Senator Berglin agreed about the importance of a competitive wage level but also noted that the things that matter to the workers are not all monetary but are more related to working conditions. Task Force members were given the opportunity to ask questions about the ideas and discuss them. Representative Greenfield responded that this would happen. Michael Bailit reminded the Task Force that the approach taken with this strategy could vary. Options include letting the individual decide on a wage level or establishing a fixed fee schedule.
Individuals have discretion over how their money is used.
The back-up option if a person spends their allotment is the nursing home. The Task Force discussed ways in which to modify the required pool of individuals to pay into long-term care insurance. This would respond to the ongoing need for information that the task force heard voiced at the public meetings. Senator Berglin asked staff about the possibility of creating low income assisted living and calling it a nursing home, through the Medicaid program. Other strategies include the separation of payment for housing and services, which would eliminate the spenddown amount.