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Louisiana Seeks Funding for Home/Community Care

Wed, 01/17/2001 - 1:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

The Department of Health and Hospitals is holding a meeting to receive input and recommendations toward developing a comprehensive strategy to provide more community-based services to people with disabilities and to those requiring long-term care. The meeting is set for Thursday, January 25 in Baton Rouge.

People with interests in elderly affairs, mental health, developmental disabilities/mental retardation, physical disabilities and substance abuse are invited to attend this planning meeting. According to Raymond Jetson, DHH's advisor for special populations, the meeting continues the department's commitment toward making more integrated community-based services a priority. "This is the first step in reaffirming our vision for meeting the future needs of people with disabilities and those who are aging," he said. "The reality is that the state's fiscal problems mean that we will continue to see the overall level of spending on health care decline. This fact reinforces our mission to seek more efficient and effective ways to provide care and services in community-based settings."

He said the department's working vision for the elderly and people with disabilities will be on the DHH website beginning January 25. For people without Internet access, libraries offer this service. Interested persons can also write to Jetson at P.O. Box 629, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629 and send him their comments and questions.

"I encourage people to review and comment on this statement," Jetson said. "The website will allow for people to provide input even if they do not attend the meeting. These comments will then be used to help us develop a comprehensive strategy to move forward."

The Department of Health and Hospitals is holding a meeting to receive input and recommendations toward developing a comprehensive strategy to provide more community-based services to people with disabilities and to those requiring long-term care. The meeting is set for Thursday, January 25 in Baton Rouge.

People with interests in elderly affairs, mental health, developmental disabilities/mental retardation, physical disabilities and substance abuse are invited to attend this planning meeting. According to Raymond Jetson, DHH's advisor for special populations, the meeting continues the department's commitment toward making more integrated community-based services a priority. "This is the first step in reaffirming our vision for meeting the future needs of people with disabilities and those who are aging," he said. "The reality is that the state's fiscal problems mean that we will continue to see the overall level of spending on health care decline. This fact reinforces our mission to seek more efficient and effective ways to provide care and services in community-based settings."

He said the department's working vision for the elderly and people with disabilities will be on the DHH website beginning January 25. For people without Internet access, libraries offer this service. Interested persons can also write to Jetson at P.O. Box 629, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629 and send him their comments and questions.

"I encourage people to review and comment on this statement," Jetson said. "The website will allow for people to provide input even if they do not attend the meeting. These comments will then be used to help us develop a comprehensive strategy to move forward."