MEDICAID: Gore to Announce New In-Home Care Initiative

      "Vice President Al Gore today will propose a plan to expand Medicaid coverage to senior citizens who continue living in their own homes, the Boston Globe reports (Zuckman, 1/21). Gore will make the announcement in Tampa at a long term care forum bringing together "people caring for elderly family members and professionals," the Tampa Tribune reports. Seniors and advocates for the elderly "have long complained that Medicaid will pay to put elderly people in nursing homes but won't pay for in-home assistance that might make institution care unnecessary" (March, 1/21). The Globe reports that the "$110 million, five-year initiative ... compliments another recent proposal to give $1,000 tax credits to compensate family members providing long term care to relatives." In addition to allowing states to use Medicaid money for in-home long term care for people with incomes up to 300% of the Social Security Income limit without a waiver, the "proposal would also provide competitive grants to certain groups to give senior health care and other help needed to remain independent" (1/21).