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February 12, 2023
Our next meeting is Monday, February 13, 2023. Our meeting is from 9:30AM to 11:00AM, but may go to 11:30AM.
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There are bills to review & take positions on | |
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Jeanette Hensley and Rich Mauro will lead us in reviewing bills that have been added to our CCA Bill Tracker. We will also take positions on bills that were reviewed at last week's meeting and we will be looking for at least one member to step forward for each bill we are keeping on our list.
View our meeting agenda to see a list that prioritizes bills for discussion
at the Monday morning meeting - CLICK HERE
Our approach is to review the bills one week and then the following week our members vote on whether to monitor, support, strongly support, or oppose. If we keep a bill in our Bill watch account, we need a member to step up as a point of contact.
We ask that those who have volunteered to track a specific bill
be prepared to report to the group on its status.
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News about the CCA Capitol Gang | |
- There is still time to get more involved with the CCA Capitol Gang. Send us an email if you are interested - CLICK HERE
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- Is your Coloradao Center for Aging membership current? Remember that to vote on bill positions you must be a member. Send us an email if you are unsure if you are a member - CLICK HERE
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Questions about CCA Advocacy Committee
Jeanette Hensley - email - 303-249-5598
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee
Rich Mauro - email - Direct: 303-480-6778
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee and Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
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Zoom Link for Monday's Meeting | |
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Topic: CCA: Advocacy Committee Meeting
9:30AM - 11:00AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8814815119?pwd=cXJGUFRVQ09kV1RzZ25QVG90RHBOQT09
Meeting ID: 881 481 5119
NEW Passcode: CCA2023#
One tap mobile
+17193594580,,8814815119#,,,,*01201897# US
+12532158782,,8814815119#,,,,*01201897# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 881 481 5119
Passcode: 01201897
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbZvU5bskJ
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News & Highlights from CCA | |
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Colorado Rule Making - Request for Comment on DRAFT Proposed Revised Bulletin B-4.127
Comments Due by February 17, 2023 - 5:00PM
Concerning the Methodology for Calculating Hospital and Provider Reimbursement Rates to Support Premium Rate Reduction Requirements for Colorado Option Standardized Health Benefit Plans
The Commissioner of Insurance is seeking informal comments concerning the methodology for calculating Hospital and Provider Reimbursement Rates to Support Premium Rate Reduction Requirements for Colorado Option Standardized Health Benefit Plans. The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide guidance for how the Commissioner of Insurance will establish a hospital and health-care provider reimbursement rate that may be applied by the Commissioner as part of a public hearing for the Colorado Option premium rate reduction requirements on standardized health benefits plans. This Bulletin is being revised to reflect updates to the equivalent rate methodology.
Review Draft - CLICK HERE
The Division is requesting informal comments be submitted no later than 5 PM, February 17, 2023, to DORA_INS_RulesandRecords@state.co.us
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Have you experienced age discrimination when applying for a job?
If you have, and are open to sharing your experiences, the Older Worker Policy Collaborative would love to hear from you! By sharing your story, you'll be helping to support policy change to make Colorado's workplaces fairer for people of all ages. If you're interested in either learning more or speaking with someone, you can sign-up here, and we'll be in touch. Please know that your name, experience, and any identifying information will never be shared without your explicit consent.
Share your story - CLICK HERE
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Colorado’s governor wants to reduce your utility bill. Don’t expect a big decrease anytime soon
"The requests Gov. Jared Polis made Monday will take a year or more to take effect. They are intended to help Coloradans next winter.Gov. Jared Polis on Monday asked state regulators and his administration to take every possible action to reduce the cost of utilities for Coloradans. But that’s much easier said than done, and no one should expect their sky-high natural gas and electric bills to go down anytime soon ..." - READ MORE
Website https://coloradosun.com
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Colorado SNAP Emergency Allotment Benefits Ending
"All Coloradans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are going to see a reduction in their monthly benefit amount after February. The temporary additional benefit amounts (emergency allotments) are ending due to the result of recent federal congressional action. The last emergency allotment benefits will be delivered in February. You will still receive SNAP in March, but benefits will return to regular levels ..." - READ MORE
Website https://cdhs.colorado.gov/
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What to Know about Medicare Spending and Financing
"Medicare, the federal health insurance program for 65 million people ages 65 and older and younger people with long-term disabilities, helps to pay for hospital and physician visits, prescription drugs, and other acute and post-acute care services. This brief provides an overview of Medicare spending and financing, based on the most recent historical and projected data published in the 2022 annual report of the Board of Medicare Trustees and the 2022 Medicare baseline and projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The brief highlights trends in Medicare spending and key drivers of spending growth, including higher enrollment, growth in health care costs, and increases in payments to Medicare Advantage plans ..." - READ MORE
Website https://www.kff.org/
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Over 35 Million Prior Authorization Requests were
Submitted to Medicare Advantage Plans in 2021
"Prior authorization is intended to ensure that health care services are medically necessary by requiring providers to obtain approval before a service or other benefit will be covered by a patient’s insurance. While prior authorization has long been used as a tool to contain spending and prevent people from receiving unnecessary or low-value services, there are some concerns that current prior authorization requirements and processes may create barriers and delays to receiving necessary care, as well as exacerbate complexity for patients and their providers ..." - READ MORE
Website https://www.kff.org/
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Data Suggests Denver Affordable Housing Ordinance Scaring Away Development
DENVER - "According to the Apartment Association of Metro Denver, applications for new apartment development declined by a dramatic 88% in the three months following the passage of a new affordable housing ordinance ..." - READ MORE
Website https://www.denver7.com/
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Colorado considers using public land for affordable workforce housing
"The legislature is considering a new proposal to free up vacant parcels of state-owned land that could be leased or sold at a discount for affordable housing projects. Police officer Andy Sandoval lives in one the most beautiful places in the world near Vail, Colorado, where world-famous ski resorts are nestled between Rocky Mountain peaks. His living situation for years, though, was far less dreamy. Until last month, the 26-year-old, his wife and their two small children were squeezed into one bedroom in a three-bedroom house that held nine other tenants — the best they could afford because of bloated housing prices fueled in part by sky-high land costs ..." - READ MORE
Website https://coloradosun.com
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Colorado Democratic Party, GOP prepare for intraparty reorganizations that will have big influence over their future
"Change is coming for Colorado Democrats and Republicans as they elect new, internal party leadership at the state, county, congressional and legislative levels by April 1st. The leaders are pivotal because they will help their respective parties recruit candidates and volunteers through the 2024 election. State- and county-level chairs are often the local face of the state party, as well, serving as on-the-ground spokespeople for Democrats or Republicans ..." - READ MORE
Website https://coloradosun.com
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Finding Caring Homes for Older Pets
Organizations across the country are working to provide homes for pets whose owners have died, and why it's important to include pets in your estate plan
"Joey and Mary Jane, two older cats with panda-like patches, once lived the good life with their owner, a pet sitter. Then the unthinkable happened: the woman fell ill and died, landing the two in a shelter. Lucky for them, their owner's friends and clients donated enough money to send the siblings to Blue Bell Foundation for Cats, a Laguna Beach, California cat retirement home ..." - READ MORE
Website https://www.nextavenue.org
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In case you missed these articles ... | |
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Property Tax Deferral Program Overview
Leaving this article in the newsletter in case you missed it!
Colorado's Property Tax Deferral Program has traditionally helped seniors and active military personnel continue to afford to live in their homes by deferring the payment of their property taxes - LEARN MORE
Source https://co.colorado.gov/
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Changes to SNAP Benefit Amounts - 2023
"There are several changes that may affect SNAP household’s benefit amounts over the coming months. The temporary boost to SNAP benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, will end nationwide after the February 2023 issuance ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.fns.usda.gov/
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February 13, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:00AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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February 20, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, February 20, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:00AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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February 27, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, February 27, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:00AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
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March 1, 2023 - Wednesday
Disability Rights Advocacy Day at the Capitol (DRAD)
Join Representative Ortiz, along with many community partners throughout the state on Disability Rights Advocacy Day on March 1, 2023. This is a day to bring awareness to many issues facing Coloradans across the state who have disabilities, and to act. There will be a press conference to share a package of bills that relate to accessibility in many areas, and we are looking for people with lived experience to participate and share their stories. The day will also include recognition of the day in both legislative chambers and provide people with disabilities the opportunity to meet with legislators from their area to talk about the issues that matter most to them. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided, and we aim to provide support for transportation if needed. Our goal for this event is to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to get involved and be present where decisions are being made. Questions? Contact Erica Voisine with Disability Law Colorado by email.
Rep Ortiz wants to highlight Bills on Disability Rights Advocacy Day - CLICK HERE
View Event Flyer - CLICK HERE
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March 1, 2023 - Wednesday, 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Age Friendly Healthcare: What you can do!
Do you know how ageism - prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination against people based on their age - can impact your health, and what it looks like in our healthcare systems? Join us for a presentation and discussion about how ageism shows up in healthcare. We will share details about the impacts of ageism on your health, and how to become proactive advocates for better healthcare experiences - LEARN MORE
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Looking to Sharpen your tech Skills?
Cyber-Seniors provides FREE technology support and training for senior citizens
Founded in 2015 by the creators of the award-winning documentary film CYBER-SENIORS, this non-profit organization provides senior citizens with tech-training using an intergenerational, volunteer model.
Website https://cyberseniors.org/
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Live Online Classes for Seniors from Senior Planet
If you’re a senior aged 60 and older, these live online classes are designed just for you! Learn about finance, wellness, fitness, computers and technology, and so much more. You will also find a real community of fellow life-long learners.
Website https://seniorplanet.org/classes/
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CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings 2023 | |
The first CCA Advocacy Committee will be meeting every Monday while the legislature is in session. Note that we may not have meetings on certain Federal and State holidays. | |
If you are not a member of Colorado Center for Aging - Join Today! | |
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Colorado Center for Aging is a 501c3 non-profit organization,
born out of the roots of Colorado Senior Lobby (CSL) - LEARN MORE
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