Legislator says it’s time to change rules for long term care

A key state legislator says it’s time for the federal government to change the rules so the elderly have to pay for their longterm care if they can afford it. Republican Representative Dave Heaton of Mount Pleasant says more and more Iowans are “hiding” their assets, and the state will soon become overburdened with the cost of picking up the tab for health care for the elderly who’re declared unable to pay for things like dentures, eyewear and prescription drugs. While the federal government’s Medicare program pays for many health services, it does not cover items like prescriptions and eye glasses, so state-paid Medicaid covers those items for elderly who are poor, disabled or chronically ill. Heaton says there’s been a culture shift in America. Heaton says children look at the assets their parents have accumulated, and expect those assets to be passed along to them rather than to be used to provide care for their parents in the twilight of their life.Heaton says courses are held across the state every year, showing people how to shift assets from parents to children so they aren’t used to pay for long term care. Heaton made his comments yesterday at the Iowa Health Care Association convention in Des Moines.