Because that’s what we need in uncertain economic times.  More government spending!

Via emailed press release:

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today unveiled a $32 million plan to help North Dakota children and working families, as well as to create greater independence and security for seniors and people with disabilities.

EXPANDED HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED CARE

Hoeven’s plan includes more than $17 million to help North Dakota’s elderly and people with disabilities maintain their independence and security.

“By expanding home and community-based care, we can give seniors greater choice and help them stay in their homes longer,” Hoeven said.

· Aged and Disabled Resource Center – Single Point of Entry: Hoeven today also proposed an initiative to establish an Aging and Disabled Resource Center to serve as a single point of entry to long-term care services and support. ADCR staff will work with senior citizens, people with disabilities, and their families to help them find long-term support and care services to meet their unique needs.

· Expanding Medicaid Personal Care: Personal Care Services assist an individual with activities of daily living, such as housekeeping and meal preparation, so that the individual is able to live at home. Hoeven is proposing raising the number of hours available for assistance from 64 to 80 hours to better serve individuals at home.

· Increasing Medically Needy Income Levels – Would increase the amount of income Medicaid eligible individuals can keep for basic needs like food and shelter from $500 to $720 for a one-person household and from $516 to $969 for a two-person household.

· Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): A new program, initially in Bismarck and Dickinson, which provides seniors with managed care services enabling them to stay in their homes.

In addition, Hoeven is proposing other enhancements to home and community-based care for North Dakotans:

· Revising the SPED Fee Schedule – Would reduce the cost sharing payment for the SPED program (Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled) to allow individuals with higher income levels to keep more of their income for personal needs.

· Removing the Cap (HCBS) for Adult Family Foster Care – Would provide full reimbursement for needs like laundry, shopping and housekeeping to each eligible individual living in a family foster care setting, rather than splitting the reimbursement among all recipients.

· Increasing the Personal Needs Allowance for Individuals Receiving Social Security Supplemental Income – Would increase the Personal Needs Allowance for individuals living in nursing homes and facilities for the developmentally disabled. Allowances for items like clothing and toiletries would increase from the $30 Supplemental Security Income level to $50 per month.

· Increasing the personal Needs Allowance for Developmentally Disabled Individuals – Would increase the personal needs allowance for individuals in a facility for the developmentally disabled from $50 to $60 per month.

· Expanded Home-delivered Meals and Non-medical Transportation Services: Expands existing meals program and provides transportation services for home-based individuals needing services such as banking and grocery shopping.

I know it’s not politically expedient to come out against money for the disabled and elderly, but c’mon.  Hoeven says this spending will make these people more independent.  That’s bunk.  Government programs make people dependent on government.

This sort of entitlement spending is the sort that never, ever goes away.  And while North Dakota may be bucking national economic trends right now, there’s no guarantees that our economic prosperity will continue.  Now is not the time for big new spending projects.