| First, what is Medicaid?.......... | | | | are approaching a $14-per-patient per-day loss when |
| Well, Medicaid is a Federal medical bills assistance | | | | caring for Medicaid patients. And she said that the |
| program that pays medical bills for eligible, needy | | | | care of about 75 percent of the patients in North |
| persons. It is administered by each state. All | | | | Carolina nursing homes is paid for by Medicaid. |
| payments are made directly to the providers of | | | | "We are completely at the mercy of Medicaid for our |
| medical and other health care services. The | | | | stability," she said. Flannery said that for the current |
| Medicaid-eligible person does not pay the health care | | | | rate year, which ends Sept. 30, nursing homes in |
| provider for services. The only exception is a patient | | | | North Carolina are projected to incur a $117-million |
| in a Medicaid-approved nursing facility who may be | | | | loss for Medicaid patients.. |
| required to contribute part of his/her income toward | | | | "You can only bleed your private-pay patients so |
| the cost of care. | | | | much," Flannery said. |
| Medicaid is welfare for the poor, the true and honest | | | | If changes aren't made, wage-earners in future |
| poor. Medicaid is NOT for people of means trying to | | | | decades could be paying larger sums of their earnings |
| fake impoverishment in order to get on the dole. | | | | just to help pay for the upkeep of the elderly and |
| That door has been slammed shut. | | | | other health benefits, he said. |
| Reflecting a national problem, leaders of North | | | | At the current pace, 40 percent of all wages would |
| Carolina's nursing home and long-term care facilities | | | | be needed to pay for Social Security, Medicare, |
| say that the money which Medicaid provides for | | | | Medicaid and Veterans Administration benefits by |
| patient care simply isn't enough to cover costs. | | | | 2050, Moses said. |
| North Carolina's problems reflect a grrowing national | | | | "The trends can't continue and won't," he added. |
| concern. It's a trend that likely could send the | | | | Flannery would like to see a tax credit reinstated that |
| industry spiralling into a financial crash, said the head | | | | would give individuals a break if they purchase their |
| of a reform group. | | | | own long term care insurance, and we agree. |
| As the public funding infrastructure implodes over the | | | | In any case, long term care insurance is wise for all |
| next decade or two, we're going to hurt a lot of | | | | to consider, as you cannot count on the citizenry and |
| poor people who won't have any access to a decent | | | | its elected officials to loosen their purse strings at this |
| safety net. | | | | late date. It won't happen any time soon, believe me. |
| Stacy Flannery, with the N.C. Health Care Facilities | | | | That's fantasy-based wishful thinking. Period. |
| Association, said that nursing homes in North Carolina | | | | |