Writing a representative a letter (especially if it is hand-written) is an effective way to influence how your tax dollars are spent.
Feel free to use this sample format:
February XX, 2016
The Honorable Bill Dodd
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 2137
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Raising the Personal Needs Allowance for MediCal Nursing Home Residents
Dear Assemblymember Dodd,
I am writing to support AB 1655(Dodd). The bill would increase the personal needs allowance within the Medi-Cal program from $35 to $80 per month. The bill would also require the Department of Health Care Services to annually increase the needs allowance based on the percentage increase in the California Consumer Price Index.
California’s personal needs allowance was last set at $35 per month. Residents in skilled nursing facilities have not received a cost-of-living increase since 1984, while the rate of inflation over the last 32 years is 128 percent. The needs allowance is inadequate to buy clothing, shoes, personal care items and meals outside the facility. AB 1655 (Dodd) is important to me, because I think vulnerable residents of nursing homes should not be neglected and deserve a better quality of life.
AB 1655 is key to restoring dignity to Medi-Cal recipients, who have been deprived of this much needed increase in personal needs allowances for far too long. This legislation will go a long way in empowering this vulnerable group in California.
For the reasons stated, I am pleased to support AB 1655 (Dodd), and thank you for authoring this important measure.
Sincerely,
