COLLOQUY

The Senior Alliance's Monthly Advocacy Update

July 26, 2022

Volume 3.7

Welcome to The Senior Alliance's advocacy newsletter, COLLOQUY!
This monthly e-mail is a look at issues, legislation and policies impacting aging.

Governor Whitmer signs Fiscal Year 2023 Budget 

On July 20, 2022, Governor Whitmer signed on the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2023 Budget. The $76.7 billion budget contained many line items that will affect older adult programs. 


The budget includes general funding to support actuarial soundness adjustments: between 2-5% for prepaid inpatient health plans (PIHPs) and between 2-2.5% for Medicaid Health Plans, PACE, home and community-based services, and integrated care organizations. The budget also delineates $1.5 million support for congregate and home-delivered meals and $1 million for community services for the aging population. The direct care worker wage increase of $2.35 is maintained. 


The Senior Alliance thanks those who helped advocate for Older Americans Act funded programs that are covered under this FY 23 budget. We will continue to monitor the movement of this and future fiscal year budgets.

Guardianship Reform Package

House Bills 4847- 4850 were recently presented and had a hearing in front of the State House Judiciary Committee earlier this month. The bills would amend the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC) which would revise guardianships and conservatorships. The bills are tie barred, meaning they are companion bills and all must pass for the legislation to become law. 


The bills establish appointment priority, set standards of who can be appointed, outline duties of a guardian ad litem, detail what items should be reported on, and many other various items regarding these cases. The bills currently await a full House vote. 

"Inside The Senior Alliance" Podcasts with Congresswomen Tlaib and Dingell

Check out our most recent episodes featuring Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Both congresswomen represent districts that include much of the The Senior Alliance's service area.


Listen as Congresswoman Dingell and Tlaib discuss the pressing aging issues, their work on behalf of older adults and why these issues are so important to them.


Our podcast series, "Inside The Senior Alliance," provides to-the-point information about our programs and services. Just search for "The Senior Alliance" to find it on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Stitcher, Google and other podcast platforms. Most episodes are less than 15 minutes long.


The first episode answers the question, "What is The Senior Alliance?" Other installments provide overviews of the MI Choice Waiver program, the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP), our Supports Coordination function, our Information & Assistance service, Housing Coordination, the Long Term Care Ombudsman, the Michigan Senior Advocates Council, our Advisory Council, the Meals-on-Wheels Program, Direct Care Workers, Advocacy Overview, State Representative Laurie Pohutsky, the Friendly Reassurance program, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and the Alzheimer's Association of Michigan.




Click the button below to listen via our website.

Click Here for "Inside The Senior Alliance" Podcasts
Advocacy Questions: Please contact Emma Olson, Advocacy & Planning Specialist, with any advocacy or public policy questions via e-mail at eolson@thesenioralliance.org.
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The Senior Alliance, Area Agency on Aging 1C
5454 Venoy Road, Wayne, MI 48184
800-815-1112
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