Welcome to The Senior Alliance's advocacy newsletter, COLLOQUY!

This monthly e-mail is a look at issues, legislation, and policies impacting aging.

Update on FY 2024 State Budget

On May 3, 2023, both Senate Bill (SB) 190 and House Bill (HB) 4310, which outline the FY 2024 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) budget, were passed in their respective chambers. The bills are currently in MDHHS Appropriations Conference Committee where members from both legislative chambers iron out differences to present a negotiated single bill to the legislature for approval.

As budget negotiations are wrapping up, The Senior Alliance is continuing to advocate for critical funding in long-term services and supports for Michigan's older adults. The Senior Alliance is following proposed investments in the FY 2024 MDHHS budget:

• Senate's proposed investment of $9.4 million in one-time funding for Caregiver Resource Centers and support for a greater appropriation to fully fund Caregiver Resource Centers at $16.8 million.
• House's proposal to increase direct care workforce wages of an additional $2.50 per hour.
• House's proposal to allocate $5 million to Area Agencies on Aging for home and community-based services to assist the more than 7,200 older adults in Michigan who are on waiting lists for these essential services.
• House's proposal to increase home-delivered meals funding by $1 million.

MDHHS Appropriations Conferees are:

House



Christine Morse (D-Portage)

Email: christinemorse@house.mi.gov

Phone: 517-373-8670

Office: S-889 HOB

Jasper Martus

Email: jaspermartus@house.mi.gov

Phone: 517-373-1786

Office: S-1088 HOB

Jaime Greene

Email: jaimegreene@house.mi.gov

Phone: 517-373-1775

Office: 9-999 HOB

Senate

Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit)

Email: senssantana@senate.michigan.gov

Phone: 517-373-0990

Office: 4500 Binsfeld

Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City)

Email: SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov

Phone: 517-373-1725

Office: 5400 Binsfeld

Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon)

Email: SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov

Phone: 517-373-1635

We need your voice! Contact your State Representative and Senator to urge them to include funding for Michigan's older adults and caregivers in the FY 2024 State budget.

TEMPLATE FOR E-MAIL OR LETTER TO MI SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES

June 22, 2023

Dear Senator/Representative ______,

As you and your colleagues work to reconcile the Department of Health and Human Services budget, we urge you to support older adults in Michigan by investing in long-term services and supports. 90% of older adults want to remain living in their homes and communities as they age; home and community-based services are crucial to achieving this goal. 

The Senior Alliance requests that you include the following proposed investments in the final Fiscal Year 2024 MDHHS budget:

• Support the Senate’s proposed investment of $9.4 million in one-time funding for Caregiver Resource Centers and support a greater appropriation to fully fund Caregiver Resource Centers at $16.8 million.
• Support the House’s proposal to increase direct care workforce wages of an additional $2.50 per hour. 
• Support the House’s proposal to allocate $5 million to Area Agencies on Aging for home and community-based services to assist the more than 7,200 older adults in Michigan who are on waiting lists for these essential services.
• Support the House’s proposal to increase home-delivered meal funding by $1 million. 

With Michigan’s older adult population continuing to increase, it is critical that Michigan support older adults by appropriating these funds to support access to home and community-based services. Thank you for your consideration of these proposals.

Sincerely,

USAging Policy Priorities 2023

The USAging 2023 Policy Priorities, which were released in April 2023, identify the key policy positions and needs for Area Agencies on Aging and other aging networks across the country.

USAging 2023 Pollicy Priorities include:

• Support Aging Well at Home by Investing in Older Americans Act Programs and Services
• Recognize and Support Caregivers
• Prioritize Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Options to Reduce Unnecessary Institutionalization
• Connect Health Care and Aging Sectors to Improve Care and Reduce Costs

To read more about the priorities, click here.

Join Our Effort - Advocate!

The Senior Alliance has an opening on the volunteer Michigan Senior Advocates Council (MSAC). MSAC meets once per month to get updates on aging-related legislation and to talk with state legislators. This advocacy work is aided by staff from The Senior Alliance.

More info can be found on our state association's website.

Advocacy Questions: Please contact Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Specialist, with any advocacy or public policy questions via e-mail at ecase@thesenioralliance.org

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