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3NAtioNALSeNioRCitizeNSLAwCeNteR2011ANNuALRepoRtexx12cx17x16vx12Dx16rx12cx17x15rx19sMx12ssagx12evenastheranksofthenationx19selderlypoorgrowandtheirneedsforqualityhealthcareandeconomicsecurityexplodetheprogramstheyrelyonareunderconstantattack.Cutstodozensofneededstateprogramsarealreadyunderwayandmanyofthecutsareillegal.CutstoMedicareMedicaidSocialSecurityandSupplementalSecurityIncomeSSIseeminevitable.Federalprogramstheagingnetworkandprivateinsuranceplansallfailtoprovideservicesthatareculturallyandlinguisticallyappropriate.TheSupremeCourtcouldsoondecidewhetherconsumershavetherighttosuestategovernmentstoobtainhealthcarebenefits.Itcouldalsodecidetofindthehealthreformlawunconstitutionalwhichcouldhaveseriousrepercussionsforseniorswithlimitedincomeorresources.AsIx19vesaidmanytimesbeforeinterestgroupsinWashingtonandinstatecapitolshavedozensoflawyerstorepresentthemonissueslikethese.Theelderlypoorneedlawyersontheirsidetoo.In2012NSCLCwillworkoftenincollaborationwithothernationallegalandconsumergroupstofightforstrengtheningnotcuttingfederalhealthandincomesecurityprograms.WiththeNationalCommitteetoPreserveSocialSecurityandMedicareandothersforexamplewewillstandtogetherinsupportofSocialSecurity.AtthesametimewewillseektofixproblemssuchasthebrokenSSIappealsprocessandidentifyareasinwhichseniorswithlimitedincomeandresourcescouldbebetterprotected.AsourhealthteamdidrecentlyinjoiningwithotherstosavetheCaliforniaAdultDayHealthCareServicesprogramwewillfighttokeepsuchprogramsalivefortheelderlypoor.AsstatesareencouragedtomovedualeligibleindividualsthosewithbothMedicareandMedicaidintointegratedcaremodelswewillensurestrongconsumerprotectionforthem.In2011weachievedvictoriesonbehalfofthosewithlimitedEnglishproficiency.Weremaincommittedtopromotinglanguageaccesstobenefitsprogramsin2012.NSCLChasalonghistoryofopposingjudicialactivism.InthattraditiontheFederalRightsProjectcontinuesitsleadingroleinfightingchallengestothehealthreformlawthatarenowbeforetheSupremeCourt.TheProjecthasjustsubmittedamicusbriefstotheCourtrelatedtothelegalityoftheindividualmandateandthedoctrineofseverability.ThisyearwebeginamonthlyWebinarseriesaspartofourongoingefforttokeeplegalservicesadvocatesinournetworksinformedandbetterabletoadviseandhelptheirclients.TheseriesournewslettersfrequenthealthandincomenetworkalertsaswellasournewWebsiteandregularone-on-onecontactsallcombinetoeducateandcounselthoseonthefrontlines.Theneedforstrongadvocacyonbehalfoftheelderlypoorcouldnotbemorepressing.NSCLCitspartnersinthelegalandagingfieldsandthousandsofdedicatedadvocatesnationwidearebracingforachallengingyearahead.PaulNathanso