support and prioritized the needs of working Rhode Islanders.” 

The Rhode Island SEIU State Council, which is representative of all four SEIU affiliate locals, represents a variety of workers across the state, including healthcare, Department of Children and Families, Janitorial, Family Child Care, Department of Labor and Training, Security, Workforce Development and more. Nationwide, the Service Employees International Union represents over two million members.

Kathleen Gerard, Advocates for Better Care in Rhode Island, added, “”We were very glad to see the passage of the full Medicaid reimbursement increases recommended by the OHIC this session, and will continue to advocate for measures that ensure that our public funds are put towards the public good of improved wages for direct care staff and improved care for residents.” 

AARP Rhode Island pushes its 2024 legislative agenda

Published in RINewsToday on February 12, 2024

Standing in front of an AARP backdrop in the Rhode Island State Room at the State House, last week AARP Rhode Island hosted a 34 plus minute press conference plugging the “aging” group’s 2024 legislative agenda. The nonprofit organization, representing 125,000 members, unveiled its four priority issues: to increase temporary care giver insurance to caregivers, to boost the availability of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); to create a program to allow employees to save for retirement; and to eliminate the state’s income tax on Social Security. 

Gov. Dan McKee, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 13, Warwick), Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson (D-Dist. 19, Cumberland, Lincoln), State Treasurer James Diossa, came to support AARPs efforts advocacy efforts, backing its four priority legislative issues. 

“AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age,” said State Director Catherine Taylor, in her opening remarks.  At the event, she called on lawmakers to pass AARP Rhode Island’s legislative agenda. 

Taylor took this opportunity to share the results of the 2023 AARP Rhode Island Vital Voices survey that reveals that Rhode Island residents age 45+ overwhelmingly would choose to remain in their own communities and own homes as they grow older. “In order for this to be a reality, Rhode Islanders must have financial security in retirement, affordable and accessible housing options, and access to resources that enable them to take care of those they love,” she said. 

Let us take a look at AARP Rhode Island’s legislative priorities for this year.

Boosting the State’s Housing Production 

With the strong support of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 13, Warwick), one of nine Democratic cosponsors of H. 7062, it is expected that House leadership will send the approved committee bill to the floor this week for a vote. The legislative proposal would boost the state’s housing production by allowing a homeowner to develop Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on their property.

ADUs, sometimes referred to as in-law apartments or granny flats, backyard cottages, or secondary units, allow seniors to downsize enabling them to live independently and age in place in their communities. The bill was written in collaboration with AARP Rhode Island, and is one of the aging group’s primary legislative policy goals. 

H. 7062, introduced by Rep. June S. Speakman (D -Dist. 68, Bristol/Warren), chairwoman of the House Commission on Housing Affordability, would boost the state’s housing production by making it easier for homeowners to develop ADUs on their property. It would give the property owner the right to develop an ADU within the existing footprint of their structures or on any lot larger than 20,000 square feet, provided that the design complies with local building code, size limits and infrastructure requirements. 

Sen. Victoria Gu (D-District 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) will shortly submit a Senate ADU companion proposal but has yet to drop it into the legislative hopper. One Senator noted that there will be technical differences between the House and Senate ADU proposals which will have to be ironed out. 

Assisting employees to save for retirement – Secure Choice

Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich), throws H 7121, The Rhode Island Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, into the legislative hopper. The bill would establish a convenient, low-cost voluntary retirement savings plan for working Rhode Islanders.

According to AARP Rhode Island, about 40 percent of Rhode Island private sector workers, about 172,000, ages 18 to 64 in 2020 were employed by businesses that do not offer any type of retirement plan.

The retirement savings program, administered by the office of the General Treasurer, would see retirement savings accumulated in individual accounts for the exclusive benefit of the participants or their beneficiaries. The bill would see no fiscal impact on the state’s budget.

H 7121 has been referred to the House Finance Committee for consideration. A companion measure (S 2045) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence).

Under Shanley’s legislative proposal, the General Treasurer, who serves as the custodian of state funds for the Rhode Island government, would be charged with collecting contributions through payroll deductions and investing these funds in accordance with accounting best practices for retirement saving vehicles. The elected official would also be responsible for setting minimum and maximum contribution levels in accordance with contribution limits set for IRAs by the Internal Revenue Code. The law would become effective for ALL eligible employers within 3 months of the opening of the program enrollment following a phased implementation period. 

Caring for Caregivers

Senate Majority Whip Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) and Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls) have introduced identical bills in their chambers that would expand Rhode Island’s Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) program from six weeks to 12. It also increases weekly dependent’s allowances from $10 to $ 20 or 7% increase of benefit rate whichever is greater. That would bring the Ocean State in line with other states and allow new parents more time for parental leave and caregivers more time to care for a critically ill family member.

S 2121 and its House companion measure, H 7171, would also expand the definition of critically ill family to include grandchildren, siblings and “care  recipients,” defined as individuals for whom the employee is a primary caregiver.

According to AARP Rhode Island, the state’s unpaid family caregiver labor force totals 121,000, providing 113 million care hours per year.

The United States is one of only six countries in the world, and the only wealthy country, without guaranteed parental leave, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In recent years some states, like Rhode Island, have stepped up to offer their own programs.

According to a statement released announcing the introduction of S 2121, Rhode Island became the third state in the nation to offer paid parental leave in 2013 when legislators created the TCI program. TCI, which is paid for through payroll deductions, allows new parents to take six weeks of paid leave to bond with and care for their child. It also allows individuals to take this time to care for a seriously family member. That can prove vital for a working adult who needs to care for their spouse after a surgery or a terminally ill parent.

Since 2013, however, many other states have surpassed Rhode Island’s leave offerings. Currently, 11 states and the District of Columbia offer paid parental leave, with two additional states set to offer it beginning in 2026. Most offer 12 weeks, while Rhode Island offers the least amount of time at just six weeks, says the statement.

Finally, it was noted that individuals on TCI in Rhode Island receive 60% of their normal salary. Of the ten states that offer similar programs, most workers receive at least 80%. In Massachusetts, workers receive 80% of their salary for 12 weeks. Workers in nearby Connecticut receive 95% of their salary for 12 weeks.

Cutting Taxes 

According to AARP Rhode Island, more than one in five Rhode Island residents, that’s 230,018, receive Social Security benefits.  These payments inject more than $ 4 billion into the state’s economy every year.

But Rhode Island is one of 9 states that tax Social Security beneficiaries, says AARP Rhode Island. The state tax on Social Security undermines the purpose of the retirement program, charges the state’s largest aging group, estimating that this program has lifted 50,000 Rhode Islanders 65 or older out of poverty from 2018 through 2020.

Three Senate bills and one House bill have been introduced so far.   

S 2061, introduced by Deputy Minority Whip Sen. Elaine J. Morgan (R-Dist. 34, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond, West Greenwich), identical to a bill introduced last year, aside from the effective date would allow a modification to federal adjusted gross income for all Social Security income for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Sen. Mark P. McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) has introduced S 2158 and House Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) just submitted H 7588. These identical bills would gradually phase in modifications to the federal adjusted gross income over a four-year period for Social Security income, from 25% up to 100%, beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

And, Sen. Walter S. Felag, Jr. (D-Dist. 30, Bristol Tiverton Warren) legislation, S 2058, would increase the federal adjusted gross income threshold for modification for taxable social security income. This act would also amend references to the federal adjusted gross income as it pertains to modification of taxable retirement income from certain pension plans or annuities.

To watch AARP RI’s legislation reception, held Feb. 8, 2024l, go to https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/214?site=1.

For obtain the results of the 2023 AARP Rhode Island Vital Voices survey, go to:

https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2022/aarp-vital-voices-surveys-older-adults-2022-2024.html – and scroll down to “Rhode Island”

New Legislative Commission to work on improving programs, services to seniors 

Published in RINewsToday on June 19, 2023

During May, designated as Older Americans Month, the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved H 5224-SUB A, sponsored by House Deputy Majority Leader Lauren H. Carson (D-District 75, Newport), creating a legislative commission to study the services and programs for 240,000 older adults in Rhode Island – and to make recommendations for ways to improve and coordinate them. The number of seniors is expected to skyrocket to almost 265,000 by 2040, constituting an increase of nearly 75% since 2010.

On May 11, 2023, over three months since the resolution was dropped in the legislative hopper, it passed by a whopping bipartisan vote of 69 to 0 (with 6 members absent). There was no opposition to H 5224- SUB A from any organization. It seems that any House lawmaker or organization opposing this resolution would also oppose “motherhood and apple pie.”

With a number of House GOP concerns addressed in the state’s $14 billion budget, House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale directed his caucus to support passage. The House Republican Caucus also unanimously voted for H5224 – SUB A, and fully supported the mission of a legislative commission which is charged with collecting and analyzing the current state of affairs in regard to Rhode Island’s growing senior population.

Carson’s resolution calls for “a collaborative study of Rhode Island’s current services, and recommendations for potential initiatives that would help residents, agencies, providers, and the government to better assist the growing population of older adults in our state achieve well-being and maximum independence in ways that value, empower and engage them,” adding that such an effort is essential to the state’s future resilience and prosperity.

According to House Communications Director Larry Berman, 21 House legislative Commissions will be operational when Carson’s legislative commission becomes operational. The House Policy Office will staff the Commission.  The number of meetings (open to the public) has not yet been determined. The meeting agenda will be determined by its Chair, with input provided by the 16 Commission members, House lawmakers, members of the public, and aging advocates. 

Because H 5224 – SUB A only creates a House legislative commission, there is no need for a companion measure to be introduced in the Senate,” says Berman who notes that this Commission will begin in the Fall of 2023. It is charged to report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives no later than May 7, 2024. The Commission would then expire on August 7, 2024.

Providing a Road Map to Fix Systemic Policy Flaws

“This commission will provide valuable information to the House next year to provide a roadmap for providing service and programs for older Rhode Islanders, including funding options that will be strongly considered,” stated House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi  (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), after passage of the special legislative committee.

“We have had excellent results with other commissions that have studied housing and shoreline access that have led to legislation that the General Assembly has adopted.  Representative Carson is an extremely thoughtful and dedicated legislator who will work hard with commission members to develop great plans for the future,” says Shekarchi.

“Rhode Island should invest much more than we do in services that enable people to age in place and safely remain in their communities. Those services are far more cost-efficient overall, and encourage an active, more fulfilling lifestyle for people as they age. Considering that nearly a quarter of our population is over 60, and Baby Boomers will continue to swell those ranks, now is the time,” said Carson. “This commission will take a look at the services we have, how we could improve and better coordinate them and offer them to more individuals, where the gaps and needs are, and what we need to do to better enable our population, as we grow older, to safely remain in the community and lead full lives,” she says.

The 16-member commission, all appointed by the House Speaker, will include three members of the House of Representatives, two Rhode Island residents over the age of 65, three directors from the Rhode Island Senior Center Director’s Association, a community action program director from the Rhode Island Association of Community Action Agencies, a member of the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, and a member of a Rhode Island organization representing adults with disabilities.

In addition, the directors of the Office of Healthy Aging, the Department of Health, AARP Rhode Island, Age-Friendly RI and the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI or their designees will participate.

H 5224 – SUB A instructs the commission to study key statistics about services for older adults in Rhode Island, examining strengths, vulnerabilities, and demographic and financial statistics; assess the current state, federal and local services currently available, as well as any duplication of services; recommend ways to coordinate services within agencies and focus on better service delivery, including housing options and various living arrangements, health status and health care resources; provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to coordinate aging services in employment, education, independent living, accessibility and advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services; provide recommendations on mental health, transportation, food access, and health care; provide recommendations for the funding of services through state, federal and private grants and for more efficient distribution and use of these dollars; and explore more regionalization of services.

Towards the Creation of a Strategic State Plan on Aging

“The newly established legislative commission to study the services and programs for our rapidly growing older population can become the launching pad for the state to move forward to create a multi-sector Strategic State Plan on Aging to coordinate Rhode Island’s programs and services for older Rhode Islanders, says Maureen Maigret chair of the Aging in Community Subcommittee of Rhode Island’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council who also serves as a policy consultant and board member of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI.  She notes that 10 states have already developed this “master plan” and she hopes Rhode Island will also join their ranks. 

At the Senior Agenda Coalition  of RI’s August 2022 Gubernatorial Forum, she warned that the state’s aging and long-term services were fragmented, spread across a number of state agencies, charging that these agencies often lacked stable leadership and a coherent and overarching vision. Creating a Strategic Plan on Aging builds on work being done now by the Office of Healthy Aging and Subcommittees of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, and would be a fix for this,” says Maigret. 

According to Maigret, at the August Forum Gov. Dan McKee stated he would issue an Executive Order for initiating a Master Plan on Aging, but that has not happened. Aging advocates are still waiting for this to happen.

“We look forward to joining with older-adult focused direct service, advocacy, non-profit, and state colleagues, and older adults themselves, to discuss how Rhode Islanders want to age and what we can build collectively to make that possible, says Director Maria Cimini, of the state’s Office of Health Aging (OHA).

“At the OHA we are thrilled there is interest and a commitment of time and resources to understand and plan for our state’s aging population, from where we sit, this opportunity will equip us to advocate for policies that empower and uplift our senior population, fostering dignity, purpose, and respect for all older adults,” adds Cimini.

Don’t Forget the Rhode Island’s Poor and Minority Elders

Susan Sweet, long-time advocate for poor and disadvantaged elders and the founder of The R. I. Minority Elder Task Force which provides limited financial assistance to low-income seniors in crisis reports: “We are seeing a large uptick in elders in crisis situations lacking basic needs such as food, utilities, housing, and personal items. Minority group members, immigrants, retirees as well as general population seniors are suffering more intensely since Covid, inflation, and lack of affordable housing matters have exacerbated the existing poverty among elders. In particular, homelessness among elders is at a peak we have not seen before.”

Sweet is hopeful that this new Legislative Commission will consider and react to the particularly difficult situations that confront the poor and minority elder populations. “I have seen many plans for services to elders that either ignore or do not implement agenda items addressing these populations and I hope that this commission will prioritize the severe privations that they face on a daily basis,” she says.

“With the lessons learned over the past 2 years and the devastating impact of COVID on our older adults, it’s critical that we reexamine our aging infrastructure, the needs for services, and the local service capabilities to this growing population,” Vin Marzullo, who served 31 years as a career federal civil rights & social justice administrator at the National Service agency.

“A serious, adult conversation is long overdue with the aging community, service providers and lawmakers about designing our plan for a more “Age-Friendly” RI, – which supports local senior centers as the local hub for the delivery of services,” suggests Marzullo.

The nursing home industry supports the mission of the newly enacted legislation committee. “Included in their charge is to, among other things, provide recommendations regarding available health care services.  Rhode Island’s nursing facilities play a vital role in health care for our older adults – providing care and services to over 18,500 seniors each year.  Many of these individuals are provided with short-term skilled nursing, physical, occupational and/or speech therapy following a hospitalization – enabling them to safely transition from the acute hospital level of care back home with continued services,” says John E. Gage, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care Association.

“Of course, every Rhode Islander wants to remain independent, healthy and in their home for as long as possible.  When this is no longer viable, however, our state needs a strong spectrum of care, including home care, assisted living residences and skilled nursing facilities to support them as their care needs change.  Workforce is perhaps the most daunting challenge facing these health care providers, and this will need to be a focus for years to come,” notes Gage.

H 5224 A cosponsors are Representatives Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-District 37, Westerly), Thomas E. Noret (D-District 25, West Warwick), Susan R. Donovan (D-District 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-District, East Providence), Karen Alzate (D-District 60, Central Falls, Pawtucket), Jason Knight (D-District 67, Barrington, Warren),  and Kathleen Fogarty (D-District 35, South Kingston.

A copy of H 5224 A may be accessed here: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText23/HouseText23/H5224A.pdf.

The House Floor vote (5/11/23) – 48 minute 48 second mark may be accessed here: https://ritv.devosvideo.com/show?video=d12583542bad&apg=84a99049.

The Health & Human Services Committee heard this resolution on March 15, 2023.  See the 1hour and 50-minute hearing by going to https://ritv.devosvideo.com/show?video=e3ea82fcb949&apg=6aae3d42) 

Herb Weiss, LRI -12, is a Pawtucket-based writer who has covered aging, health care and medical issues for over 43 years.  To purchase his books, Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly and a sequel, compiling weekly published articles, go to herbweiss.com.