Nursing homes sound alarm on Wolf budget
At issue is the reimbursement paid to long-term care facilities for the cost of caring for residents enrolled in Medicaid.
According to the
Representatives for long-term facilities say the failure to raise the reimbursement rate in the most recent budget puts nursing homes in an untenable situation.
The president of the
"Nursing facilities cannot sustain flat funding for a fourth straight year, and increased support for our sickest, frailest elderly residents and those providing their care in this budget is essential," said McDaid.
McDaid cited the continued growth of funds for other programs as an example he hopes the state will follow when it comes to nursing facilities.
"Education, for instance, has seen year-over-year increases in funding since the governor took office," said McDaid.
The
On average, nursing homes in the commonwealthlose
That shortfall widens as patients and residents grow in numbers and bring with them more intensive care needs. According to the PHCA, as medical advancements increase life expectancy, Americans over 5 are the fastest growing age group in the state.
These changes mean the funding shortfall applies even more pressure to the industry, said
"You dont have to be a financial wizard to figure out that, over time, its an unsustainable pressure," said Proctor.
According to
"One might ask How do you stay in business?" he said. "You charge privately paying residents and their families higher rates to make up what the state is supposed to pay. Its really a stealth health care tax that the governor and the legislator are imposing upon private payers and their families.
According to PHCA, 26 percent of long-term facility costs are paid for by either private insurance or out of pocket. The average annual cost for a single bedroom at a long-term nursing facility is over
Medicaid shortfalls are a problem for long-term care facilities across the country. According to an analysis commissioned by the
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