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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Chelsa Wagner |
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Wagner, House Majority Policy Committee hold hearing on
long-term care in Pa.
PITTSBURGH, March 29 – State Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Allegheny, and the House Majority Policy Committee hosted a public hearing on long-term health care in Pittsburgh today.
The purpose of the hearing was to address how to provide and pay for long-term care in Pennsylvania.
“The cost to pay for long-term living in a nursing home or other facility has gone up significantly in the past few years, and we’re also facing a shortage of these facilities as more of our citizens age,” Wagner said. “We need to explore all of the ideas and options offered that could bring the cost to a reasonable level and ensure that everyone who requires a long-term care facility can find one to suit their needs.”
Majority Policy Committee Chairman Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, gave the opening remarks, followed by commentary from Wagner and testimony from more than a dozen Pennsylvania leaders from labor, business, senior advocacy organizations, health-care providers and state government.
“Pennsylvania has the fastest-growing segment of people age 80 and over in the nation, so we can’t wait any longer to address long-term care issues,” Eachus said. “Representative Wagner knows that the people of her district want to be sure our seniors will get the care and dignity they have earned and that the state can afford to provide that care.
“Her leadership encouraged us to bring the Policy Committee to Pittsburgh to get the facts we need about providing quality care to seniors.”
The hearing is one of several taking place across the state to gather public input on health care in Pennsylvania.
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