It has now been three months since our new executive director has been on the job and we want to give Rose Chavez a big shout out for helping us navigate these last critical months to continue providing high quality services to our seniors and their families. Rose recently presented at the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners to advocate on behalf of Archuleta Seniors Inc. for a budget increase to continue supporting the Pagosa Senior Center providing essential nutrition security services and the plethora of other services provided by our hub.
The Commissioners were positive about Rose’s presentation and were all in agreement about continuing to support ASI’s essential services. We look forward to hearing from them over the next few weeks. At this time ASI has current funding to continue providing services through December of 2022. However, the organization is experiencing a budget shortfall in 2023 due to lack of mid-year funds from the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging. Without critical funding from the County, ASI will struggle to continue providing our services in 2023.
In addition to looking for funding from the County, ASI will earnestly be seeking grants for additional funding in 2022 and 2023 and we could also use the support of the community to help with this budget shortfall. You may mail your donation to PO BOX 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or please visit our website: http://www.psseniors.org/. Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors, Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., in downtown Pagosa Springs.
For more information about ASI, please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.
New drug-price law could save older Americans billions in costs
It finally happened: After years of pressure and debate, Congress in August passed a law designed to help millions of older Americans better afford the medicines and healthcare they need. From capping out-of pocket drug spending costs for Medicare enrollees, to helping many lower-income Americans pay for health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to allowing Medicare to use its enormous bargaining power to negotiate prices on some of the most critical medicines used by older Americans, the new law is seen by its supporters as a historic victory for Americans of all ages.
“Lowering prescription drug prices is a top priority for Americans, with more than 80 percent of people from both political parties supporting the measure,”says AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins. “AARP will keep fighting to get Americans relief from the high price of prescription drugs.”
The Inflation Reduction Act, as the measure is known, was approved by both chambers of Congress and signed into law in mid-August. In addition to focusing on critical health care issues, the legislation also addresses climate change and energy policies, takes steps to reduce the federal deficit and includes changes to corporate taxes. The law puts an annual limit, initially set at $2,000 when it takes effect in 2025, on how much enrollees of Part D prescription drug plans would have to pay out of pocket for their medications. Some 50 million Medicare enrollees have Part D coverage, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Of those, 1.3 million spent more than $2,000 out of pocket for their medicines in 2020, the Kaiser Family Foundation says.
The law also calls for tax penalties on drug makers that raise medicine prices more than the inflation rate. And the bill caps the cost of Medicare-covered insulin at $35 a month, as well as eliminates out-of-pocket costs for most vaccines under Medicare.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) calculated that the law would save Medicare hundreds of billions of dollars over 10 years, with the majority of the savings coming as a result of prescription drug price negotiations and the penalties that would encourage pharmaceutical companies to keep price increases to no more than the rate of inflation. That means beneficiaries would be able to get the same medications they do now, but some of those drugs would cost them and Medicare less. The savings would not be the result of any cuts to Medicare, the CBO says.
Not everyone agrees with that analysis. Some critics of the new law contend it will stop companies from developing new drugs and give the government too much control over drug prices. But the CBO analysis says that the pharmaceutical industry, which is among the most profitable industries in the country, will still have plenty of incentive to innovate.
Also included in the law is a three-year extension of expanded subsidies and other financial enhancements, first included in the American Rescue Plan, that will hel[ bring down the costs of ACA health insurance plans. These subsidies are particularly important for those ages 50 to 64, who pay up to three times more than younger people for their insurance.
Mobile Food Pantry Service Available for Seniors
The Pagosa Senior Center would like to remind the community about our mobile food pantry services we provide in partnership with Archuleta County MET to seniors age 60 and older throughout most areas of Archuleta County. In order to participate in this program, community members must visit with Barbara Noriega at the downtown Senior Center located in the Ross Aragon Community Center to fill out an application to qualify for hot meal delivery service and/or the mobile pantry service. The application, called the dining assessment form, is also available on our website at the bottom of the Community Cafe page http://www.psseniors.org/community-cafeacute.html. For more information contact us at 970-264-2167.
Text Us @ 970-264-2167. The Community Cafe is now accepting text messaging for meal reservations, cancellations and/or communication of any kind. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are calling to cancel a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel. Texting services are available for dining-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals, and Meals on Wheels recipients.
ASI Board of Directors has multiple vacant positions open for financial oversight and policy implementation for the organization and senior center staff. Terms are 3 years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 55 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services.
Community Cafe Menu
Thursday, October 13 – Pork Ribs, Coleslaw, Sweet Corn, Garden Salad, Milk, Cherry Crisp
Friday, October 14 – Chicken & Mushroom Crepes, Asparagus, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk, Chai Pudding
Monday, October 17 – Shrimp Tacos w/ Baja Sauce, Charro Beans, Garden Salad, Milk, Fruit, Brownies
Tuesday, October 18 – Beef Dip Sandwich w/ AuJus, French Fries, Garden Salad, Peaches & Yogurt, Milk
Wednesday, October 19 – Hawaiian Pork w/Peppers, Coconut Rice, Mango Salad, Garden Salad, Milk, Chocolate Cake.
Thursday, October 20 – Chicken Curry w/ Naan Bread, Garden Salad, Hummus, Dates, Milk.
Friday, October 21 – Vegetable Enchiladas w/ Salsa Verde, Refried Beans, Cornbread, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Grab-N-Go Meals Reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9:00am the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $5.00 helps to sustain our program. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50. Please call or text us at 970-264-2167 to make a reservation.
Meals on Wheels We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents. Call or text us at 970-264-2167.
Rose Chavez is Executive Director for Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and Public Health Consultant at Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition.