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* * * Gov. Kempthorne Launches Long-Term Care Agenda With National PBS Broadcast December 10, 2003 Click here to view broadcast. http://www.nga.org/NewsRoom/Multimedia/1,2141,,00.html WASHINGTON - To begin a national dialogue among government leaders, the business community, and everyday Americans about ways to prepare for the nation's burgeoning aging population, Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne kicked off his initiative as NGA chairman Dec. 10 with a nationally broadcast PBS program. A cross-section of the nation's governors - including Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen - joined Gov. Kempthorne, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former White House Budget Director and Congressional Budget Office Director Alice Rivlin for Living Better: A National Conversation on Aging. Moderated by Morton Kondracke, executive editor of the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call and co-host of Fox News Channel's The Beltway Boys, the hour-long program featured a lively discussion of the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing policymakers as America's population ages. Driving the conversation is the compelling statistic that underscores the need to change America's culture of long-term care: Nearly 77 million baby boomers will begin to turn age 65 by 2008 - that's more than double the current population of seniors. Those citizens could overwhelm America's health care system, experts warn. The average retiree has saved $30,000 for retirement yet one year in a nursing home costs more than $50,000 and the average stay is more than two years. For state governments, Medicaid pays the largest percentage, 44 percent or $76.5 billion, of all long-term care costs. "Nearly every American will encounter the need for long-term care," said Gov. Kempthorne. "We can change the health care culture in this country to help our seniors age healthier and to help our states provide more dignified care. But we must begin to act now." In addition to financial planning for retirement, the program focused on issues ranging from building community-based care systems and providing support for caregivers, to promoting wellness and disease management and utilizing technology to enhance the quality of life of seniors and provide cost effective care. The show is expected to air on top PBS stations, including those in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, and Dallas. The program also will be broadcast in the home states of the governors who will be participating. Viewers should consult their local listings for when the program will air in their market. The governors participating in the production were selected because of their service on NGA's A Lifetime of Health and Dignity Task Force, established as part of Gov. Kempthorne's initiative. Other members of panel include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius,Maine Gov. John Baldacci, New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey, Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The Dec. 10 production is the first in a series of events designed to engage governors, other policymakers, and the private sector. NGA will host a policy forum this Spring in Chicago where state teams will have the opportunity to hear from national experts and can begin developing a framework for addressing their long-term care challenges. Gov. Kempthorne's initiative also will be front and center at the association's Winter Meeting in February and Annual Meeting in July in Seattle. Related Files: Living Better: Preliminary Carriage Report http://www.nga.org/cda/files/0312LIVINGBETTER.PDF Video Files http://www.nga.org/NewsRoom/Multimedia/ Broadcast Transcript http://www.nga.org/cda/files/0312PBSTRANSCRIPT.PDF SOURCE: National Govrnors Association http://www.nga.org/nga/newsRoom/pressReleaseDetailPrint/1,1422,6204,00.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn