The third meeting of the Executive Committee of the Special Advisory Commission of Senior Citizens was held on Monday, April 2, 2001, at 1:00 PM, in Room 327 of the Capitol. Dr. Abby Marlatt, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Dr. Abby Marlatt, Chair; Robert Veazey, Vice Chair; Joe Bishop, Thomas Bullington, Jack Golden, Winford Holt, Esther Rigby, Jeane Robertson, and Mary Robertson.
Guests: Ethel Bower.
LRC Staff: Barbara Baker, Emily Bottoms, Gerard Donovan, C. Gilmore Dutton, Greg Freedman, Louis Pierce, and Rose Mack, Secretary.
Chairperson Marlatt directed the members’ attention to several documents contained in their meeting folders: minutes of the September 25, 2000, Executive Committee meeting; updated membership lists; a listing of newly-appointed members; and a tentative agenda for the May 10-11, 2001, meeting of the Commission.
The minutes of the September 25, 2000, Executive Committee meeting were approved as submitted.
Chairperson Marlatt recognized Mr. Joe Bishop to give a report on the Commission’s participation on the Planning Committee for the University of Kentucky, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging’s “Summer Series on Aging,” scheduled for July 9-11, 2001, at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington. Mr. Bishop announced that the conference program will be an outstanding one, with the following topics on the agenda:
Opening Session - Excellence in End of Life Care – Palliative Medicine
Depression and the Elderly
Monday - Financial Dynamics of Later Life
Tuesday - HIV/AIDS Update
Aging with Physical Disabilities
Wednesday - Innovate/Evaporate
Spirituality in Coping
It was announced that the cost for the conference was approximately $185, but that individuals could attend specific sessions for a reduced cost. It was also announced that there is a significant group discount for more than one individual representing a particular agency. Dr. Marlatt said that she would provide information regarding the conference to the full Commission at the May meeting, and encourage as many to attend as possible, particularly since the Commission is a co-sponsor of the conference.
Ms. Jeane Robertson announced that the Southern Gerontological Society will convene this week in Lexington, and that she could provide anyone who is interested with information regarding the program.
Mr. Gilmore Dutton, Commission Staff Coordinator, reviewed the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the full Commission scheduled for May 10-11, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort.
Chairperson Marlatt recognized Mr. Joe Bishop, Chairman of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee, who reported that the Subcommittee’s May agenda will include the following:
(1) The effect that annual sessions will have on the work of the Subcommittee; and
(2) The importance of individuals in their home or living in an assisted living community, versus a nursing home.
Ms. Barbara Baker, Health and Human Services Subcommittee staff member, announced that Representative Paul Bather and Senator Daniel Mongiardo would be meeting with the subcommittee members on Thursday afternoon to discuss the members’ concerns regarding Medicaid managed care issues.
Consumer Affairs Subcommittee staff member, Mr. Gerard Donovan, reported that the Subcommittee will address three of the following topics:
(1) Theft by deception and telemarketing;
(2) Funding for the Office of Aging Programs;
(3) The increasing number of TRIAD Programs;
(4) An update on Service Credit Banking;
(5) A report from the Office of the Attorney General;
(6) Managing the increased cost of medicine for Kentucky’s senior citizens, including funding for senior citizens drug co-payments;
(7) An update from the Public Service Commission; and
(8) An update from Kip Bowmar, Kentucky Association for Community Action (KACA), which operates the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Mr. Thomas Bullington, Chairman for the Insurance Subcommittee, announced that the Insurance Subcommittee’s agenda will include the following:
(1) Increasing the availability of health insurance for Medicare-eligible persons. This will include consideration of amending Kentucky statutes to:
(a) Make persons under age 65 who are eligible for Medicare coverage due to disability eligible for coverage under Kentucky Access (high risk pool);
(b) Require that Kentucky Access offer a Medicare Supplement policy; and
(c) Require that there be an open enrollment period for persons under age 65 who are eligible for Medicare coverage for purposes of purchasing a Medicare Supplement policy.
Taxation Subcommittee staff member, Mr. Louis Pierce, reported that the Subcommittee would be covering the following topics:
(1) Tax reform;
(2) Tax credits for those who care for the elderly in their homes;
(3) Inheritance taxes; and
(4) Discussing and refining the Subcommittee’s recommendations.
Reporting the following topics for the Transportation Subcommittee were Ms. Esther Rigby, Vice Chair, and Mr. Jack Golden, Chair:
(1) Issues being addressed by the Governor’s Conference on Transportation;
(2) Regular vision tests for drivers of all ages;
(3) A primary seatbelt law; and
(4) Coordination of transportation services for senior citizens.
Ms. Jeane Robertson suggested that members poll senior citizens in their respective communities prior to the May meeting to determine if their needs are being met through the Governor’s Empower Kentucky Program.
Mr. Dutton reminded the members that should the legislature decide to hold interim committee meetings, subcommittee recommendations from the May meeting would be presented to the Interim Joint Committee on Seniors, Military Affairs and Public Safety. Ms. Jeane Robertson requested that Executive Committee members be notified if and when the interim committee meets. Chairperson Marlatt recommended that subcommittees prioritize their recommendations. Mr. Dutton told the members that should interim committees not meet, the recommendations would be mailed to all legislators in June to give the legislators and staff ample time to draft legislation for the 2002 session.
Mr. Robert Veazey, Commission Vice Chairman, noted that there was an omission in the minutes of the Commission’s November 2-3, 2000, meeting. Vice Chairman Veazey pointed out that he had recommended at the Commission’s meeting that in the event the constitutional amendment was adopted by the voters of Kentucky at the November, 2000, General Election, thus resulting in a Regular Session in 2001, that the recommendations adopted by the Commission at its current meeting be transmitted to the members of the General Assembly. The statement had been omitted from the minutes. Mr. Dutton stated that while not included in the minutes, the staff had noted Mr. Veazey’s recommendation, and pursuant to that recommendation, had transmitted the Commission’s recommendations were transmitted to all the members of the General Assembly for consideration by the 2001 Regular Session.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:18 p.m.