Rep. Wray’s Raleigh report


The people who allowed our state to prosper over the past few decades deserve our attention and certainly some of our resources.
As they have aged, the constraints of a fixed income, increased health costs and other concerns require us to constantly re-evaluate what we can do to help them.

This past session, the General Assembly spent a lot of time focusing on the issues of health, housing, insurance and other related matters. We were also able to take the Medicaid burden from the counties, which in addition to freeing up local money for schools and other needs, strengthens this program for the many older people who rely on it.

In the information that follows, I will provide you with some of the highlights of what we did on behalf of our older citizens. And in the session to come, we will happily do more.

Thank you as always for allowing me to share this information with you. Please contact me if I can be of any service.
Taxes

In our budget (HB 1473), we established a state tax credit for the purchase of long term care insurance. The credit allows married couples filing jointly who earn up to $100,000 in adjusted gross income to claim a credit of up to $350 when they purchase long term care insurance. Single people can earn up to $60,000 and still be eligible for the credit.

We expanded the state’s Homestead Exemption by increasing the income cap and the size of the exemption. The new law (HB 1499) increased the income eligibility from $18,000 to $25,000. People who qualify for the exemption, which is granted to low-income homeowners who have lived in their houses for at least five years, can reduce the tax appraisal value of their home by up to $25,000. That’s $5,000 more than the law previously allowed. This change allows them to reduce their tax burden. The bill also allows qualified residents to defer a portion of what they owe for property taxes.

Health

We are very proud and fortunate that our state is fiscally strong enough to relieve our counties of the costs of Medicaid. House Democrats worked hard so that counties could have more money for infrastructure needs without raising property taxes or sacrificing effective health care. We have also set aside $250,000 in grants for local organizations helping seniors enrolling in the NC Rx program and Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

Local health departments will benefit from $1 million to reduce rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, injury, and infant mortality. We also created an additional receipt-supported position in the Division of Aging and Adult Services. This person will organize a health promotion program to lower the rate of chronic diseases among seniors.

Health care costs are continually increasing. We set aside $1.8 million to offset the costs for home health personal care services providers.

The Adult Care Home Quality Improvement Pilot Initiative will receive $264,000. This is an 11-month pilot test that will place a trained Quality Improvement Consultant from the Department of Social Services in up to 100 adult and family Care Homes in Alamance, Buncombe, Nash, and Rutherford counties.

We appropriated $1.2 million to implement and provide staff for a ratings and certificate program for adult care homes and expand the Health Care Personnel Registry. The Medical Care Commission will oversee the issuance of certificates that rate facilities based on inspections. The Health Care Personnel Registry will include individuals with indirect contact with residents or clients who have been found guilty of neglect, fraud, abuse, drug theft, or misappropriation of patient or facility property.

Legislators passed a bill (HB 265) to create a high-risk insurance pool for people who do not have access to affordable private health insurance. The program should be available by 2009 and will immediately benefit about 2,000 people.

According to a new law (SB 748), the Department of Health and Human Services will not issue licenses for new home care agencies before 2009. The Department will be using the extra year to make sure that existing agencies comply with the new home care rules. Another bill (HB 424) directs the Department to study ways to improve respite care for people with dementia, chronic or terminal illness, disabilities, and the elderly.

We passed a bill (HB 554) to increase the penalty for assaulting a patient in a health care facility. It is now a Class H felony to assault a resident of a residential or health care facility if the assault shows a pattern of behavior that is negligent or causes bodily injury to the resident. Another law (HB 1294) prohibits smoking in long term care facilities. A violation can result in a fine of up to $200.

A new law (HB 1685) allows for an expedited certificate of need review process for adult care or nursing homes relocating to another facility within the same county.

Housing

The NC Housing Trust Fund will receive $10 million over the next two years to provide safe and affordable housing for low income citizens. The Fund also assists seniors with necessary repairs and renovations. With this increase, the Fund will now receive $8 million annually.

This year the Fund will also receive an additional $7.5 million to increase the number of independent-and supportive-living apartments for people with disabilities. Another $8 million has been set aside to pay for the operational costs of these apartments.
Wills, Insurance, and Retirement

We passed a bill (HB 634) that clarifies the right to make advance directives and designate health care agents. The bill also simplifies the method of making these directives and designations, and even includes a copy of the necessary forms. Another bill (HB 765) updates the law dealing with testamentary additions to trusts. It also codifies the doctrines of incorporation by reference and acts of independence.

Legislators passed a bill (HB 748) that allows pharmacies to override time restrictions on prescriptions during a state of disaster or emergency. People who live in these areas can get one refill of a prescription if there are any more authorized refills or as a replacement for one that was recently filled.

Miscellaneous

My colleagues and I created the Silver Alert System in the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons to disseminate information about missing persons with dementia or some other cognitive impairment. Like the Amber Alert System, this system will work in cooperation with broadcasters and the Department of Transportation. The new law (HB 38) expands the number of people who can request the alert. Caretakers at a care facility are now authorized to request the alert. Emergency medical workers can also assist in the search for missing persons suffering from cognitive impairments.

Reminder-Senatorial District 7th Public Forum

Senator Doug Berger, Representatives Lucy Allen, Jim Crawford and I have scheduled a Public Forum on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. Public officials, civic leaders, law enforcement, school personnel and interested citizens are invited to attend the forum. There will be an opportunity for citizens to share concerns for the upcoming short session of the General Assembly beginning on May 13, 2008.

The program will include the following presenters:

Mr. Leslie Boney, Associate VP for Economic Development Research, Policy and Planning of the University of NC General Administration

* The UNC System and Economic Development

Mr. Jay Chaudhuri, Special Counsel to Attorney General

*North Carolina’s Efforts to Combat Internet Crimes

Mental Health Reform Panel Discussion

* Ms. Patsy Christian, Director, Central Region Psychiatric Hospital, Butner

* Mr. Mike Moseley, Director, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities,

and Substance Abuse Services

* Mr. Hugh Tilson, Lobbyist, North Carolina Hospital Association

* Mr. Foster Norman, Director, Five County Mental Health Authority

You may RSVP to my office.

Representative Wray, (919)733-5662 or email michaelw@ncleg.net

Please remember that you can visit the General Assembly’s website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.

I plan to attend the following meetings/events:

  • Gospel Event, Roanoke Rapids Theater-January 13
  • Wake County Dental Society Dinner, Raleigh-January 15
  • Halifax/Northampton Retired Personnel, Jackson-January 16
  • Warren County Broadband Announcement, Warrenton-January 18
  • Curtis Wynn/Marshall Cherry, The Roanoke Center-January 18
  • Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.

    As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.

    By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.