Tag Archives for House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi

A Physician’s Guide to Living Life Fully, Not Just Longer, with Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Published in RINewsToday on October 12, 2025

Over two weeks ago, over 300 advocates, providers, and older adults gathered at the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island’s (SACRI) 16th Annual Conference and Expo, “Navigating Choppy Waters – Shelter from the Storm,” held at Rhode on the Pawtuxets in Cranston.

The Sept. 25 event featured a thought-provoking keynote address by Dr. Ed Iannuccilli, state legislative updates, unveiling a new award to recognize two advocates, along with a panel discussion exploring critical topics facing older adults.

“This conference, by all measure, was a tremendous success,” said Carol Anne Costa, Executive Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI, noting that the new venue, the topics, the engagement of the audience was reflected in the energy in the room.

“We are collecting survey responses an the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Costa noting that people are craving the opportunities to reconnect in person and in conversation. “If our vision for this conference helped to achieve that, it’s a win,” she said. 

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Simple Tips on Aging Gracefully

 Dr. Ed Iannuccilli, a highly respected retired board-certified internist and gastroenterologist and the author of six published books, delivered an impassioned 31-minute keynote shifting the tone from legislation and program updates.  He offered common-sense advice on aging gracefully and called for changes in the state’s health care system to restore compassion and personal connection.

Looking back to the early days of his medical practice, Iannuccilli—who practiced medicine for over 30 years—recalled a conversation with a lively, healthy 80-year-old woman.

“In the innocence of my youth, I said admiringly, ‘At 80, you’re in marvelous condition. You don’t need to worry—age is just a number.’”

“She looked at me, twirled her ring, straightened her smock, squinted, pursed her lips, and said, ‘Young man, I have the number. Don’t you ever tell anyone that again,’” he said.

“And I never did,” he added. “It was an early lesson. As Oscar Wilde said, ‘With age comes wisdom, but sometimes wisdom comes with winters.’ Well, I have the winters now. I have the number. And I’m pleased to say that no one has dared call it just a number again,” said the Bristol resident.

As for reducing the stress of growing old, Iannuccilli shared: “I try to do happy things, avoid too much news, meet friends, and accept loss and mistakes with a spiritual shovel. No one’s judging anymore—history is history.”

He advised, “Don’t make living a long life your goal; living fully, is. If you’re at an age milestone—don’t panic. Laugh more. Call a friend. As Mark Twain said, ‘Don’t complain about growing old; it’s a privilege denied to many.’”

Iannuccilli said he stays curious, reads, writes, and keeps his mind active. “I even take piano lessons. I don’t need to go on a space mission; I’m already on a planet full of adventure,” he joked.

 He also emphasized that longevity and good health are tied to human connection. “Be a helper. Call a friend. Drive someone to a doctor’s appointment. Volunteer at a pantry. Fred Rogers’ mother was right—‘Look for the helpers.’ Better yet—be one,” urged Iannuccilli.

Navigating a Broken Health Care System

“We use words like quality, efficiency, deliverables, and outcomes—but what people want is access and comfort,” Iannuccilli observed. But, fewer long-term physician-patient relationships, financial barriers at every turn, and isolation among older adults all reflect systemic changes in today’s healthcare system, says Iannuccili.

According to Iannuccili, costs for care, medication, nursing homes, and even vaccines are rising. Too many seniors live alone and disconnected.

“When someone is sick, they want to be comforted. They want someone who listens and helps them navigate an increasingly impersonal system,” he says. 

Today it’s [often] a long phone queue, a chatbot, or a portal that needs a password and two-step verification,” he said. “You wait on hold and think, ‘This is my health I’m calling about, not my cable bill.’ We’ve lost the personal touch.”

“Be patient with emerging artificial intelligence,” Iannuccilli added. “With proper tuning, it can increase efficiency, help pair patients with the right provider, contain costs, and even promote equity. But nothing—nothing—will ever replace personal care.”

Patients are now called consumers, he said, a term he dislikes. “You’re not a consumer—you’re a patient. The word comes from the Latin patiens—one who suffers. It deserves respect.”

Recognizing Rhode Island’s Health Care Assets

Iannuccilli called for Rhode Islanders to stop focusing on negatives, like the bridge, and instead recognize their access to high-quality health care facilities.

“Within 20 miles you can reach some of the nation’s best hospitals—Rhode Island Hospital, Women & Infants, Hasbro Children’s, Butler, Bradley, Kent, South County, Newport, Miriam, Roger Williams, and Fatima,” he said.

According to Iannuccilli, the state’s health care system—from Brown University to URI—is “extraordinary,” featuring world-class nursing programs, physician assistant schools, and a top pharmacy school.

He believes Rhode Island can become a national model for universal access to health care.

“If we can assume our trash will be collected, our children educated, and our homes protected by firefighters, why can’t we assume access to health care for everyone?” he asked. “We have the talent. We have the infrastructure. What we need is the will.”

With a growing shortage of primary care physicians, Iannuccilli called for the creation of a medical school at the University of Rhode Island dedicated solely to training primary care physicians.

He concluded by issuing a call to action: “Let’s make Rhode Island the envy of the nation—a state where health care works for everyone, where education, research, and delivery come together. We can do better. We must do better. And guess what? We don’t have a choice.”

SACRI Recognition

At the conference, Costa recognized the advocacy of Ray Gagne Jr. for his advocacy work as Senior Organizer at RI Organizing Project and Sister Norma Fleming, RSM, for her direct work with adults with disabilities at ReFocus, Inc. by presenting them with the inaugural Marjorie Waters Award for Service. Honoring the legacy of Marjorie Waters—a Rhode Island College graduate, former Director of Information Technology for a Tribal Nation, Six Sigma Process Excellence Coach in the finance industry, and Executive Director of Providence’s Westminster Senior Center—the award celebrates her dedication as a lifelong community activist.

Legislative Greetings, and a Look to the Future

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) brought greetings from the House, emphasizing his strong commitment to supporting the state’s growing older population.

“As long as I’m Speaker of this House and I’m in Rhode Island government, you will have a friend in state government,” he pledged to the attending advocates and older adults.

The Warwick lawmaker shared how his 99-year-old father, who is battling Alzheimer’s and has mobility issues, has given him a personal understanding of older Rhode Islanders’ desire to remain at home—insight that has shaped his aging policy agenda.

Shekarchi highlighted several recent legislative successes, including the expansion of the Medicare Savings Program after 14 years of advocacy, which will save low-income beneficiaries over $2,000 annually. He also cited the state’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Law, which allows in-law apartments or “granny flats” (in the colloquial), to help residents age in place in their homes.

Senate President Rep. Lauren Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), also detailed her legislative work on behalf of older Rhode Islanders. As Chair of the House Study Commission on Aging, she announced her intention to introduce legislation to make the commission permanent to help guide the state’s aging policy.

Another planned bill for next year would replace the term “senior citizen” with “older Rhode Islander” in state law to promote a more positive view of aging.

Maria Cimini, Director of the State’s Office of Healthy Aging, stressed that the guiding principle of her office’s work was to ensure older Rhode Islanders had the “choice to age as they wished” with dignity and independence.

She pointed out a significant demographic shift, noting that Rhode Island now had more people over 65 than under 18. “We are all aging. My goal is to be sure that Rhode Island is a great place to grow up and grow old,” she says.

A panel discussion followed the keynote, covering practical aspects of end-of-life planning, including legal documents such as wills and trusts, funeral pre-planning, financial planning for dependents with disabilities, suicide prevention, and the role of the long-term care ombudsman.

To watch SACRI’s Sept. 25th program, go to https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11543?site=1

House Finance Committee’s FY 26 Budget boosts support for older Rhode Islanders

Published in RiNewsToday on June 16, 2025

Last Wednesday evening, the House Finance Committee voted 11–3 to approve a balanced $14.33 billion budget for fiscal year 2026—approximately $500 million less than the current year’s budget.

Lawmakers were tasked with closing a $250 million deficit without resorting to broad tax hikes or cuts to essential services. Faced with a slowing state economy and looming federal funding reductions, they focused squarely on bridging the budget gap while improving access to health care, increasing reimbursement rates for primary care providers, nursing homes, and hospitals, and addressing the state’s housing crisis.

The budget proposal also boosts funding for housing and homelessness services, supports municipalities through increased revenue sharing, expands Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (a.k.a. RIPTA) funding, invests in education, imposes new EV registration fees, restores highway tolls, and extends childcare subsidies while setting distinct rates for toddlers and infants.

“Despite the very significant challenges we face in this fiscal year, this budget reflects our commitment to our priorities: not only protecting, but strengthening the vital Medicaid programs that provide health and safety to Rhode Island’s seniors, children, individuals with disabilities, and working families; supporting our health care system, particularly the hard-working primary care providers and frontline caregivers; and addressing our housing crisis,” said House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), in a statement announcing the budget’s passage by the House Finance Committee.

Vote Set

According to House Communications Director Larry Berman, the 435-page budget proposal (2025-H 5076A) now moves to the full House for a vote scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, at 3:30 p.m. If passed, the budget will be sent to the Senate, where action is expected by the end of next week as the legislative session concludes.

If the Senate makes no changes, the bill will go directly to Governor Dan McKee for his signature. However, if revisions are made, it must return to the House for final approval before being sent to the Governor.

Berman and his Senate counterpart, Greg Paré, Director of Senate Communications, do not anticipate any major issues—but note that nothing is ever guaranteed.

Funding Aging Programs and Services

The Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI) and its allied aging advocacy groups didn’t get everything they lobbied for —but they made progress, according to SACRI Executive Director Carol Anne Costa, who praised the proposal as a “moral budget.”

“This budget represents a moral compass pointing toward a healthier, more equitable Rhode Island,” said Costa, crediting the group’s advocacy efforts, particularly those of SACRI Policy Advisor Maureen Maigret.

Costa highlighted new language in Article 8 that expands the Medicare Savings Programs, enhancing healthcare access for vulnerable older adults and individuals with disabilities. The House Finance Committee recommended adding $7.1 million—$700,000 of that from general revenues—for this critical expansion.

Unlike a narrower 2024 Assembly proposal that faced implementation barriers, the FY 2026 budget expands eligibility to 125% of the federal poverty level for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) group and up to 168% for the Qualified Individuals (QI) group.

“This crucial change is estimated to assist thousands of Medicare enrollees, helping them cover burdensome co-payments and deductibles, and potentially saving them at least the $185 monthly Part B premium—which can now go toward food and other essentials. For many, this means the difference between delaying care and receiving timely treatment,” Costa noted.

Strengthening Primary Care Access

“The state’s primary care system is at a crisis point. We’ve heard that our reimbursement rates are low, and that’s the main cause of the health care shortage. We wanted to address that immediately,” said Speaker Shekarchi.

SACRI applauded the Speaker’s efforts to address both the shortage of primary care physicians and the funding shortfall for direct-care staff in nursing homes. “This budget recognizes the critical importance of primary care—especially for older adults and those managing chronic conditions—and addresses provider rate increases through several key initiatives,” said Costa.

The proposal includes over $40 million—$15 million from the state and the rest from federal funds—to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers, currently lower than in neighboring states.

Additionally, the budget proposes a new healthcare assessment similar to the state’s immunization program assessments. This broad-based assessment, applied per member per month to all covered lives (including self-insured plans), is expected to raise $30 million annually to support primary care and related services. The estimated state cost is $1.4 million, including $800,000 in general revenues.

The committee also recommended $26.4 million ($8.3 million in general revenue) to raise Medicaid primary care rates to 100% of Medicare rates beginning Oct. 1, 2025. This significant increase aims to incentivize providers to serve more Medicaid patients and improve access to foundational care.

Furthermore, the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) must submit a one-time report by September 2026 to recommend further adjustments to primary care reimbursement rates.

“To address fiscal challenges facing our community health centers, the budget also includes $10.5 million—$4 million of that from general revenues,” Costa added.

Attacking Persistent Staffing Issues in Rhode Island’s Nursing Homes

SACRI, the Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA), SEIU 1199NE, and the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman praised the House Finance Committee’s decision to allocate funds aimed at addressing persistent staffing issues in Rhode Island’s 73 nursing homes. The committee approved a $12 million funding package—including $5 million from general revenues—for a base rate staffing adjustment to improve compensation, wages, benefits, and employer costs for direct-care staff. These investments are designed to enhance the quality of resident care and improve workforce stability.

According to John E. Gage, President and CEO of RIHCA, following months of negotiations, RIHCA and SEIU 1199NE reached a compromise to amend the 2021 nursing home staffing law. The revised agreement establishes a more achievable staffing target of 3.58 hours of care per resident per day and adjusts penalties to support facilities in reaching consistent compliance. It also introduces flexibility for high-performing facilities and those with site-specific challenges. “The state budget passed by the House Finance Committee invests $5 million, which unlocks an additional $7 million in federal matching funds,” noted Gage.

“On behalf of RIHCA and its members, we are pleased that the Speaker and House Finance Committee members recognized the dire conditions facing the industry,” Gage added. “We are encouraged that their actions will help stabilize Rhode Island’s nursing facilities and ensure access to high-quality care and services.”

Rhode Island currently ranks second in the nation for “Immediate Jeopardy” violations—the most serious federal nursing home deficiencies. Both SEIU 1199NE and RIHCA believe the budget provisions will help reverse this alarming trend.

SEIU 1199NE’s Patrick Quinn and SACRI’s Costa praised the inclusion of the $12 million investment in the FY 2026 budget, viewing it as a crucial step in helping nursing homes recruit and retain essential staff.

Lori Light, Rhode Island’s State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, also commended House lawmakers for allocating new funding to improve pay and staffing levels—critical measures for enhancing care quality and creating safer, more stable environments for vulnerable residents. “These are issues our office has consistently advocated for, and we’re encouraged to see real movement in the right direction,” she said.

Finally, the budget proposal also includes an increase of $1.86 million for the Office of Healthy Aging, raising its funding from $37,091,920 to $38,948,518. This includes:

  • A $200,000 boost for Senior Services Support (from $1.4 million to $1.6 million)
  • A $50,000 increase for Meals on Wheels (from $630,000 to $680,000)
  • $325,000 to provide elder services, including respite care, through the Diocese of Providence
  • $40,000 to fund ombudsman services provided by the Alliance for Long Term Care

The Missing Millionaire’s Tax

SACRI and progressive advocacy groups had hoped the budget would include HB 5473, introduced by Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) on Feb. 12, 2025 and S329 introduced on by Sen. Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield, on February 21, 2025. The bill proposed a 3% surtax on taxable income above $625,000—on top of the existing 5.99% rate—targeting the top 1% of Rhode Island filers. The tax was projected to raise roughly $190 million annually and impact only 5,700 of the state’s 500,000 taxpayers.

But the surtax didn’t make it into the final budget.

Asked why, Speaker Shekarchi explained: “There is still a great deal of uncertainty at the federal level. We don’t know what changes are going to be made in the federal tax code. We felt comfortable enough to move forward with the non-owner-occupied property tax on homes valued at over $1 million, and we will revisit the millionaire’s tax when we have more clarity from Washington.”

While Costa wished the surtax had been included to fund additional initiatives, she said, “The bottom line is the budget is balanced and people-focused. In particular, older adult concerns were seriously considered.” As the session winds down, SACRI will continue to monitor remaining legislative proposals that affect Rhode Island’s older residents.

When the dust settles. Looking back at 2024’s legislative days

Published in RINewsToday on June 24, 2024

Over a week ago, after being in session for 49 legislative days (opening day was Jan. 2, 2024), the Rhode Island General Assembly held its final session at 4pm on June 13, 2024, and ended at about 1:30am on June 14, 2024. During this year’s legislative session 1,167 bills and resolutions were introduced in the Senate, and 1,369 in the House. This total does not include Resolutions, which were  congratulatory in nature or noted prominent Rhode Island residents who have passed away.

With the dust settling at the end of this year’s session, there were 249 bills that passed both the House and Senate, and that are now sitting on Gov. Dan McKee’s desk for his signature to enact, or to pass without signature, or to be rejected.

“This was an outstanding legislative year for Rhode Island’s seniors,” observes House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “In addition to all the investments for seniors made in the state budget that has been signed by Governor McKee, there were excellent bills that will be of great benefit to our aging population, he says. 

Attacking the housing crisis head on

In a joint statement, the House Speaker and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said, “It is critical to attack our housing crisis from many different angles. Allowing ADUs in other states has been proven to make a significant impact by immediately increasing available housing supply.  We are confident that ADUs will be beneficial for the many Rhode Islanders who need flexibility in housing options, particularly seniors wishing to age in place in their communities,” they say.

Shekarchi points out the enactment of ADU legislation sponsored by House Commission on Housing Affordability Chairwoman June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren Bristol) and Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingston) that would boost the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are also known as in-law apartments. The House Speaker is the House bill’s top co-sponsor.

“I have heard from so many seniors who would like to downsize and continue to live independently, but would enjoy the extra assurance of living on the property of their children,” he noted, thanking AARP Rhode Island and housing advocates, including Rhode Island Housing, Grow Smart RI and Housing Network RI, who pushed this “significant legislation” across the finish line. 

The bills (2024-H 7062A, 2024-S 2998A) would provide homeowners statewide the right to develop a single ADU on an owner-occupied property or within the existing footprint of their structures or on any lot larger than 20,000 square feet, provided that the ADU’s design satisfies building code, size limits and infrastructure requirements.

The purpose of the bill is to encourage the development of rental units that are likely to be more affordable than many other apartments, and also to provide opportunities for homeowners with extra space to generate income that helps them maintain ownership of that property.

To ensure that the bill achieves its goal of housing Rhode Islanders, the legislation prohibits ADUs constructed under this provision from being used as short-term rentals, and streamlines the permitting process.

In the HEALTH arena

According to Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, several legislative proposals in the Senate’s health care package passed the General Assembly.

“Few issues are as important as health care, and right now, our health care system is in critical condition. Health care absolutely must be accessible and affordable for all Rhode Islanders,” says Ruggerio, noting that for too many people in the Ocean State is too expensive or too difficult to get. “And we know that many health care providers are feeling enormous strain due to many factors,” he adds.

“Like providers and consumers, our community hospitals, including Fatima in my district, are facing difficult circumstances,” said the Senate President, who recognized his Senate colleagues in the development of this package of legislation.

“As we celebrate our victories in the 2024 session, we are committed to continuing our work on this issue and accomplishing all the objectives of the HEALTH initiative. “

According to Ruggerio, several legislative proposals in the Senate leadership’s HEALTH (Holistic Enhancement and Access Legislation for Total Health) initiative include legislative proposals to join five interstate licensing compacts to make it easier for Rhode Islanders to access the care they need and budget provisions to use $1 million of general revenue to purchase debts of struggling Rhode Islanders and incentivize providers to enter primary care fields.

Advocates on aging give their recap of the 2024 Legislative Session

“The Senior Agenda Coalition of RI supported several housing-related bills (that did not pass) that would benefit older adults including those sponsored by Rep. Meghan Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, and Hopkinton)  and Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) to increase the income cap for the Property Tax Relief program to $50,000 and the credit or refund to $850 to help offset the cost, of property taxes and rents for older adults and persons with disabilities,” says Maureen Maigret, Policy Advisor for the Senior Agenda Coalition of RI (SACRI), noting the Coalition plan to continue to advocate for them next year.

Maigret warned that with a growing older population the need for more accessible housing will increase and the Coalition supported and will continue to support bills to create greater accessibility in new housing.  

Maigret stated that SACRI will also continue to support legislation to create a caregiver tax credit as provided for in 2024 legislation sponsored this year by Rep. Susan Donovan and Sen. Linda Ujifusa. “Our caregivers are valued and deserve our support. A caregiver tax credit will help the many R.I. family caregivers who provide thousands of hours of care for spouses and parents often spending thousands of dollars of their own money to give their loved ones a better, more comfortable life,” she says.

She noted that SACRI also plans to build on its efforts to further expand the Medicare Savings Program to help more lower-income persons on Medicare afford needed healthcare by covering required co-pays and deductibles and to continue its work to promote quality long term care through support for staffing standards, worker training programs and Medicaid enhanced reimbursement for private rooms to help with infection control issues that became so apparent during the Covid pandemic.

SACRI will also push next legislative session to enact legislation to establish a formula for state funding to support local senior centers and programs based on a community’s population of those 65 years and over.  

Raise the Bar on Resident Care and other advocates successfully pushed the passage of H 7733 and S 2621 legislation sponsored by Rep. Scott Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) and Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, (East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown) that would establish the Nursing Home Work Standards Board (NWSB). According to Raise the Bar, NWSB will help stabilize the nursing home system by establishing training standards, promoting caregiver rights, depoliticizing funding allocations and implementing financial oversight of nursing homes.  A 13-member board (including frontline staff, nursing home management representatives, state government and community organizations will work with Medicaid to ensure comprehensive and informed decision-making.

“In 2023, Minnesota passed its own Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board and just voted to raise wages for caregivers to over $23 an hour in 2027 while guaranteeing 11 paid holidays. Here in Rhode Island, the Workforce Standards Board is a critical step toward transforming nursing home jobs into sustainable careers that can support a family and provide quality resident care. Now we need Governor McKee to show his support and sign this bill into law,” said Jesse Martin, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199 New England, member of Raise the Bar on Resident Care.

Raise the Bar also advocated for the passage of the Financial Transparency Act (S 2604 | H 8204) but ultimately pulled the bill in order to re-adjust some of its language. This legislative proposal, S 2604, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist.13, Newport, Jamestown) and its companion measure, H 8204, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Dawson (D-Dist.65, East Providence) would require nursing homes to provide annual, audited financial statements that include detailed income, expenses, and cash flow, alongside transparent ownership information to prevent for-profit owners from misusing Medicaid and Medicare dollars. “We look forward to advocating for its passage in next year’s legislative session to ensure all for-profit nursing homeowners are held accountable to investing public dollars appropriately in direct care,” continued Jesse Martin. 

Advocates for Better Care in Rhode Island, a grassroots community organization founded to advocate for the rights and interests of residents of long-term care facilities in RI, celebrates the passage of S. 2263. The Long-Term Care Residents Rights Camera Bill, notes Director Kathleen Gerard. 

“The legislation gives residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and their legal representatives the right to install a monitoring device in their room provided all residents in the room consent. The consent can be withdrawn at any time, and a variety of safeguards exist to protect resident privacy,” says Gerard.

The legislation, S 2263 A, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown, who chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary and H 7969 A, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington and Warren) has been signed by the governor and will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.  

According to Gerard, the legislation was first introduced in this form in 2021, but the care staffing crisis and massive 138% increase in serious deficiencies cited in RI long-term care facilities since 2022 made it even more urgent to finally pass it this year.

“Speaker Shekarchi worked tirelessly to reach a compromise that was acceptable to the various parties supporting and opposing the bill, and long-term care residents will consequently soon be able to have their care and condition monitored remotely by loved ones and care-partners, resulting in more peace of mind for everyone,” she says. 

“A legislative proposal we backed this year and that we hope to see enacted next year was introduced by the Rhode Island Department of Health.  The legislation, (S 2818 sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence and H. 7819 sponsored by Rep. June S. Speakman), would improve financial transparency in nursing home ownership and prevent the rapid extraction of equity from facilities that we see with many private equity firms, real estate investment trusts, and investor groups,” says Gerard.

Next legislative session, Gerard says Advocates for Better Care in Rhode Island will also continue to advocate for legislation requiring assisted living facilities to support family councils.   This requirement already applies to nursing homes, she notes.

“We’ve Only Just Begun, says Sandra Paquette, representing Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform, a non-profit representing 4,700 retirees. “Our group numbers continue to increase, along with our determination and commitment, to fight for the justice which was so unnecessarily and ruthlessly taken away,” she says. .

According to Paquette, there were legislative proposals pertaining to current and future state and teaching retirees, which did not reach the floor of the House or Senate. One legislative proposal applied to those active employees whose retirement is based upon an arbitrary “rule of 95”. This translates into a calculation where the years of service and the age of those wishing to retire must add up to 95. The law would have changed this total to 90. Another one for which we strongly advocated, and for which we provided thousands of letters, verbal testimony and volunteer lobbying sessions was Pat Serpa’s (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry and Warwick), H-8193, would have restored a compounded Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to all current and future retirees, and would have been enacted as of July of this year.

“Our goals for next year will remain— to advocate through testimony, letters, media and lobbying–for the passage of the two bills which will provide the now essential support to the victims of the 2011 Rhode Island Retirement Security Act,” says Paquette.

And here are specifics about other bills that impact seniors: