1966-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 i Welfare Report To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: i In the year 1966, persons over the age of 65 became elig- ible for Medicare under which the greater part of hospital and medical expenses incurred by the elderly are paid by the I Federal Government under the supervision and direction of the Department of Heath, Welfare and Education. Since July 1, 1960 the medical expenses of the people receiving Old Age Assistance have been paid by the Boards of Public Welfare under the provisions of the Medical Assist- ance for the Aged program. The advent of Medicare will re- sult in a substantial reduction in expenses to the Town in this area. Effective September 1, 1966 the Commonwealth accepted Title XIX of the Social Security Acts. This changes our Medi- cal Assistance for the Aged program to that of Medical As- sistance. It provides for medical care not only to the elderly but for many minor children and for certain persons between the ages of twenty-one and sixty-four years. Despite efforts to acquaint the public with the benefits of Medical Assistance there may be some people who do not know of the eligibility requirements. The Welfare Agent and Social Worker are available to answer any inquiries on this subject. Our expenditures of $38,858.81 in 1966 were $5,777.83 less { than the $44,636.64 we expended in 1965. The expenditure in 1966 includes $19,958.00 for medical needs of our clients which is $893.79 less than the medical costs in 1965. The expenditures, with Federal, State and local shares and net cost to Mashpee are as follows: