Senate Bill 888 would give seniors and their families access to long-term healthcare options counseling. The Senate approved the measure Wednesday sending it to the Governor.
Senator Kim David and Rep. Carol Bush are the authors of SB 888.
David said the goal is to inform seniors of care options while saving the state money.
“Oklahoma spends 70 percent of its long-term care dollars on nursing homes, and only 30 percent on less costly alternatives. Oklahoma’s senior citizen population is expected to increase by nearly 100,000 in the next 30 years – a trend we won’t be able to afford unless we start using more affordable options,” said David. “By using a variety of home and community-based services, other states like Texas, Alaska and Colorado have obtained a 50/50 mix or better in long-term care spending, achieving significant cost savings while allowing seniors to choose care in their preferred setting. This bill will provide Oklahoma’s elderly with more options while providing significant savings to the state that can be used on other important services.”
Service options include long-term care facilities, home health and adult day services.
Bush said the bill would deliver information seniors need to make care choices.
“As a state, we are facing a significant increase in our senior population and we want to ensure that they are aware of all long-term care options available to them. SB 888 is a common sense approach to arming our seniors with the information they need to make truly informed decisions about how and where they receive the care they deserve,” Bush said.
