------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NewsBank, inc. - The Commercial Appeal - 1998 - Article with Citation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Headline: Sundquist won't back long-term care system Advocates push at-home assistance Date: Aug. 13, 1998 Section: Metro Page: B1 Edition: Final Dateline: NASHVILLE Length: 659 words Author: Paula Wade The Commercial Appeal\ Nashville Bureau Text: NASHVILLE - Gov. Don Sundquist declined Wednesday to commit to funding a system of long-term care for Tennessee's elderly and disabled. Sundquist's comments, in response to a reporter's questions, came as a blow to long-term care advocates who this year helped pass a bill setting up a Long Term Care Advisory Council to design a coordinated system of community-based long-term care as an alternative to nursing homes. The council met here Wednesday, with its members acknowledging that their work will come to nothing without support and funding from Sundquist. Asked whether his administration intends to fund improvements to long-term care, Sundquist said: "I'm committed to fund a system of health care. We have scarce resources, and we have to think about where to put those resources and I think we're doing a good job of it . . ." Advocates for the disabled and elderly are pushing for more state funding and coordination of at-home and community services as alternatives to nursing home care. Tennessee ranks 49th in the nation in its funding for community-based long-term care services, according to the AARP. But the political clout of the state's nursing home industry has kept almost all of the state funding for elderly care channeled into nursing homes, and advocates fear that is not going to change. "No, I'm not really surprised," said AARP state president Dr. James D. Nixon of Clarksville, who attended the council meeting, when told of Sundquist's remarks. "He has not been supportive of this, and he's made it clear there are other things on his agenda." State Health Commissioner Nancy Menke, who chaired Wednesday's council meeting, shocked some participants when she indicated that the group should focus on setting up two small-scale pilot programs rather than the comprehensive system the council was formed to design. Menke also indicated that $1.2 million would be available for the two programs. "I'm not familiar with anything in (the law) that directed them to create another pilot project - it does explicitly say they are to design a comprehensive statewide program . . . we don't need any more pilots or studies - we have stacks of studies from other states," said Nixon. Menke said she's convinced that the council's planning efforts can help improve coordination of services even without large-scale funding."We've really got a patchwork of services out there. If we can come up with a structure, a more coordinated system of care, then this will have helped." Finance Commissioner John Ferguson said that the council's work will at least give long-term care proponents a better shot to compete for scarce state funds. Long-term care services include all the kinds of help that a frail elderly or disabled person might need to continue living at home: home health care, rehabilitation services, homemaker services, meal preparation, day care so that family members can go to work, respite care for caregivers, help with bathing and dressing, transportation services and more. Proponents argue that supplying such care is often less expensive than subsidizing nursing home beds, which the state does now. Asked to explain what his position was on the long-term care issue, Sundquist responded, "We've made great progress in health care in Tennessee. . . . We have more people covered with health care insurance than any other state in the country. I'm not going to make commitments that I'm going to do this or do that." Some advocates said they'll continue to push the issue. "It's the advisory council's job to educate Governor Sundquist and his staff on the need for these services," said Doug Pace of the Tennessee Association of Homes and Services for the Aged. "Nursing homes are the proper place for many people, but it shouldn't be the only option." To reach reporter Paula Wade, call (615) 242-2018 or E-mail wade@gomemphis.com Copyright 1998 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN Accession Number: 9811200113 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------