Statement from LeadingAge on President Obama's 2014 Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --LeadingAge supports the approach President Obama's 2014 budget proposal takes on deficit reduction, balancing spending cuts with increased revenues.

Attempting to reduce the budget deficit through spending cuts alone would impose an intolerable burden on programs serving the nation's most vulnerable citizens.

We applaud the president for including funding for new development of affordable, supportive senior housing.

We will work with the president and Congress on the appropriate scope and funding for this demonstration to address the growing need for senior housing and to show how this initiative can reduce downstream costs in Medicare and Medicaid.

The president's decision to generally protect Medicaid from cuts in federal funding is greatly appreciated. Medicaid is the most prominent public source of funding for long-term services and supports, and many states have had to make cutbacks in their programs over the last few years.  

We support the Obama administration's continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act's many initiatives addressing payment for quality not quantity and for better transitions among various levels of care in order to improve care and reduce costs.  

The proposed restriction on the income tax deduction for charitable contributions is a major concern. With reductions in federal and state spending for long-term services and supports as well as for housing, now is not the time to reduce incentives for donors to contribute to nonprofit organizations.

We continue to examine the president's budget proposal as to its potential impact on providers of long-term services and supports.

We look forward to working with Congress and the Obama administration on the best ways to reduce healthcare costs, to facilitate aging in place in affordable housing, and to ensure quality for older people and those with disabilities.

About LeadingAge

To expand the world of possibilities for aging, LeadingAge members and affiliates touch the lives of 4 million individuals, families, employees and volunteers every day. The LeadingAge community (www.LeadingAge.org) includes 6,000 not-for-profit organizations in the United States, 39 state partners, hundreds of businesses, research partners, consumer organizations, foundations and a broad global network of aging services organizations that reach over 30 countries. The work of LeadingAge is focused on advocacy, education, and applied research. We promote home health, hospice, community-based services, senior housing, assisted living residences, continuing care communities, nursing homes as well as technology solutions and person-centered practices that support the overall health and wellbeing of seniors, children, and those with special needs.

SOURCE LeadingAge