The 53rd Annual Conference of the Silver Haired Legislature took place at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Columbia on October 13, 14, and 15. The 54 delegates in attendance chose their Top Five Priorities and formulated plans to advocate for senior issues during the coming legislative session.
After spirited debates in the Legislative chambers, the delegates chose these issues as their Top Five Priorities for the 2027 legislative session:
1. Increase the Medicaid PNA (Personal Needs Allowance) with an Inflation Rider
2. Missouri Senior Preventative Foot Care and Medicaid Access Act
3. Limit the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Prior Authorization of Health Care
4. Real Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with a 100% Service-Connected Disability
5. Liability of Long-Term Care Facilities for Harm to Residents
Anyone interested in learning further details about the priorities of the Silver Haired Legislature is encouraged to call or e-mail, Laurie Black, Aging Ahead’s representative at (636) 207-0847 or lblack@agingahead.org.
Missouri’s Silver Haired Legislature was founded in 1973, the first in the nation after the Older Americans Act was amended to include advocacy groups. The SHL is composed of fifteen volunteers from each of the ten statewide Area Agencies on Aging. These 150 senior advocates, elected by their peers, identify and advocate for issues critical to older Missourians.
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