PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick together with Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz and Assemblyman Erik Peterson convened a Healthcare Summit this week at Kean University. The 16 panelists included Michele Kent, President and CEO of LeadingAge New Jersey who joined representatives of other patient groups, hospital associations, insurance companies and business groups. The Summit dealt with the challenges regarding healthcare quality, costs, and accessibility.
Asked by Assemblyman Bramnick to pinpoint the single most serious problem facing the non-profit senior programs and services throughout the state, Michele Kent noted, "The lack of coordinated care in Medicare services is one of the highest cost drivers and counter-intuitively often results in much lower quality care."
Michele Kent highlighted an opportunity for good public policy regarding senior care in New Jersey, "If you expand home and community based care thereby forestalling or preventing nursing home care, we can save money while making patients happier."
About LeadingAge NJ
LeadingAge New Jersey is the statewide association of not-for-profit senior care organizations and is dedicated to advancing quality aging services in New Jersey through advocacy, education, and fellowship. Founded in 1931, LeadingAge New Jersey and its members believe in affirming the enduring value of our elders to society, to family and to the community; promoting quality, stewardship and choice in aging services; advancing mission driven values, compassionate services and public trust; being accountable to those we serve; and developing ethical leadership.