An Iowa delegation met with an official from the federal Health Care Financing Administration in Washington, D.C. today to brief him on a proposal to revamp the state’s elder care system. Under the proposal the state would create a “long-term care” fund — to deposit up to 65-million dollars worth of federal money. That money would be used to create more assisted living and in-home care services for Iowa’s seniors. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, two state legislators and U-S Senator Tom Harkin talked with the federal official from HCFA (hick-fuh).Vilsack says it looks like Iowa’s plan is on track to be approved next month.Vilsack says the state could get things going as soon as approval is granted and could get federal money retroactive to October 1st of 1999.The governor says the plan will give residents what they need and want.Another aspect of the plan would change the way nursing homes are paid by giving more Medicare money for patients who get 24-hour care and less for patients who require little care.
