skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

New OR Lawmakers Hear Long-Term Care Concerns

play audio
Play

Thursday, January 17, 2013   

SALEM, Ore. - State lawmakers showed up in Salem this week for their pre-session, to get organized and receive the governor's State of the State address. They are also hearing from a number of advocacy groups, including AARP. That group offered a briefing about Oregon's long-term care system, which is considered a model in the nation for its focus on home- and community-based care as people age.

As is the case every year, says AARP Oregon Director of Government Relations Rick Bennett, long-term care services have to compete for limited dollars with other worthy priorities - including public safety, education and health care.

"None of those, frankly, are adequately funded at this time in Oregon. We do have to look at the revenue - particularly how we spend that revenue, not only on direct services, but also on tax expenditures or what we more commonly think of as tax credits or deductions."

Bennett says lawmakers asked questions at the briefing and were given zip drives of computer files containing additional information, as part of the legislature's initiative to be as "paper-free" as possible this session.

Gov. John Kitzhaber's preliminary budget makes many assumptions about trimming state expenses in some areas and boosting revenue in others, Bennett says. Overall, AARP is pleased that the governor appears to be making long-term care a priority, he adds.

"Unlike the last several years with our economic downturn, Gov. Kitzhaber's budget maintains the current funding of these services, plus provides an extra $30 million in what he's terming 'investments' in our long-term care system. We were very pleased to see that."

Among the many bills already introduced to raise revenue are a new sales tax on soft drinks and hikes in cigarette and gas taxes.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …


Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…


Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

Social Issues

play sound

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021