Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Commission Holds Regional Public Meetings

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Commission today held its first meeting in a series of regional public meetings, seeking public input on the current long-term care system and recommendations on ways in which it can be improved.

Governor Tom Corbett established The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Commission by executive order on Jan. 31, 2014.  The commission is part of the governor's Healthy Pennsylvania plan to ensure access to quality, affordable health care.

Secretary of Public Welfare Beverly Mackereth and Secretary of Aging Brian Duke serve as the commission's co-chairs.

Input from regional public meetings will be included in the development of a final plan by the commission that will set priorities and guidelines to advance the current long-term care system. This includes identifying effective ways to provide better coordinated methods of administering long-term care programs and services and ensuring quality health care for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with disabilities.

The public is invited to provide comment during any of the following meetings:

Thursday, May 8, 2014
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Mercer County Career Center
776 Greenville Rd.
Mercer, PA 16137

Friday, May 9, 2014
Time: 1- 4 p.m. 
A.W. Beattie Career Center
9600 Babcock Blvd.
Allison Park, PA 15101

Friday, May 30, 2014
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Pennsylvania College of Technology
1 College Ave.
Williamsport, PA 17701

Friday, June 6, 2014
Time: 1- 4 p.m.
Montgomery County Community College
Central Blue Bell Campus
340 Dekalb Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19422

Friday, June 20, 2014
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Pike County Training Center
135 Pike County Blvd.
Lords Valley, PA 18428

The demand for long-term care services grows annually, and the commission will seek to understand how best to provide a more coordinated, cost-efficient, person-centered approach to delivering these services and supports.  Pennsylvania currently spends over $4.7 billion each year on Medicaid long-term care services and an additional $381 million on preventive services for individuals not yet eligible for Medicaid long-term care.

Pennsylvania has the fourth-largest percentage of residents, age 60 and over. During the next decade, the population of Pennsylvanians over the age of 85 is expected to grow by 42 percent while its total population is expected to grow by only two percent.

The commission has until Dec. 31, 2014, to complete and submit a plan to the governor.

For more information about meeting dates, agendas and minutes, as well as information on committee members, visit: www.dpw.state.pa.us or call 717-425-5719 or 1-800-654-5984 (TDD users).

If you cannot attend the public meetings but would still like to provide input, the commission will be accepting written comments and feedback through June 27, 2014.

Submit your written comments and feedback via email at: 
[email protected] or via mail at P.O. Box 8025, Attn: OLTL POLICY, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

Media contact: 
Kait Gillis, DPW, 717-425-7606
Christina Reese, Aging, 717-783-1550

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Aging; Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare