Industry Leaders Split on Whether Skilled Nursing’s Future Should Include Separate Short, Long-Term Care,” by Amy Stulick, Skilled Nursing News



Quote:

“There has been an increasing call to separate long-term and short-term care in the nursing home sector as acuity rises and facilities take on more specialties, all while facing a staffing shortage. Academics, finance leaders and some operators agree such a separation would be a positive for residents — and maybe even help the staffing crisis — but the big question is where long-term Medicaid beneficiaries would go if they’re not occupying beds in a nursing home. Some believe these residents would eventually be absorbed into assisted living and home and community-based services (HCBS). While these parts of the care continuum cover Medicaid beneficiaries in some capacity, it’s not the norm – at least not yet.”

 

 

LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:

It all boils down to Medicaid, as always. Watch for my forthcoming paper “Long-Term Care: The Problem” to be followed in a few months by “Long-Term Care: The Solution.” In the meantime, have a look at “The Sirens’ Call, The Primrose Path, and Assisted Living,” Assisted Living, April 2004. It warns that moving Medicaid recipients from nursing homes to assisted living will have the effect of ruining assisted living just as supporting long-term Medicaid custodial patients ruined nursing homes.