Bob McDonnell Glosses Over Source of $2 Million in Health Care Funds

Read the following press release from Bob McDonnell and try to figure out where the $2 million came from. All you get in this press release are weasel words, like “more than $2 million…was awarded,” but almost completely glosses over WHO AWARDED IT and WHY.  The correct answer?  That’s right, $2 million, courtesy of the hated (by Republicans) federal government, and specifically courtesy of the hated (by Republicans) “Obamacare”, aka health care reform legislation passed earlier this year despite almost uniform Republican opposition. Can you find any praise for President Obama, Democrats, or health care reform in this press release? Or, does it sound like Bob McDonnell taking credit for the $2 million?  As Faux “News” might say, “we report, you decide!”

Governor McDonnell Announces Over $2 million in Funds for Older Virginians and Virginians with Disabilities

Funds expected to expand menu of services for this increasing population

RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that more than $2 million in grant funding from the Administration on Aging and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was awarded to the Virginia Department for the Aging and Department of Medical Assistance Services.  The funds will expand and develop new and innovative community-based services for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

According to the Virginia Department for the Aging, the number of older adults in Virginia will reach 1.8 million by 2030-more than double the population in 2000.  In just two decades, almost one in every five Virginians will be age 65 or older, with people over the age of 85 being the fastest growing segment of the population.

Speaking about the grants, Governor McDonnell noted, “I know how hard it can be to care for a parent with health challenges and the stress that it places on family members and caregivers.  This funding will be of enormous aid in helping Virginians keep their loved ones in their home as long as possible and provide greater options for both aging adults and adults with disabilities.”

Jim Rothrock, commissioner of the Department of Rehabilitative Services and interim commissioner at the Department for the Aging, adds, “This additional support comes at a perfect time as we continue to develop the No Wrong Door Initiative and prepare to take our Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Network statewide.  The progress we have seen from our partnering local Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential collaboration and streamlined access that can be realized with these funds.”

Funds will be targeted to local groups in the following amounts:

Enhanced Medicare Outreach; Assistance with Enrollment in Low Income Subsidies and Medicare Savings Plans; and Disease Prevention/Wellness Promotion Services ($1,040,902): to assist Medicare beneficiaries with their prescription drug coverage and activities aimed at promoting wellness.

ADRC Options Counseling Grant ($503,213): to help people understand, evaluate, and manage the full range of services and supports available in their community for improved long-term care decision making.

ARDC Nursing Home Transition through Money Follows the Person Grant ($439,000):  to strengthen the ADRCs role in the Money Follows the Person program and to support Virginians interested in transitioning from nursing homes to community-based services.

Alzheimer’s Disease Supportive Services Innovation Program ($276,058):  to provide in-home intervention strategies to help individuals maintain cognitive functioning and reduce behavioral symptoms while encouraging families and providing them tools to positively interact with the individual with Alzheimer’s.

“Since coming into office in January, I have been committed to identifying mechanisms to ensure that our agencies better coordinate services,” said Dr. Bill Hazel, Secretary of Health and Human Resources. “With our Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living working so well together, we will be able to see, in the not too distant future, a much improved and responsive continuum of care for some of our most important citizens.”

Background:

The Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) fosters the independence and well-being of older Virginians and supports their caregivers through leadership, advocacy and oversight of state and community programs.  The No Wrong Door Initiative is the Commonwealth’s approach to developing a statewide Aging and Disability Resource Connections (ADRC) network and providing information and access to health and human services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and families.   For more information about the No Wrong Door Initiative where you live, go to http://www.vda.virginia.gov/no…

The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) provides and advocates for the highest quality of services to help persons with disabilities maximize their employment, independence, and full inclusion into society.  Through its five regional offices, 35 field offices, and various partnerships within the private and public sector, DRS assists more than 25,000 consumers annually with services including vocational counseling, career exploration, training, assistive technology, and other specialized programs that cater to individual needs.  For more information, visit www.vadrs.org.