Post by pavel on Jan 21, 2016 18:04:55 GMT -6
HONOLULU (AP) -- Hawaii lawmakers are introducing a bill that could make the state the first in the nation to offer long-term care benefits to seniors.
Democratic Sen. Rosalyn Baker said during a legislative hearing Thursday that the bill would provide eligible seniors with a benefit of $70 per day for a year.
The seniors could use the benefit to pay family caregivers, hire in-home aides and help offset the cost of safety equipment, like walkers and ramps.
The bill would ask for a 0.5 percent increase in Hawaii's general excise tax to cover the costs. The tax is about 4 percent and it's added to most business transactions in the state.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HAWAII_LONG_TERM_CARE_BILL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-21-18-26-18
Democratic Sen. Rosalyn Baker said during a legislative hearing Thursday that the bill would provide eligible seniors with a benefit of $70 per day for a year.
The seniors could use the benefit to pay family caregivers, hire in-home aides and help offset the cost of safety equipment, like walkers and ramps.
The bill would ask for a 0.5 percent increase in Hawaii's general excise tax to cover the costs. The tax is about 4 percent and it's added to most business transactions in the state.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HAWAII_LONG_TERM_CARE_BILL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-21-18-26-18