Dowd Presents Budget to Senate;

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Dowd Presents Budget to Senate;

No Reductions in PACE or Aging Services

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Aging

PRNewswire, Tuesday April 8 2003

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Acting Secretary for the Department of Aging, Nora A. Dowd assured the Senate Appropriations Committee that all services including PACE provided by the Department of Aging would be sustained regardless of the budget cuts.

In her first address regarding the Department of Aging, Acting Secretary Dowd described the Department's budgetary reductions and detailed service expansion. Dowd's presentation included remarks about the Governor's proposed property tax reductions and investment in affordable housing development.

Acting Secretary Dowd stated that seniors will not lose PACE and PACENET prescription benefits due to Cost of Living Adjustments in their social security income through December 31, 2004.

While pleased that overall funding for PACE and PACENET will continue at the current levels, Secretary Dowd told senators that she is committed to working with them to further the programs' reach. "There are simply too many older Pennsylvanians who lack coverage, and cannot afford the high cost of medications."

Acting Secretary Dowd also announced that the Department of Aging sent letters to 26,000 Bethlehem Steel retirees informing them about the eligibility requirements for PACE and PACENET and other health benefits. An estimated 40,000 Bethlehem Steel retirees in the state have been affected by the loss of benefits. "Our goal is to reduce any confusion they or their families may have about these very important decisions," Acting Secretary Dowd told the Senate.

Home and community-based services, such as personal care, adult day and home health are targeted for expansion. An $18.2 million transfer from the Tobacco Settlement Fund will help to stretch the services to additional 3,300 older Pennsylvanians.

In an effort to help older adults to remain in their homes longer, Secretary Dowd touched on a significant proposal in Governor Rendell's Plan for a New Pennsylvania. The proposal is to reduce property taxes throughout the state a minimum of 15 percent and 30 percent on average statewide. Rising local property taxes have been especially troubling for seniors with fixed or limited incomes striving to live independently in their own home.

Acting Secretary Dowd concluded by saying, "Given the demographic realities of an aging population in Pennsylvania, and the growing demand for long-term care services, it is critical that the Commonwealth continue to advance integrated long-term care policy and work together to define the future of long-term care for our families."