title: The role of the media in agenda setting: the case of long-term care rebalancing.
abstract: This study investigates the role of print media in state policy agendas in four states-Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, and Utah-in rebalancing long-term care away from institutions toward home- and community-based (HCBS) services. Ordinary least squares regression is used to model states' policy agendas, as measured by the proportion of Medicaid long-term care spending on HCBS expenditures and number of rebalancing bills proposed, from 1999 to 2008. Results reveal a relationship between states' rebalancing agendas and the extent of media coverage, and state economic, political, and programmatic characteristics. Findings suggest that media coverage reflects broader shifts in state-level attitudes toward rebalancing.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gerontology and Gerontology Institute , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Edward Alan
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nadash
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D003237:Connecticut; D006291:Health Policy; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D008402:Mass Media; D008910:Minnesota; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009922:Oregon; D011050:Policy Making; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014589:Utah
keywords: Medicaid; agenda setting; home- and community-based services; long-term services and supports; mass media; state policy making