MEMBERS OF ALZHEIMER'S GROUP TO TALK TO LEGISLATORS

About a dozen members of the Alzheimer's Association from the Cape Girardeau area will be among the 300 or so members from across the state who will travel to Jefferson City March 28 to talk to their state legislators about a bill that affects Alzheimer's patients.

Senate Bill 891 would raise the limit on the amount of resources exempted from consideration when determining a Missouri resident's Medicaid eligibility, which can qualify that resident for financial assistance for long-term care.

Currently Missouri has the lowest limit in the nation, $999.99. That means that if a person's cash reserves money in bank accounts, stocks, retirement saving accounts is $1,000 or more, that person can't qualify for Medicaid assistance with long-term care, something many Alzheimer's patients need, said Kathy O'Brien, president of the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, would raise the limit to $4,000, which is still below the national average, O'Brien said. "But at least it will put us more in line with the rest of the nation," she said.

For many with Alzheimer's disease, Medicaid provides much-needed financial assistance for long-term care, O'Brien said. However, many people with Alzheimer's who need services can't access them because they have slightly more than $1,000 but not enough to pay for the services on their own, she said.

"At today's costs for nursing home and residential care we are asking residents to become total paupers by today's standards in order to receive decent care," said Howard in explaining why he introduced the bill to raise Missouri's Medicaid limit.

"We're advocating for a change on the Medicaid limit that was set in 1973," O'Brien said. "The current amount is so low that a person with only a very small amount in cash resources still can't qualify for services."

Those who spend down to qualify for Medicaid assistance aren't left with enough money to provide for the incidentals many Alzheimer's patients need like adult diapers or a wheelchair, O'Brien said.

"The higher limit will allow families to preserve some dignity and pay for things to help Alzheimer's patients," O'Brien said.

The bill received a hearing by the state Senate's Public Health and Welfare Committee March 15. Speaking in favor of the bill were Carol Rodreguiz with the Alzheimer's Association and Bill Ray representing the AARP, Howard said. Other supporters of this bill are the Aging Federation, Governor's Advisory Council on Aging and the Silver-Hair Legislature, O'Brien said.

"No one testified in opposition to the bill and to my knowledge there is no opposition," Howard said.

Howard said he has requested the committee vote on this bill during the week of the March 27. However, with this being a tight budget year, Howard said he suspects the committee will be reluctant to pass the bill on to the full Senate.

The cost of raising the limit for 2001 is estimated at $1,479,000 for the entire state and $2,225,600 for the year 2002, Howard said.

"The cost is justified because we are committing senior citizens and persons with a variety of disabilities to a life of poverty and illness because they are not allowed to obtain services because of a limit that is well over 25 years old," Howard said. "Inflation guidelines are adjusted at least every year federally, and we should have a similar mechanism for this limit or at least adjust it more frequently."

The bill would help patients with any long-term illness, O'Brien said, but is of particular interest to those suffering Alzheimer's.

"The Alzheimer's Association took the lead on this because our families face such horrendous financial burdens," O'Brien said.

While diagnostic workups for Alzheimer's patients are covered by insurance and Medicare, O'Brien said, long-term care, which many Alzheimer's patients end up needing, is not.

"These families incur huge costs from in-home care, day care and long-term care facilities," O'Brien said.

While local families of Alzheimer's patients are in Jefferson City on March 28, which has been dubbed Memory Day, they will participate in a "Faces of Alzheimer's" ceremony at noon in the capitol rotunda. Participants will put pictures of Alzheimer's patients on a giant map of Missouri. Howard, state Rep. Tim Harlan, D-Columbia, and Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson will receive awards for their leadership of legislation on Alzheimer's disease.

The ceremony and having caregivers come to the capital to talk with their representatives is an effective way to help legislators learn about Alzheimer's disease and understand the financial burden it places on families in their area, O'Brien said.

Family members, caregivers and others interested in attending Memory Day can register by calling the Alzheimer's Association at (800) 980-9080 or on-line at www.alzstl.org.