Gov. Edwards accused of breaking promise to pursue policy to allow more seniors better path to at-home care
More than two years later, having won the election, Edwards has taken no action. Though the governor maintains his commitment hasn't wavered, his support seems to have grown tepid as he often casts doubt on whether the policy is the right course to pursue.
This year, his words have come back to haunt him.
"My commitment is to do everything possible to make sure individuals get to stay in their homes longer, as they want to. Long-term managed care, with a comprehensive model, including nursing homes, is absolutely my goal," Edwards said in a recorded interview in 2015 with
Edwards, at the time, acknowledged that he had some concerns about maintaining quality of care. But he was resolute that there was a way to make it work for
This past week Edwards' words were quoted in committee hearings by two Republican legislators,
"Wow, that was a firm promise to the seniors of our state," Appel subsequently tweeted about Edwards. "What happened to honoring promises!"
The legislators used Edwards' remarks in the closing of their bills, both of which did not advance in the face of opposition from the powerful nursing home industry. Edwards' administration could implement the plan by directing the
Similarly,
"Seniors have clearly demonstrated they want to live at home, and the governor needs to remember that he already has a solution in front of him and can keep a campaign promise with the stroke of a pen," said
Over the past years Edwards has expressed waning confidence in the proposal. Asked about his inaction, he's previously cited concerns that managed care would reduce quality for seniors and has raised questions about upfront costs and problems in other states.
This week, when asked about the accusation that he had gone back on his word, his spokesman reaffirmed the governor's commitment to the plan but cited costs as the major deterrent.
"Both the governor and the
Bacala and Appel say the initial implementation costs are unclear because the administration has yet to produce a report that examines what it would take to make the change. They also noted that most projections show the change generating money for the state within a couple of years.
"Imagine if we'd implemented it last year or the year before," Bacala said. "Would be nice to have that money coming into the state by now, wouldn't it?"
Carbo firmly pushed back against the mounting criticism by the advocacy organization that has long been friendly to Edwards.
"Unfortunately, the staff at
Edwards' predecessor
Edwards has received more than
Providing home- and community-based support, in lieu of nursing homes, is less expensive to the state. However, the state's policies and resources favor nursing homes, and there is a waiting list of 28,000 people who want home- and community-based services.
The idea of managed care is that if insurance companies were hired to manage the elderly Medicaid population, more people would be served in their home with medical help and daily assistance because it's a less expensive service for the state.
Berger said there are many examples of states fumbling long-term managed care, adding that sometimes even home- and community-based providers complain about reductions in quality of care and an increase in claims being denied.
Managed care, however, is not a new a concept to
And even Edwards has repeatedly affirmed that he believes managed care is working for the rest of the state. That's exactly why Muhl said he isn't buying the governor's concerns that managed care won't work here.
"We are already managing the care of the majority of the Medicaid population with improved savings and quality care. Why not manage the care of our seniors too?" Muhl said.
___
(c)2018 The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
Visit The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La. at www.theadvocate.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
OPINION: Listen to Jesus, not GOP, on Medicaid work requirements
James Conaway, chronicler of Napa Valley wine industry, warns money threatens to ruin America’s Eden
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News