Silver Haired Legislative delegates choose bills for presentation to General Assembly

Silver Haired Legislative delegates form all areas of the state met in Jefferson City Oct. 26-28 for their 32nd annual legislative session.

Delegates debated and voted on 21 separate proposals during a three-day session that took place at the Ramada Inn as well as the House and Senate Chambers of the Capital.

Delegates heard presentations from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and Attorney General Jay Nixon.

A the conclusion of the session, delegates voted on their top five priorities for presentation to the Missouri General Assembly scheduled to convene in mid January. Silver Haired priorities include:

1. Funding for all meals programs. This proposal would provide adequate funding for all meal programs, which would allow the more frail and disabled seniors to continue to live in their own homes, thus reducing the need for Medicaid funded nursing home stays.

2. Pay day loans and predator lending. This proposal would change the laws regarding unsecured loans of $500 or less by limiting the interest and other fees that may be charged. It would further prohibit repeated renewals of said loans.

3. Transportation services. This proposal provides funding for transportation services for seniors in the rural areas of the state, who need a means to visit medical providers, pharmacies and conduct essential shopping.

4. Single entry point for all programs. This proposal would have the area agencies on aging become the designated point of entry for both public and private pay individuals, and their family members or caregivers, planning for or in need of long term care services.

5 Raise the asset level for Medicaid. Missouri’s current Medicaid asset level of $999 has not changed for many years. This proposal would raise that level to $2,000 for a single person and $3,000 for a married couple.