Oregon’s Long-Term Care System - A Responsive, Innovative & Cost-Efficient History in Jeopardy
Oregon is home to a long-term care system that has been lauded as the model for the nation. Advocates and policy makers cooperatively created this system in the 1970s and 80s, which put a groundbreaking focus on providing care where seniors and those with disabilities wanted it: in their homes and communities, significantly reducing the proportion of those in facilities like nursing homes. Even more revolutionary was that this system was codified in state law promising “independence, choice and dignity” and it saved significant taxpayer dollars.
Long-Term Care – History
An economic crisis gripping the country has led to a precipitous decline in Oregon’s revenues, rapidly turning a comfortable surplus into an alarming shortfall. Faced with a series of hard choices, the Governor and Legislature turn to the Human Services budget and the Medicaid program with the goal of cutting costs while still striving to protect the most vulnerable Oregonians.
Voices
Real People
Seventy-four year old Lyda Overton is a second-generation Oregonian. Now retired, she used to spend her days selling real estate in the Portland Metro area. She also spent several years giving back to the community as a case manager for Multnomah County. Read more »
Real Providers
Friendly House is in Mya Chamberlin’s bones. Her first exposure to the organization was as a child attending pre-school there, then again in her teens as a volunteer, and today at age 36, she’s employed there as a program director coordinating the organization’s senior activities. Read more »
In the news
After an across-the-board cuts order by Gov. Ted Kulongoski this summer that would have effectively dismantled Oregon’s treasured and cost-effective system of long-term care, Oregon and national media put an important spotlight on this issue and examined the impacts cuts would have.
Thankfully, the legislature’s Emergency Board voted unanimously to restore these cuts, realizing the tremendous human and economic impacts at stake and that there was a better way to balance Oregon’s budget. Because of this action:
- Thousands of our most vulnerable citizens will maintain access to essential services that help allow them to say in their home or communities.
- Thousands of care providers will be able to keep their income, health coverage and jobs.
- More than $34 million of federal matching funds will be able to stay at work right here in Oregon, accross our communities and economy.
Unfortunately, we’re not out of the woods yet. Services were only restored through the end of February next year. Much hard work remains and tough choices lie ahead as economic challenges face our state both in the short and long-term.
Now, more than ever, we all need to come together as Oregonians to find a better way to preserve essential services key to our collective quality of life and our economic future.
Custom-tailored news on Long Term Care from all over the web
Long Term Care Options–PPA News Network - Legal Broadcast Network (blog)
 Legal Broadcast Network (blog) |
Long Term Care Options–PPA News Network
Legal Broadcast Network (blog) I’m sorry to say, there’s no simple answer to the question of whether you should buy long-term care insurance. Clearly, different circumstances call for … and more » |
Comparison website for assisted living, telehealth and telecare products - bjhcim
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Comparison website for assisted living, telehealth and telecare products
bjhcim A comprehensive product comparison website from assisted living specialists Alvolution, a division of MedilinkWM, will help professionals choose … |