Take steps to prevent nursing home closures
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Why is no one outraged about the closure of city nursing homes? Why aren’t News reporters questioning the motives of the politicians representing Western New York? This is the news that should be on the front page.
Why have they closed? Because the cost of the mandates of the government cannot be met by our Medicaid reimbursement rate. Nursing homes lose money when caring for the poorest of the poor (Medicaid) who live primarily in city facilities. The reimbursement formula is based on 1983 wages. Buffalo’s economy was severely depressed after the closure of the steel mills in 1981-82. At the same time, downstate had a construction boom so wages there were at an all-time high.
In 2009, why aren’t the politicians fixing this disparity? Will the “for-profit” and suburban nursing homes take these residents? I doubt it. What is their ratio of Medicaid versus private pay—maybe 20 percent? City facilities may house upward of 75 percent Medicaid residents.
All talks of health care reform have skipped the step of correcting the unfair reimbursement rates of Buffalo. I challenge The News to investigate the realities of long-term care options in Western New York. We cannot provide appropriate care with our hands tied behind our backs. There are so many questions that should be asked.
Peggy Fagant
Marilla
Published: December 10, 2009, 12:30 am