Seniors

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serves as the
current Chairman of the Missouri Rx Plan Commission

In 2005 the legislature passed SB
539 which created the Missouri Rx Plan effective January 1, 2006. This new plan
replaced the Missouri Senior Rx program and led to a substantial increase in
the number of enrollees to over 170,000 members. The Commission opened
enrollment for all eligible Missourians in November of ’06.

 

  • MoRx
    Price Compare     website (www.morxcompare.mo.gov)
    – created with the assistance of the Dept. of Social Services a new website to provide information on issues related to
    prescription medicine, safety and cost-saving tips and programs to help
    Missourians pay for prescription medications.

  • Was
    instrumental in passage of the Assisted Living Bill in ’06 which was a
    priority for senior groups. This bill clarified what Assisted Living means in
    our state and gives seniors more options and choices in the type of facility
    they want to call home.

 

  • In the ’05 Omnibus Crime bill, it included
    increased penalties on identity theft, and financial exploitation of the
    elderly and disabled. PDK supported these changes and pushed for their
    inclusion in the crime bill.

 

  • Worked with the Dept. of Health and Senior
    Services to create the MOSAFE (Missourians Stopping Adult Financial
    Exploitation) program -www.dhss.mo.gov/MOSAFE.
    This program educates employees of financial institutions on how to protect the
    savings of bank customers from exploitation and fraud.

  • Worked with the Area Agencies on Aging to
    increase funding for the Home-Delivered Meals program in ’06 and ’07
    budgets for an additional $2.4 million to assist homebound seniors with meals.
    An additional $XXX was given to the program in the ’09 budget at PDK’s request.

 

  • Created the Missouri Senior Service
    Award     program     to promote and highlight the positive accomplishments
    Missouri’s senior citizens provide their local communities. The award is given quarterly to ten outstanding
    seniors who have volunteered a minimum of 40 hours the previous year.

 

  • Supported passage of the Senior Tax
    Justice Act     in 2007 which will eliminate the tax on Social Security
    benefits for retirees and eligible individuals.

 

  • Supported passage of the property tax
    rollback     for seniors championed by Sen. Gibbons to ensure seniors can stay
    in their own homes if property tax assessments rise too rapidly.

 

  • Pushed
    for passage in 2007 that gives individuals who purchase a long term care
    insurance     policy a 100% deduction for long term care insurance
    premiums against their state income taxes to encourage Missourians to purchase
    long term care insurance.

 

  • Pushed
    for the creation of and Chaired the Comprehensive Entry Point Committee in
    2008, which will be issuing a report to the Governor and Legislature on how to
    create a “one-stop shop” for senior services in Missouri. The creation of this
    “Single Entry Point” will give seniors, family members, and caregivers one
    place they go for information on how to get the services and information their
    loved ones need.