7am News, Sports and Obits

Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Long-term Health Care Absent From U.S. Debate
MIAMI (AP) -- Even as the health care debate rages in Washington, scant attention has been given to providing long-term care for the elderly and disabled.

Meanwhile, the issue is driving millions into poverty, stressing families, and straining federal and state budgets.

President Barack Obama has remained largely silent on a long-term care plan, one of the pieces the late Senator Ted Kennedy saw as key to an overhaul bill.

Such a plan is included in the bill Kennedy's health committee wrote, but it has not become regarded as a must-have component.

Although it's unlikely that plan would solve the long-term care crisis, it would address an issue that has vexed policymakers and caregivers for decades. And it would mark the first time the government provided nursing homes and other care for the masses.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
09 19 09 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.