Governor wants to make more investments to improve long-term care for older Pennsylvanians

ED, WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION’S PLAN? WELL, IT’S $21 MILLION THAT GOVERNOR SHAPIRO WANTS TO SPEND ON SUPPORTING LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE COUNTRY MEADOWS IN WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY. THE YORK COUNTY LONG-TERM FACILITY SERVES ABOUT 200 PATIENTS AT ITS FACILITY IN WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP. COUNTRY MEADOWS PLANS TO APPLY FOR NEW FUNDING UNDER THE GOVERNOR’S NEW $21 MILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL. LAST YEAR, IT USED FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO OPTIMIZE ITS WORKFORCE AND STRENGTHEN RESIDENTS SAFETY. IT INVESTED IN NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR MONITORING PATIENTS WHO MIGHT FALL DOWN. IT CREATES TIME SAVERS. IT ALSO ALLOWS OUR COWORKERS TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST, WHICH IS SPEND QUALITY, MEANINGFUL TIME WITH THE RESIDENTS. IS DRAWING FIRE FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA HOME CARE ASSOCIATION? IT SAYS WE ARE FRANKLY DISAPPOINTED THAT GOVERNOR SHAPIRO IS CLAIMING THAT HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL MEANINGFULLY SUPPORTS THE 150,000 ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO RELY ON DIRECT CARE WORKERS FOR MEDICARE, HOME CARE SERVICES. THAT’S MEDICAID HOME CARE SERVICES. IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT $21 MILLION, THAT BUDGET PROPOSAL IS NOWHERE NEAR A SERIOUS RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS, ACCORDING TO THE STATE, PENNSYLVANIA HAS MORE THAN 80,000 RESIDENTS. THAT’S 80,000 RESIDENTS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN 700 NURSING HOMES ACROSS THE S

The Shapiro administration is putting millions of dollars into long-term care for older Pennsylvanians. It is part of his proposed state budget plan.Retirement homes like Country Meadows in West Manchester Township, York County, would be able to use the funding to help solve staffing challenges and improve care for residents. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen and other state officials promoted the plan during a visit to the York County facility.”When you have the staff that are committed and stay, they know the patients well. They learn their patients well. They learn what their needs are, and so when you keep staff longer, you are able to care better for those patients,” Bogen said.The governor’s plans are drawing fire from the Pennsylvania Homecare Association.A statement it issued says, “We are frankly disappointed that Governor Shapiro is claiming that his budget proposal meaningfully supports the 150,000 adults and adults with disabilities who rely on direct care workers for Medicaid home care services. A $21 million budget proposal is nowhere near a serious response to this crisis.”

WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

The Shapiro administration is putting millions of dollars into long-term care for older Pennsylvanians. It is part of his proposed state budget plan.

Retirement homes like Country Meadows in West Manchester Township, York County, would be able to use the funding to help solve staffing challenges and improve care for residents.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen and other state officials promoted the plan during a visit to the York County facility.

“When you have the staff that are committed and stay, they know the patients well. They learn their patients well. They learn what their needs are, and so when you keep staff longer, you are able to care better for those patients,” Bogen said.

The governor’s plans are drawing fire from the Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

A statement it issued says, “We are frankly disappointed that Governor Shapiro is claiming that his budget proposal meaningfully supports the 150,000 adults and adults with disabilities who rely on direct care workers for Medicaid home care services. A $21 million budget proposal is nowhere near a serious response to this crisis.”

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