AARP Pushes for 2009 Legislative Action

The Mississippi AARP is pushing it’s legislative priorities to state lawmakers. MPB’s Stephen Koranda reports.

AARP leaders are hoping to get legislation on the books to increase the amount of Medicaid funding available for home and community-based services. These services can help increase the number of medicaid recipients living at home, instead of in nursing homes.

“I can’t think of a better way to make use of the taxpayer dollars,” said AARP’s Ivory Craig.

Mississippi currently spends about 11 percent of it’s medicaid budget on home and community based services, the state 49th in the nation. Craig says providing services like home health care and transportation can save the program as much as 40-thousand dollars per person.

“Mississippians want choices. Research has shown we want to age at home, it’s more cost effective and it’s healthier,” said Craig. “To do that, home and community based services must be available.”

AARP officials also want more representation at the state level for utility ratepayers, either through the attorney general’s office, or by creating a consumer advocate office. Senator John Horn of Jackson supports the proposal.

“You often have big business that gets it’s voice heard,” says Horhn. “There should be someone there always who represents the interests of the residential ratepayer.”

In recent months one of the state’s largest power suppliers, Entergy Mississippi, has been entangled in allegations of overcharging customers.