How Would the Proposed Healthcare Bill Have Affected Medi-Cal and Medicaid? Kamala Harris Discussed at IOA


How Would the Proposed Healthcare Bill Have Affected Medi-Cal and Medicaid
Being heard is one of our greatest desires as humans. When our voices are silenced and our stories left untold, we feel insignificant and invisible. Unfortunately, in our society, aging adults are rarely given enough of a voice. But on July 3, during her visit to Institute on Aging (IOA), California Senator Kamala Harris let the voices of aging adults and their caregivers ring loud and clear.
Harris held a roundtable discussion at IOA with IOA clients and staff and SEIU local 2015, a long-term care union, to listen to concerns about how the Senate’s proposed Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) would impact the aging adult population in California. She planned to take the stories she heard back to Washington to use them in further discussions about the proposal.
The well-attended event was a wonderful opportunity for aging adults and their service providers’ views on the BCRA to be heard. During the roundtable, attendees discussed whether the BCRA had the best interest of aging adults at heart. They covered how the BCRA could impact the aging population here in California, as well as the people and programs that serve them.

What the BCRA Would Have Meant for Aging Adults in California

The most significant way in which the BCRA would have impacted the aging population is its proposed changes to Medicaid funding. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid costs are shared by the state and the federal government with federal funding increasing to meet the state’s demand. The new healthcare proposal would have effectively reduced federal funding to Medicaid by putting a cap on spending by 2020 and switching to a per capita funding model.
How Would the Proposed Healthcare Bill Have Affected Medi-Cal and MedicaidAs a result, Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, would have expected to see a 26% reduction in funding by 2026. With this proposed change in federal funding, the state of California would have been left with more than a $30 billion gap in Medicaid funding to fill over the next 10 years.
This shift would have dramatically changed aging adults’ access to long-term care in California. Medi-Cal currently provides funding for non-medical services for low-income aging adults, like home care and help with daily living tasks, making it possible for older adults to live comfortably, safely, and affordably at home. In addition to supporting independent living in the aging population, Medi-Cal also makes it possible for aging adults to have access to Medicare by reducing premiums and supplementing costs.

Why Community Living Is So Important to Aging Adults

If we consider that 47.5 million Americans are age 65 and older—a number that will likely triple by 2050—and many of these aging adults require long-term care, the impact the BCRA would have had on older adults trying to live independently in their communities is significant.
How Would the Proposed Healthcare Bill Have Affected Medi-Cal and MedicaidIf Medi-Cal funding is ever slashed, many aging adults will not receive the financial support they need to hire caregivers—a demographic whose livelihoods caring for aging adults could be greatly diminished—making it more difficult to remain living in their homes. Unfortunately, there isn’t a sound alternative for aging adults if remaining at home is no longer possible due to funding. Hundreds of thousands of aging California adults residing in nursing homes who pay for their care through Medi-Cal could be displaced.
In addition to financial stress, significantly reducing the resources that make it possible for an aging adult to live in a community setting, instead of an institution, can create significant physical and mental stress. Older adults living in institutionalized settings, like nursing homes, tend to have significantly poorer physical and mental health outcomes than they do in community settings. And as our aging population grows, the negative effects of such stressors would increase, burdening older adults, their families, and even the healthcare system if they don’t get the non-medical help they need to live safely at home.
Politics aside, California is lucky enough to have a Senator who listens to the voices of those who are affected by proposed changes to healthcare, so it is important that we speak out for what we believe in. After all, older adults, just like the rest of us, deserve to live healthy, comfortable lives and age with dignity, respect, and grace. Our aging loved ones deserve to have us advocate for them, but most of all, they deserve to be heard, to be seen, and to tell their own stories.
At Institute on Aging, we connect aging adults to the resources they need to live healthy, independent lives—regardless of their political beliefs or affiliations. To learn more about our community-based services, contact us today.

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As we approach the end of #SocialWorkMonth, Institute on Aging would like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible work being done by all of our Community Living Fund and HomeSafe social workers.

These dedicated professionals have shown unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care to clients and building strong, vibrant communities. We are consistently impressed by the passion and expertise they bring to their work and their ability to connect with clients in meaningful ways. Our CLF and HomeSafe social workers have risen to this challenge time and time again, going above and beyond to support the individuals and families they serve.

At Institute on Aging, we are grateful every day for our social work teams' hard work and dedication. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to these outstanding professionals for all they do to make a difference in our clients' and communities' lives. You truly embody the spirit of social work, and we are honored to have you as part of our team.

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Sophia became a part of the Community Living Fund team in December 2022, joining at a critical time when additional coverage was required for certain cases. Additionally, CLF was in the process of introducing a new assessment and implementing CalAim services for San Francisco members.

Sophia has been an essential contributor to these ongoing initiatives while effectively managing a caseload of Intensive Case Management (ICM) clients. We were thrilled to receive positive feedback about her support for the TRCS program, which demonstrates her dedication to the agency's mission. CLF is grateful to have a Case Manager like Sophia, who is passionate about serving San Francisco's vulnerable population.

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Three and a half years ago, Maggie Fang started her journey as an Assessment Specialist in the Support at Home Program at IOA. Her excellent people skills enabled her to manage a caseload of older adults and individuals with disabilities, helping them receive homecare to age in place. Maggie was selected to pioneer the Temporary Respite Caregiver Support program, and we are delighted to have such a skilled and dedicated individual leading our newest program at IOA. Thank you, Maggie, for your exceptional work! 

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Join us at the Adult Day Program at the Enrichment Center as Caregiver Coach Alex shares with us the incredible support and care provided to participants living with dementia. Clients enjoy various engaging activities, from music therapy to art classes, designed to stimulate their cognitive and physical abilities. The skilled staff at the Enrichment Center also provides caregivers with much-needed support and respite, allowing them to take a break and attend to their needs. If you or someone you know is looking for support in caring for a loved one with dementia, the Adult Day Program at the Enrichment Center in the Presidio is an excellent resource for you! 

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