“Low Medicaid Rates Cause Skilled Nursing Crisis in Washington State,” by Maggie Flynn, Skilled Nursing News

“It’s unlikely that the state of Washington intended to put its skilled nursing facilities on the brink of disaster when it overhauled its Medicaid system in 2016, but leaders of both LeadingAge Washington and the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) said that’s exactly what has occurred as providers across the state try to keep their doors open. … Though there are different estimates of how big the gap is between that rate and the cost of providing care to a Medicaid resident, providers agree that that reimbursement isn’t sufficient by itself, Wielga told SNN. … In the state of Washington, Medicaid residents generally account for about 60% of skilled nursing residents, and providers could be losing anywhere from $35 to $47 a day on those patients, Dale told SNN.”

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

Live by Medicaid; die by Medicaid.

#goldencareagent
#medicaid