The Journal of Elder Policy Volume 1, Number 1, Summer 2020 | Page 40

Policy Does Matter: Changing an Unchangeable Long-Term Services System
the federal Older Americans Act are inadequate.
Therefore, it will be critical to
provide resources to target supportive
and preventive services to those with
moderate levels of disability and moderate-income
levels to prevent premature
reliance on Medicaid.
Conclusion
This paper has documented the
tremendous changes that have
occurred in the long-term services
and support system, using Ohio
as an example of a state that has made
dramatic changes based on dedicated
policy efforts. The shifts that have occurred
in Ohio were unexpected and in
fact were deemed politically unimaginable
two decades ago. The changes
have been dramatic and are the result of
an array of public and private decisions.
Despite this progress, the challenges of
tomorrow are more daunting than the
hurdles we have already faced. As the
population of older people with disabilities
continues to increase, it will be
critical to adapt our approach to delivering,
financing, regulating, and staffing
our system of long-term services
and supports. Future policy decisions
will indeed matter.
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