New Jersey Law Provides More Long-term Care Choices
It’s always pleasing to highlight good news! Recently, a law was passed in the New Jersey legislature that will offer seniors on Medicaid more long term care options. By the year 2008 senior citizens who are living in the state of New Jersey will be able to choose in the type of long-term care they receive through Medicaid, under a law by Governor Jon S. Corzine. The new 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 retirement-communities.html">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. Please take note that the law will now be helpful when it comes to bridging the gap between money going to nursing homes versus money going to people in the community.” Instead of getting that nursing homes be the first stop, now nursing homes will be the appropriate stop, if necessary,” said Dr. Fred Jacobs, state health commissioner for New Jersey. Skilled nursing facilities are the right choice for many seniors 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 supervision of the Medicaid umbrella of covered services.There are already a lot of 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 will really suit your needs! From my neck of the woods, to yours…Ami Icanberry
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