Low-cost living puts pressure on social services

Thursday, March 2, 2006

Small rural communities in Nebraska have had an influx of people with social problems in the past few years, State Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton said this morning during a conference call to the legislative committee of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce.

"It's not unique to Nebraska," Baker said. "Rural areas in other states are experiencing similar increases of people caught up in the drug culture." According to the Nebraska lawmaker, those with social problems are attracted to small rural towns by the low cost of living, particularly cheap housing.

The problem is compounded by the numbers game, with Nebraska agencies rewarded with more money for serving more people in need. Jerda Garey, a member of the McCook Chamber legislative committee, pointed out that, "There is no funding without numbers."

The increasing social problems are placing funding pressure on the state's lawmakers, Sen. Baker said. "We are going to have to set limits," he said. "We need to have defined benefits," he declared, otherwise Medicaid costs are going to overwhelm the state.

Another problem causing escalating Medicaid costs is overuse of emergency rooms for basic medical problems. New immigrants, with limited English speaking ability and no primary physician, often go to the ER when a medical problem arises, in many cases because they don't know what else to do.

To remedy that problem, Sen. Baker and Gary Bieganski, president of Community Hospital of McCook, talked about the need to develop outreach clinics to treat basic medical concerns.

A roomful of people gathered for this morning's legislative conference call in the Chamber's board room. Taking part on the McCook end were Mike O'Dell, Marvin Lorentz, Dixie Lorentz, Jesse Stevens, Jerda Garey, Gary Bieganski, Jim Ulrich, Leon Kuhlen, Angus Garey, Duane Tappe, Rex Nelson, Pam Harsh, Gene Morris and Ike Brown.

During the hour-long session, Sen. Baker also discussed worker's compensation, benefits for military retirees, Health and Human Services' funding, the $2.7 million Bostwick District buyout, the retail tax free weekend and funding for local law enforcement training.

The Trenton lawmaker told the Chamber's executive director, Pam Harsh, that the tax-free retail weekend is not on the legislative agenda this year. It was proposed last year as a way to encourage back-to-school shopping.

At the close of the conference call, Sen. Baker joined the group in endorsing Greg Wolford of McCook for reappointment to the state highway commission. He also spoke briefly about the 44th District legislative race. Seven candidates have filed for the post and Baker encouraged them to study the issues and come to Lincoln to see the Legislature in action.

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