The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Cullie Tarleton
March 29, 2010
During uncertain economic times, retirees and people with fixed incomes are often hit the hardest. Many of these people are senior citizens. During the past legislative session, I worked diligently with my colleagues in the House to provide tax relief, affordable health care and housing to our older residents. We also continue trying to make them feel safer and more secure when they have to live away from home.
This week, I want to share a few of our successes in these areas. Thank you as always for allowing me to communicate with you. Please contact me if I can be of any service. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353.
Protecting Homeowners
The Statutory Homestead Exemption will be significantly increased under a new state law (HB 1058 - S.L. 2009-417). The law clarifies that an unmarried debtor who is 65 years of age or older is entitled to retain an aggregate interest in the property not to exceed $60,000 in value so long as the property was previously owned by the debtor as a tenant by the entireties or as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship and the former co-owner of the property is deceased. Previously, the exemption applied only to the aforementioned asset with a value of less than $37,000.
Safety
Automated calls to protect the public health, safety, or welfare will be allowed under a new state law (HB 1034 - S.L. 2009-364). The system is intended to inform telephone subscribers that they have purchased products or medication that may be subject to a safety recall; that the telephone subscriber has not picked up a filled prescription drug or that an account maintained by the telephone subscriber may be subject to potential fraudulent activity. The calls can not be used for any commercial purposes.
We have passed a law that authorizes county Departments of Social Services to conduct follow-up monitoring of adult care homes (HB 1186 - S.L. 2009-232). The law is meant to improve patient safety by improving oversight of adult-care homes.
The Division of Emergency Management will be authorized to establish a voluntary registry that counties and municipalities could use to identify functionally and medically fragile people during a disaster under a new state law (SB 258 - S.L. 2009-225). The new law also authorizes counties and municipalities to operate similar registries. The intent of this legislation is to improve the safety of medically vulnerable individuals in the event of a disaster.
We passed a new law to clarify that a Silver Alert may be issued for a person of any age (HB 1129 - S.L. 2009-143). The Silver Alert System is a statewide system used to notify people about missing persons believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairments.
Budget
Division of Public Health
Stroke Prevention – We provided $450,000 in non-recurring funds for the operation of the Stroke Advisory Council, the continued implementation of public awareness campaign, and identification of stroke rehabilitation services throughout the State.
North Carolina Arthritis Patient Services – We provided $50,000 in non-recurring funds for a grant-in-aid to North Carolina Arthritis Patient Services to support activities.
Division of Aging and Adult Services
Project CARE – We provided $500,000 in non-recurring funds for expansion in both years for Project C.A.R.E (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty), a respite care program for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's and dementia.
Senior Community Service Employment – We provided $1,174,058 in non-recurring federal recovery funds for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which places economically disadvantaged individuals 55 years of age and old with an income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level into part-time community service programs while transitioning clients into unsubsidized employment.
Notes
Gov. Bev Perdue has announced a series of aggressive measures to uncover Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse that costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year. The steps include stronger investigation and prosecution of potential abusers, including new Medicaid SWAT teams, better use of technology to detect and prevent abuse, and a campaign to encourage the public and providers to report suspected abuse. A new software system will quickly analyze thousands of Medicaid claims and flag suspicious cases. Once identified, the most egregious cases will go to newly created, specially trained investigators who will quickly investigate providers or consumers identified as potential abusers of the system. This is important. Medicaid provides important help to many of our citizens but fraud of any type should not be tolerated.
Congratulations to Mayor Clawson and the Town of Boone for being named a Preserve America city. Sylvia and I were pleased to participate in the announcement last week.
Congratulations also to Ashe County Commissioner, Richard Blackburn, for being elected Chairman of The High Country Council of Governments’ (COG).
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