Virtual Grassroots Lobby Week in Kentucky

NEWS

Volunteers and Grassroots Advocates Use Tech to Connect with State Lawmakers During Annual Lobby Week

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The annual AARP Kentucky Lobby Week effort remains virtual in the 2022 General Assembly and focuses on urgent needs of the state’s 430,000 AARP members and all Kentuckians 50-plus.

Local volunteers, AARP Chapter members, and grassroots advocates from across the state are meeting virtually in One-on-One sessions with their legislators seeking support for priority issues: access to health care, retirement security, and family caregivers needs.

WHAT:     AARP Virtual Lobby Week – 2022 Kentucky General Assembly
WHEN:     Beginning February 7, 2022 (continuing throughout the 2022 Session)
WHERE:  Virtual Meetings via Zoom
WHO:       State legislators, AARP Kentucky Executive Council, local volunteers, AARP Chapter members, and grassroots activists.
WHY:       AARP works as a fierce defender and wise friend to strengthen communities and advocates for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial resilience, and personal fulfillment.

Protecting Nursing Home Residents and Improving Long Term Services and Supports
As seen during the pandemic, nursing homes need to improve safety measures as well strengthen and grow their workforce to adequately take care of nursing home residents. Kentucky needs more long-term care options that help people live independently as they age.

Lowering the Price of Prescription Drugs
It’s unfair that Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world. We must crack down on price gouging and the greedy practices that keep prices artificially high.
AARP supports House Bill 42 and Senate Bill 126 establishing an emergency affordable insulin program and helps diabetics that are uninsured or have self-funded plans with high deductibles afford insulin.

Healthcare Disparities
The coronavirus pandemic exposed long existing shortcomings in our health care delivery system and the critical importance of affordable health coverage and care for all Kentuckians.

Family Caregiving
AARP calls for more support, help at home, workplace flexibility, training, and relief in Kentucky for family caregivers.

• AARP supports House Bill 59 a bill that will prohibit employers to prevent employees from taking family caregiving leave.
• AARP supports Advanced Practice Reserved Nurses to be allowed to practice under their full scope of practice.
• AARP supports state family caregiving tax credits.

High Speed Internet (Broadband) Access and Telehealth

AARP calls on state lawmakers to allocate more for broadband infrastructure, including advocating for additional appropriations in coronavirus relief legislation.

• AARP Kentucky supports increasing funding for expanding high speed internet access, especially for those in rural and underserved areas. AARP calls for increased access to telehealth and supports House Bill 188 to expand access to telehealth.

Fair and Reasonable Utilities
Utility rates are an essential pocketbook issue for Kentucky residents 50-plus and their families, many of us whom struggle to balance paying utility bills and other household expenses along with buying food and medicine.

• AARP opposes House Bill 341 as too costly for all Kentucky ratepayers, especially those 50-plus and on fixed incomes.

Tax Fairness for Retirees
Efforts to restructure all or part of the state tax system should recognize the importance of – and therefore maintain – incentives for health and retirement security.

• AARP supports House Bill 163 reinstating tax free income for retirees.

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