Nevada Could Save Money by Offerirg More Home Care for People with Disabilities, Activist Says

Nevada could get "more for its money" by expanding home and personal care services for residents with disabilities, according to Stephen Gold of the Philadelphia-based Public Interest Law Center, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. Gold told a state legislative committee studying services for the disabled that of the state's total expenses for long-term care under Medicaid, 79% went to institutional care and 21% went to community-based services. Nevada has a "long way to go" to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that says states must offer noninstitutional services to the disabled, Gold said. According to Gold, Nevada ranks 50th among the states in percentage of people receiving home-health care, 24th of 30 states offering personal care attendants and 50th in overall community-based long-term care recipients. Gold pointed out that as other states lower the number of institutional care beds for the disabled, "Nevada is increasing its number of beds." According to Gold, it is important to keep the disabled from "ever entering an institution in the first place." He said, "If you can divert people from going into institutions, it's much easier than getting them out." Mike Willden, human resources director for the state, said, "I agree in most cases it's time to move to community services" for the disabled (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 2/5).