BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: ALEX LEWIS BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
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EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: learners.growth@gmail.com Written 2/24/2025 12:16 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. I am writing to respectfully request that the Fiscal Year 2026 budget include $2.425 million to properly fund Missouri’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. This program is a critical resource for long term care residents, ensuring that their concerns are addressed, advocating for quality care and protecting their rights.Currently, the program is under resourced, with ombudsmen managing caseloads that far exceed recommended standards. This strain hinders their ability to provide the personalized support that many residents, especially those without nearby family, desperately need.I draw on personal experience as a former nursing home inspector, former nursing home social worker and former nursing home volunteer. I recall a challenging period when the nursing home where I worked notified us that it would be closing in 30 days. During this crisis, the State Ombudsman Program stepped in. Their dedicated support not only eased the distress of residents and families but also assisted me in securing new placements for the nursing home residents. Their support underscored for me the indispensable role of ombudsmen in safeguarding the well being of people with disabilities and older adults. I urge you to support this funding request. By adequately investing in the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, we can ensure that every long term care resident in Missouri has access to the advocacy and support they deserve. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: BARBIE TODD BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
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EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: peanuttodd96@gmail.com Written 2/23/2025 9:57 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. February 23, 2025Chairman Dirk DeatonChair, House Budget Committee201 W. Capitol Ave., Rm 309Jefferson City, MO 65101Dear Chairman Deaton,As the lead Missouri volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN), I would like to submit the following testimony in support of continued funding for theShow-Me Healthy Women Program, the State’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs,and access to care through the health insurance that the MO Healthnet Program provides.The Show-Me Healthy Women Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings andfollow-up services for low-income, uninsured and underinsured women. Deaths from breast andcervical cancer occur more frequently among women who are uninsured or underinsured andmany of those deaths could be avoided by increasing screening rates through the Show-MeHealthy Women Program.Tobacco use claims the lives of 11,000 Missourians each year and costs Missouri over $3.52 billion inannual health care costs. Funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs helppeople who smoke quit and ultimately save lives and money.Access to comprehensive health insurance coverage through funding of the MO HealthnetProgram helps reduce mortality rates for individuals diagnosed with breast, lung and colorectalcancer and will lead to earlier detection of the disease.Early detection programs like Show-Me Healthy Women have proven to save lives and keepwomen across the state in better physical shape. Tobacco prevention and cessation programshave proven to help reduce the burden of tobacco use in our state. MO Healthnet promotesearlier cancer detection, fewer deaths, and improved outcomes for patients.Funding for these programs not only helps keep our citizens in better physical shape but it helpskeep the state in better financial shape by catching cancers at an early, more treatable stageand keeping people from becoming addicted to the deadly effects of tobacco use.I urge the members of this committee to appropriate the necessary funding for these important,lifesaving programs.If you have any questions or need additional information about ACS CAN, don’t hesitate tocontact our ACS CAN Government Relations Director, Emily Kalmer, at emily.kalmer@cancer.org.Thank you,Barbie ToddMissouri State Lead AmbassadorAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: CHE-PEI BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
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EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: patkung@wustl.edu Written 2/24/2025 11:41 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. As our society continues to age and have more senior residents, long-term care becomes a critical infrastructure to ensure the quality of care and lighten the loads on the sandwich generation who are the most productive demographic. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program plays a crucial role in addressing these issues by providing independent advocacy, helping residents resolve complaints, and ensuring their voices are heard. For Missouri to continue to strive to be the destination state, making it known that we take longterm care issue seriously will strengthen our credibility and attract more populations. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: DAWN SCHMITT 314-395-9375 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE: BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SERVICES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADDRESS: 2644 METRO BLVD CITY: STATE: ZIP: MARYLAND HEIGHTS MO 63043 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: dschmitt@bis-stl.com Written 2/24/2025 1:00 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. On behalf of Behavior Intervention Services, I am writing in support of a 1.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Developmental Disabilities (DD) Community Programs. Behavior Intervention Services provides essential support to individuals with developmental disabilities in St. Louis Counties, ensuring they receive the quality care and services they need to thrive in their communities.While we understand the constraints of the State Revenue picture, a COLA is necessary to prevent further strain on an already underfunded system. This adjustment ensures that we can continue providing high-quality care, retain skilled staff, and support individuals with disabilities who rely on these services daily.Thank you for your time and consideration.Sincerely,Dawn L. SchmittExecutive Director Behavior Intervention Services MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: DEBRA J FRASKI 573-855-7588 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE: CROCKER COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER CROCKER BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADDRESS: 108 ROSE ST CITY: STATE: ZIP: CROCKER MO 65452 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: dfraski@yahoo.com Written 2/24/2025 9:00 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. FUNDING FOR SENIOR CENTERS HAS NOT INCREASED TO MATCH INFLATION.GRANT ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FARMED OUT TO THE “AAA” OF WHICH “AGING BEST” IS ONE.AGING BEST HAS CHANGED FUNDING PLANS FOR THE SENIOR CENTERS AND THE RURAL CENTERS ARE LOSING FUNDING TO THE URBAN CENTERSAGING BEST IS REQUIRING THE CENTERS TO PROVIDE “MEALS ON WHEELS” OUT OF THE SENIOR CENTER BUDGET AND IT IS BUSTING THEIR BUDGETAGING BEST HAS A VERY RESTRICTIVE CONTRACT AND THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T MODIFY THE CONTRACT IN ANY WAY.AGING BEST RECEIVES 10% OF THE GRANT FOR ADMINISTRATION. THE CENTERS ALSO COLLECT MONEY LOCALLY THAT THEY USE FOR OPERATIONS AND PROVIDING AMENITIES. AGING BEST REQUIRES THAT THE CENTERS SEND THE LOCAL COLLECTIONS TO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN DISPURSE THOSE FUNDS ALSO AND AGING BEST TAKES 10% OF THOSE FUNDS ALSO.AGING BEST REQUIRES THE CENTERS TO BUY THE MEALS DIRECTLY FROM THEM AND WITH NO ACCOUNTING OR INPUT.THE BUILDINGS ARE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED AND NO CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR REAL ESTATE UPKEEP OR UTILITIES WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT INPUTS THAT THE CENTERS DO NOT GET CREDIT FOR. URBAN CENTERS ARE TYPICALLY OWNED BY A GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT CAN SUBSIDIZE THE REAL ESTATE MAINTENANCE AND UTILITIES. RURAL CENTERS ARE SELF-SUPPORTING OTHER THAN THE GRANT FUNDS.The “AAA” ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO URBAN CENTERS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO RURAL CENTERS AT A VERY HIGH COST AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THOSE AMENITIES ARE NOT HEAVILY.UTILIZED IN THOSE URBAN AREAS WHICH DIVERTS FUNDING FROM ALL CENTERS AND AWAY FROM THE CORE MISSION OF THE CENTERS. THE CENTER'S CORE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE MEALS AND SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS. WHILE THE OTHER AMENITIES ARE PROBABLY GOOD PROGRAMS, THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED LOCALLY AND THE “AAA” SHOULD FOCUS ON THE CORE MISSION.THE SENIOR CENTERS IN RURAL MISSOURI WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANY BUDGET ITEM APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES WITH REGARD TO FUNDING OF SENIOR CENTERS BE INCREASED AND ALSO RESTRICTED TO ONLY THOSE CORE FUNCTIONS THAT ALL CENTERS PROVIDE AND THAT ANY AMENITIES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE CORE FUNCTIONS BE SUPPORTED LOCALLY.THERE ARE FOUR SENIOR CENTERS IN PULASKI. THE POPULATION OF EACH CITY WHERE THE CENTERS ARE LOCATED ARE AS FOLLOWS: CROCKER -916 AS OF 2023, DIXON-1,213 AS OF 2023, RICHLAND-1,736 AS OF 2023, AND ST. ROBERTS-5,457 AS OF 2023 AND WAYNESVILLE-5,455 AS OF 2023. PLEASE NOTE THAT ST. ROBERTS & WAYNESVILLE COMBINE TO MAKE ONE CENTER. AGING BEST IS TELLING CROCKER'S CENTER THAT WE MUST SERVE MORE MEALS. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT OUR CENTER IS MUCH SMALLER THAN THE OTHER CENTERS; THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY WE CAN COMPETE. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN EACH OF THESE CENTERS 12 MILES ONE WAY. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN COMPETE WITH CENTERS THAT ARE LARGER. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EACH CENTER SHOULD RECEIVE THE SAME PROGRAMS & SERVICES BUT IN A PROPORTIONATE AMOUNT BASED ON POPULATION. THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES STILL HAVE SENIORS IN NEED WHETHER THEY ARE DINE IN, CARRY OUT OR DELIVERED HOMEBOUND. iN ADDITION, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE MUST KEEP TRACK OF OUR IN-KIND HOURS TO HELP US. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD OUR IN-KIND HOURS GIVE BACK TO OUR CENTER OR HOW MANY HOURS DO WE NEED TO REACH A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF RETURN MONEY, THEY COULD NOT ANSWER.SUPPOSEDLY, THE IN- KIND POT OF MONEY IS $500,000.00 THAT AGING BEST ALLOCATES. THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS DESIRES TO BE COOPERATIVE WITH AGING BEST WHILE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CENTER AND THE SENIORS WE SERVE. WE SIMPLY WANT CONCRETE HONEST ANSWERS IN ORDER TO RUN EFFICIENTLY AND PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE HELP US SAVE OUR CENTER FROM BEING CLOSED. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: EARL SIMMS 636-875-9550 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE: PARAQUAD PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY MANAGER ADDRESS: 5240 OAKLAND AVE. CITY: STATE: ZIP: ST. LOUIS MO 63110 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: earlsimms@gmail.com Written 2/24/2025 9:59 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. Paraquad is a non-residential Center for Independent Living. Paraquad champions equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy. Paraquad is a strong proponent of the IL movement. The CDS program aligns perfectly with Paraquad’s mission and values. Paraquad’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) is a Medicaid-based program that provides personal care attendant services to individuals with disabilities, enabling them to live with greater independence in their community, rather than in a nursing home. We are serving approximately 290 Participants. CDS allows these individuals to choose exactly who they want to help them in their home, often family members or friends. They get to choose someone they trust to provide for their most intimate care needs and feel supported and safe with a caregiver they know. They get to choose who helps them get up and ready for work so that they can contribute to society.Every Paraquad CDS Participant has a CDS Specialist to call them at least monthly to monitor their services and State and EVV compliance and ensure health, safety, and welfare. Every CDS Specialist is also a Paraquad Independent Living Specialist- available to them to meet their independent living goals and specific needs. The Paraquad CDS Specialist provides information and referrals for food, utility assistance, or housing. They do an internal referral to other Paraquad departments for ramp, bath bench, or wheelchair or referral to our accessible gym. The CDS Specialist is a listening and supporting ear to empathize with a health scare or bad news and to rejoice at good news.Paraquad CDS embodies the Independent Living movement that Paraquad embraces. They walk hand-in-hand. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME REGISTERED LOBBYIST: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: ERIKA LEONARD 573-680-6424 REPRESENTING: TITLE: STARLING ADDRESS: 2046 TRENTON COURT CITY: STATE: ZIP: JEFFERSON CITY MO 65109 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: 2/24/2025 12:00 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 10 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: JAMES S SHELLY BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
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EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: stlshelly@yahoo.com Written 2/22/2025 6:40 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM