On October 29, Pennsylvania’s House Majority Policy Committee convened a field hearing in Avoca, PA entitled – “Boosting State Support of Seniors.” Reps. Jim Haddock (D-Lackawanna, Luzerne) and Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne) were the hosts. Several other committee members were also in attendance, including the current Chairperson of the House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee, Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe).
David Johnson, CARIE LINE Manager, provided testimony on behalf of CARIE that describes issues CARIE hears about when talking with our clients and makes various recommendations on how to support older Pennsylvanians. The testimony highlights the importance of programs and services funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and the need to adequately fund home and community-based services along with expanding the eligibility of the PACE pharmaceutical benefit program so more older Pennsylvanians can access affordable medication. These programs have demonstrated significant impact on helping older adults make ends meet as well as helping to avoid or delay more costly Medicaid funded long term services and supports. CARIE’s testimony also makes recommendations to increase the Personal Needs Allowance for people living in nursing homes who rely upon Medicaid as well as people living on SSI in personal care homes so they may live a dignified life.
The testimony reflects CARIE’s support in advancing the actionable ideas in Pennsylvania’s multisector ten-year plan, Aging Our Way, PA and for “Keystone Saves” legislation so Pennsylvania can join other states that allow businesses without an employer-provided retirement plan to offer a no-cost, voluntary retirement benefit for their workers. Finally, CARIE expressed gratitude to the legislature and Governor Shapiro for appropriating $1.9 million to create an Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Office in the Department of Aging and passing bipartisan legislation that also requires the Department to hire a full-time dementia director. These actions will go a long way in helping Pennsylvanians living with dementia and their caregivers, and helping Pennsylvania become a dementia capable state.
In addition to David, the following also testified at the hearing: Jason Kavulich, the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging; Mary Schell, Deputy Director of the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties; and Teresa Osborne, State Advocacy Director for AARP Pennsylvania. The hearing can be viewed here and submitted testimony can be viewed here.
