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AgeWays tells Washtenaw commissioners no official federal cuts yet but warns about leaked Older Americans Act proposals; county readies emergency food and SKIP/
Summary
AgeWays said there are no official cuts to Older Americans Act or Medicaid funding yet but noted a leaked federal budget draft proposed splitting or eliminating some programs; county staff said an emergency resolution to replenish SKIP and provide food pantry support will appear on the commissioners' agenda.
AgeWays staff updated the Commission on Aging about federal and state funding risks for older-adult services and urged advocacy while stressing that, for now, there are no official program cuts.
Stephanie Hall of AgeWays told the commission, “At this time there has not been any funding changes officially to the Older Americans Act or to any of our Medicaid programs.” She added that the region is operating under a continuing resolution through September and that AgeWays has not yet seen formal federal reductions.
Hall warned that a leaked draft of the executive Health and Human Services budget recommends reassigning or eliminating some Older Americans Act programs (the leak is a draft and not final), naming preventive health and certain long-term care or ombudsman functions among those proposed in the draft. Hall emphasized the document is a draft and must be taken in that context and urged local advocacy to protect programs.
Local officials signaled immediate county-level action on food-security gaps: Annie said county staff will place an emergency resolution on the next board agenda to replenish SKIP funding and provide emergency resources to food pantries serving older adults because of recent USDA cuts. Annie described the resolution as “a quick, urgent response to some needs that already exist.”
Commission members discussed the need to protect nutrition and home-delivered meal programs, the impacts of rising food costs and tariffs on contracted food suppliers, and the importance of state-level advocacy such as Older Michiganians Day to press legislators for continued support.
Ending: AgeWays and the commission encouraged members to contact state and federal representatives and to participate in Older Michiganians Day; the county will post the emergency resolution when it is filed and the commission may provide comment or public support at the commissioners’ meeting.
