New Jersey Law gives New Improvements to Long-Term Care
It’s always pleasing to highlight good news! Recently, the New Jersey legislature passed a law that will offer seniors on Medicaid more long term care options. By 2008, senior citizens living in New Jersey will have a choice in the type of long-term care they receive through Medicaid, under a law by Governor Jon S. Corzine. The law provides “an extraordinary change in direction and policy in a way that makes sure our seniors have a choice,” said Corzine in a newly finished AARP summit on continuous care.
Currently, New Jersey spends $1.68 billion of its Medicaid long-term care budget on nursing home care, compared with $162 million on community-based care like assisted living facilities, home health care and adult day care. That;s a whole lot of money going to skilled nursing facilities. The law will now help bridge the gap between money going to nursing homes versus money going to people in the community.” Rather than requiring that nursing homes be the first stop, this time, nursing homes will be the appropriate stop, if necessary,” said Dr. Fred Jacobs, state health commissioner for New Jersey. For many seniors, skilled nursing facilities are the right choice who require this type of specialized care; however, seniors should never be placed in a nursing home simply because of the fact that there is no other choice.
On a personal level, the law provides for justifiable changes in a person’s home which includes the installation of bathroom handrails and other safety features. Home health aides and respite care are now under the Medicaid umbrella of covered services.There are already so many choices to make regarding long-term care and even continuous care, the passing of this law will enable you to make better and smarter choices that that will really help us all! From my neck of the woods, to yours…Ami Icanberry
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