Yesterday's New York Times highlighted a little-discussed issue that I have seen grow worse as the total number of nursing home beds has decreased: an absolute shortage of beds for men seeking a nursing home placement. As noted in the article, the majority of nursing home beds are in semi-private rooms. Since over 75% of nursing home residents are women, that leaves precious few available beds for our elderly male population.
I have seen a number of instances recently in the Hudson Valley where a family has had to scramble to find a nursing home bed for an elderly male parent or other relative. With the possibility that Valley View may be shut down this summer, and the general decline in nursing home beds throughout the region, I don't see the problem improving anytime sone.
Showing posts with label nursing homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nursing homes. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Proposed GOP Budget Plan Would Slash Nursing Home Medicaid Benefits
Most of the analysis of the Republican's proposed budget (crafted largely by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan) has focused on its potential impact to the Medicare program. As discussed in yesterday's New York Times, however, the impact of that budget on seniors might be felt more acutely in the reduction in Medicaid payments for nursing home costs.
Approximately seventy percent of all nursing home residents are on Medicaid. A significant portion of those residents began receiving nursing home Medicaid coverage only after spending down most of their assets (or if they had good legal advice, after protecting a portion of their assets through effective planning). Under the proposed GOP budged, Medicaid (like Medicare) would be doled out in block grants to the states, with the annual grants to increase only at the rate of inflation. Since health care costs have consistently increased well in excess of the inflation rate, states would necessarily have to curtail their Medicaid expenditures, unless they were to raise state taxes to cover the shortfall.
Click here to read the New York Times article.
Approximately seventy percent of all nursing home residents are on Medicaid. A significant portion of those residents began receiving nursing home Medicaid coverage only after spending down most of their assets (or if they had good legal advice, after protecting a portion of their assets through effective planning). Under the proposed GOP budged, Medicaid (like Medicare) would be doled out in block grants to the states, with the annual grants to increase only at the rate of inflation. Since health care costs have consistently increased well in excess of the inflation rate, states would necessarily have to curtail their Medicaid expenditures, unless they were to raise state taxes to cover the shortfall.
Click here to read the New York Times article.
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