Policymakers Must Take A Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As January 1 quickly approaches, LeadingAge, a not-for-profit association for aging services providers with more than 6,000 members nationwide, is urging members of Congress to act before the end of the year to prevent automatic spending reductions, known as sequestration.
LeadingAge fully recognizes the seriousness of the federal budget situation and the need to bring the budget back toward a healthy balance between spending and revenues. But if sequestration occurs, a "fiscal cliff" will mean that federal funding for aging services programs will be cut substantially.
According to a report by the Office of Management and Budget, sequestration will have the following impact on aging services:
The report estimates the cut in Section 202 housing funding at 8.2%, amounting to $31 million.
Section 811 housing for people with disabilities would get an 8.2% cut, amounting to $14 million.
The Administration on Aging, which manages Older Americans Act programs, would get an 8.2% cut, amounting to $121 million.
Medicare reimbursement to health care providers will be cut by 2%. These cuts will amount to an $11 billion cut in Medicare spending.
Medicaid is one of the few federal programs that would be exempt from the automatic spending cuts.
The people that LeadingAge serves depend on Medicare, Medicaid, federal affordable housing programs, and Older Americans Act home- and community-based services for essential long-term care, shelter, nutrition and other services that enable them to age with dignity.
Shifting costs from the federal to state governments or from government programs to consumers and health care providers is not the answer to the federal budget dilemma. Policymakers must address the root causes of excessive spending in ways that will effectively reduce its growth.
Additionally, LeadingAge is concerned about proposals to address the fiscal cliff that include restrictions on income tax deductions, including the one for charitable contributions. LeadingAge members rely heavily on private philanthropy to fund the services they provide for elders.
"The federal budget situation is dire and the need for shared sacrifice to address it is clear," says Larry Minnix, president and CEO of LeadingAge. "However, we must not balance the nation's checkbook on the backs of vulnerable seniors.
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Learning about oral health can be informative and fun at the same time. The Pennsylvania Dental Association's (PDA) website features a section specifically designed for kids, and we encourage you to check it out. The Kids' Corner, www.padental.org/kidscorner , is an excellent resource for children of all ages and features the lovable Topher Tooth. It includes interactive games and activities, information on brushing and flossing, answers to frequently asked questions, nutritional information and more. The Kids' Corner is a valuable resource not just for children, but for parents, teachers and dentists gearing up for National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February. In the Games and Activities section, children will learn how to keep their teeth and gums healthy through a variety of interactive games. Children can explore a dental laboratory, run an experiment to earn a certificate of achievement, test their knowledge of oral health facts on a game show, join Marty on a visit to the dentist and test their memory skills. In the Brushing and Flossing section, Topher Tooth teaches children about the importance of good oral hygiene, how to correctly brush and floss their teeth and how to prevent cavities. In the Nutrition section, Topher Tooth offers children several tips on good nutrition, such as limiting sugary snacks and beverages. Children often have questions about their oral health, such as why they need braces and how they work to straighten teeth. Topher Tooth provides children with answers to frequently asked questions in a language that is easy to understand. PDA's website also contains additional resources for children and parents. PDA encourages you to visit the NCDHM sections for dentists, teachers and students at www.padental.org/ncdhm . Are you a teacher gearing up for NCDHM this February? PDA has free online resources designed to help you educate your students about the importance of good oral health. This year, for the first time, the lesson plan and activity sheets are only available to download at the Teachers' Corner at www.padental.org/teacherscorner. You will be able to get all of the pieces of the lesson plan you've enjoyed over the years, and the colorful classroom posters are still available for you to request via our website. PDA is still sponsoring its annual poster contest for third-grade students. All Pennsylvania third-grade students are eligible to participate in the contest and we are awarding cash prizes to the first, second and third place winners. Visit www.padental.org/ncdhm for the complete list of poster contest rules or for more information on NCDHM.
This article
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Learning about oral health can be informative and fun at the same time. The Pennsylvania Dental Association's (PDA) website features a section specifically designed for kids, and we encourage you to check it out. The Kids' Corner, www.padental.org/kidscorner , is an excellent resource for children of all ages and features the lovable Topher Tooth. It includes interactive games and activities, information on brushing and flossing, answers to frequently asked questions, nutritional information and more. The Kids' Corner is a valuable resource not just for children, but for parents, teachers and dentists gearing up for National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February. In the Games and Activities section, children will learn how to keep their teeth and gums healthy through a variety of interactive games. Children can explore a dental laboratory, run an experiment to earn a certificate of achievement, test their knowledge of oral health facts on a game show, join Marty on a visit to the dentist and test their memory skills. In the Brushing and Flossing section, Topher Tooth teaches children about the importance of good oral hygiene, how to correctly brush and floss their teeth and how to prevent cavities. In the Nutrition section, Topher Tooth offers children several tips on good nutrition, such as limiting sugary snacks and beverages. Children often have questions about their oral health, such as why they need braces and how they work to straighten teeth. Topher Tooth provides children with answers to frequently asked questions in a language that is easy to understand. PDA's website also contains additional resources for children and parents. PDA encourages you to visit the NCDHM sections for dentists, teachers and students at www.padental.org/ncdhm . Are you a teacher gearing up for NCDHM this February? PDA has free online resources designed to help you educate your students about the importance of good oral health. This year, for the first time, the lesson plan and activity sheets are only available to download at the Teachers' Corner at www.padental.org/teacherscorner. You will be able to get all of the pieces of the lesson plan you've enjoyed over the years, and the colorful classroom posters are still available for you to request via our website. PDA is still sponsoring its annual poster contest for third-grade students. All Pennsylvania third-grade students are eligible to participate in the contest and we are awarding cash prizes to the first, second and third place winners. Visit www.padental.org/ncdhm for the complete list of poster contest rules or for more information on NCDHM.
can be opened in url
https://newsermostpopular.blogspot.com/2012/12/harrisburg-pa-dec-20-2012-prnewswire.html
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Learning about oral health can be informative and fun at the same time. The Pennsylvania Dental Association's (PDA) website features a section specifically designed for kids, and we encourage you to check it out. The Kids' Corner, www.padental.org/kidscorner , is an excellent resource for children of all ages and features the lovable Topher Tooth. It includes interactive games and activities, information on brushing and flossing, answers to frequently asked questions, nutritional information and more. The Kids' Corner is a valuable resource not just for children, but for parents, teachers and dentists gearing up for National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February. In the Games and Activities section, children will learn how to keep their teeth and gums healthy through a variety of interactive games. Children can explore a dental laboratory, run an experiment to earn a certificate of achievement, test their knowledge of oral health facts on a game show, join Marty on a visit to the dentist and test their memory skills. In the Brushing and Flossing section, Topher Tooth teaches children about the importance of good oral hygiene, how to correctly brush and floss their teeth and how to prevent cavities. In the Nutrition section, Topher Tooth offers children several tips on good nutrition, such as limiting sugary snacks and beverages. Children often have questions about their oral health, such as why they need braces and how they work to straighten teeth. Topher Tooth provides children with answers to frequently asked questions in a language that is easy to understand. PDA's website also contains additional resources for children and parents. PDA encourages you to visit the NCDHM sections for dentists, teachers and students at www.padental.org/ncdhm . Are you a teacher gearing up for NCDHM this February? PDA has free online resources designed to help you educate your students about the importance of good oral health. This year, for the first time, the lesson plan and activity sheets are only available to download at the Teachers' Corner at www.padental.org/teacherscorner. You will be able to get all of the pieces of the lesson plan you've enjoyed over the years, and the colorful classroom posters are still available for you to request via our website. PDA is still sponsoring its annual poster contest for third-grade students. All Pennsylvania third-grade students are eligible to participate in the contest and we are awarding cash prizes to the first, second and third place winners. Visit www.padental.org/ncdhm for the complete list of poster contest rules or for more information on NCDHM.
