PRINTER'S NO. 1366
No. 241 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY CASORIO, SURRA, BELFANTI, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE,
CAPPELLI, CAUSER, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE,
GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HESS,
HUTCHINSON, JAMES, KORTZ, MAHONEY, McILHATTAN, PETRONE,
PICKETT, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, WALKO AND WOJNAROSKI,
APRIL 23, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
APRIL 23, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Secretary of Aging to cease and desist from any
2 action transferring long-term care assessments from the
3 Commonwealth's area agencies on aging to a private
4 contractor.
5 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's area agencies on aging were
6 created under Act 1978-70 so that all funding for older
7 Pennsylvanians could be channeled into regional agencies,
8 providing for a coordinated continuum of home-based and
9 community-based services; and
10 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's area agencies on aging continue
11 to carry out their mission through a variety of services,
12 including transportation, meals on wheels, adult day care and
13 personal care; and
14 WHEREAS, Area agencies on aging have evolved into a "one-
15 stop" shop for older Pennsylvanians, thereby minimizing their
16 exposure to bureaucratic obstacles in their efforts to access
1 programs and services; and
2 WHEREAS, More than 20 years ago, area agencies on aging and
3 the Department of Aging collaborated on the development and
4 implementation of a Statewide, standardized assessment process
5 in order to best determine the long-term needs of older
6 Pennsylvanians; and
7 WHEREAS, The Department of Aging has proposed transferring
8 that assessment function from the area agencies on aging to a
9 private contractor without consulting that network or holding
10 public hearings; and
11 WHEREAS, Where assessments can now be completed in a period
12 of one to two days, a centralized assessment conducted by a
13 private contractor could take considerably longer, thereby
14 delaying services to needy older citizens and possibly
15 jeopardizing their care; and
16 WHEREAS, It has not been demonstrated that a private
17 contractor would provide improved assessment services or reduce
18 costs; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives strongly urge the
20 Secretary of Aging to cease and desist any action transferring
21 long-term care assessments from the Commonwealth's area agencies
22 on aging to a private contractor; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives strongly urge the
24 Secretary of Aging to meet representatives of every area agency
25 on aging and with the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies
26 on Aging to discuss the proposed transfer, sharing with them any
27 pertinent data; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
29 the Governor and to the Secretary of Aging.
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