Silver-Haired Legislature Column
By Mel Henderson, District 3
In a recent (published 03/31/04) poll by USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll, more seniors are now against the Medicare prescription-drug law. Just 36 percent of the 1,000 plus adults polled approve of the President’s handling of Medicare, while 55 percent disapprove. In December, 2003, 52 percent of all adults polled approved. Now, only 41 percent of all adults approve. Of polled respondents 65 and older—seniors—only 36 percent now approve.
The health needs of seniors continue to be a primary concern for older citizens. Seniors in Kansas and across the nation awaited passage of the Medicare prescription-drug law. Initially, reports indicated that approximately 64 percent of the benefits of the new law would go not to seniors but to the pharmaceutical companies. Further, the chief actuary of the Medicare program testified in late March that he was ordered to keep from Congress his estimates ($534 billion compared to $395 billion estimated by the Congressional Budget Office) of the law’s costs. Such as-yet-viable information has helped change seniors opinion of the value of the Medicare drug law. Now, only 16 percent of seniors polled say they understand the Medicare changes, with 41 percent not understanding the changes. Further, 63 percent of seniors polled say the Medicare changes either will hurt or have little effect on Medicare’s future financial stability.
If this poll reflects seniors’ attitudes in Kansas, we seniors are challenged to address senior health needs in a concerted manner. No longer can we depend on any national organization to represent our health needs to the national Congress.
In the 2004 Kansas Legislature, we are pleased to report that, for the first time in recent years, all the Silver-Haired Legislative bills were introduced by Kansas Legislators, given a bill number, and assigned to a committee. We have received more support from both Houses and from both sides of the aisle than in recent years. Will any of the bills become law? A couple have received considerable attention/debate. We will not know until the Legislature adjourns.
We still champion the Tobacco Settlement Bill as the legitimate source of funds to meet senior health needs. Now in its fifth year of distribution within a 25 year receipt of funds, the Tobacco Settlement funds should be supporting senior health needs, including prescription-drug coverage. Will this Bill be debated this year? Unlikely, because the funds have been buried in other areas of the budget.
Kansas must continue to support education and children. BUT NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF SENIORS! The Silver Haired Legislature bills are designed specifically to assist the well-being of Kansas Seniors. YOUR persistent interaction with Kansas Legislators is critical in placing senior health needs into their vision for Kansas.
Is it possible that seniors are “waking up” to the fact that the Medicare prescription-drug law, to be enacted in 2006, may not deliver needed funding and services? If so, we in KSHL are encouraged that 360,000 plus seniors in Kansas could have a strong voice in determining the future health of a growing but aging segment of Kansas citizens.
This is an election year. Read the results—not just the rhetoric—of our elected leaders on behalf of seniors. Pay attention to your health needs and those of your “sisters and brothers.” We of the Johnson County Silver Haired Legislature welcome your suggestions on issues and strategies for improving the health care of Kansas seniors.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Lincoln’s words, given in a speech in 1858, hold true for us almost 150 years later. Our Kansas legislature can not work together to accomplish the task at hand. The last three sessions have been hamstrung with funding education in the state. Everything is put on hold until they decide on funding for education. Certainly education is AN important issue but it is not the ONLY important issue that is the state’s responsibility. To provide an opportunity for a reasonable quality of life, a state must address the issues of education, health, safety and well being of all its citizens. No one category should be given preference over another.
As seniors we have had an opportunity to observe the situation over a period of years and from a variety of viewpoints. There are over 360,000 plus seniors in Kansas now, and by 2025 that number will double. More often these days I am hearing, if the lawmakers can’t get the job done, let’s vote them out and get some new ones that will. Seniors are waking up and they are watching for results, not just rhetoric. It is time we send a message that not only must legislators consider the needs of their constituents but the needs of the entire State. It is time for head-to-head negotiations, on the part of the Legislature and the Governor. To accomplish this, seniors must unite and insist on fair and equal treatment for all citizens. It is time we made this a first priority. We must forget party affiliation, friendships, and allegiances. We must support, fund, and vote for the candidate who has the ability to get the job done. Once candidates are elected, we must monitor the process, reminding each elected official that we expect results.
Are there answers to our dilemma? Yes. Do I know what they are? No. We must look for answers “outside the box.” Seniors must share their ideas with lawmakers. It will take ingenuity to solve the problems. Divisiveness will not move the process along.
I have yet to hear of a school superintendent willing to take a cut in salary to help fund education for their students. What if every school district in Kansas eliminated one top administrative job? Would that help free up some money for the state budget? What if the Legislature limited its funding so the “veto session” was at their expense? Would that free up some state money? There are answers. We must insist that our elected representative find them.
We of the Johnson County Silver Haired Legislature welcome your suggestions on issues and strategies for improving the welfare of seniors of Kansas.
Mel Henderson—681-2096—rmelvinh@aol.com
Human Services & Aging
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite #1300
Olathe, KS 66061-7056
(913) 715-8800 : voice
(913) 715-8825 : fax
(913) 894-8822 : TTY
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