Massachusetts FY '09 State Budget Update

Massachusetts FY '09 State Budget Update
Dear Howard,

Last Thursday, before departing to observe the July 4th holiday, Massachusetts legislators approved next year's state budget.

The Commonwealth is facing fiscal challenges. However, the Massachusetts Legislature chose to fund critical programs and services for our residents.

Prescription Drug Costs
-New program and funding for evidence based outreach and education program.

Prescription Advantage
- Full funding.
- Maintained structural integrity and hold enrollees harmless by keeping cost sharing at 2007 levels and prohibiting increases without legislative approval.
- Ongoing open enrollment.

Long Term Care Continuum
- Adequate funding for a long term care continuum, that includes high quality, affordable skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, senior housing, and home and community based services, to meet the needs of our aging population.
- Adequate funding to provide home and community based care that enables older and disabled persons to remain healthy and independent.
- Adequate funding of skilled nursing facilities -- which often care for the most frail and vulnerable individuals; including the nursing home criteria known as "Score 3".
- New funding to rebalance the system to allow for more home and community based care.
- Increased funding for the Councils on Aging and Senior Centers.

Health Care Reform
- Adequate funding to implement the new health care reform law so that consumers will have access to affordable insurance products with meaningful benefits.
- Outreach grants to educate residents and assist in enrolling them in health care insurance coverage.

Money Management Program
- Maintained funding to operate the program statewide.

Please make 2 important calls today!
1. Contact Representative Christopher Fallon and Senator Richard Tisei at (617) 722-2800 and thank them for continuing to support important programs and services that help our residents remain healthy, independent and economically secure.
2. Contact Governor Patrick at (617) 725-4000 and urge him to approve the budget as submitted.

Thank you again for your continued advocacy on these very important matters.