Long Term Care Authority looking to the future and in-home care

40,000 Oklahomans relied on Medicaid for their long-term health care last year. That number is expected to grow significantly in the next decade. <br/><br/>That's why the Long Term Care Authority

Monday, January 10th 2005, 12:10 pm

By: News On 6

40,000 Oklahomans relied on Medicaid for their long-term health care last year. That number is expected to grow significantly in the next decade.

That's why the Long Term Care Authority met with Tulsa leaders and area lawmakers Monday. The goal is to save the state money by helping folks get treatment at home, rather than nursing homes.

Long Term Care Authority CEO, Dr Deborah Karns: "Nursing home care is over 2 times more expensive than in-home care. So, if we fund the majority of people in in-home care, the state saves significant amount of money.â€

Karns says if this problem of long term care is not taken care of, by the year 2020, Oklahoma will be looking at a price tag in the billions of dollars.