State Medicaid officials to hold public meetings in Vegas, Reno

Friday, July 9, 1999 | 9 a.m.

Paul Gowins, confined to a wheelchair, said there's no public transportation to get to Carson City.

His comments were echoed by Brian Lahren, who heads an independent social services agency in Reno. He said public transportation was "minimal at best" for the disabled.

Janice Wright, who has been acting administrator of the state Division of Health Care Financing and Policy for about six months, said she would be glad to schedule hearings in Las Vegas and Reno.

But she said the agency has limited money for travel. Gowins replied the money was no more limited than the $500 a month some of the handicapped must live on.

Wright suggested there might be televised hearings. And Gowins said there would be a lot more attendance at these hearings if they were held in metropolitan areas.

Wright conceded that a hearing room in the Legislature Wednesday was not a good place for the more than 10 people in wheelchairs who attended.

The hearing was on how to spend the $918,000 the Legislature allocated to expand services for the physically disabled. The division plans to try to move the disabled on Medicaid out of nursing homes where possible and into less restricted living arrangements.

Wright said there isn't enough money to do everything and she wanted to hear from those who know best what is needed. There are an estimated 160 persons on the waiting list to get into the program.

Lahren said some priorities for spending the new money should be training in "assisted living skills" for the disabled; and modification of homes to make it easier for the handicapped from everything from switching on lights to turning on water.

Gowins said basic services that should be financed include helping with chores such as unpacking groceries, modification of homes and helping the individual in the home.