Senior Spotlight: Nursing Home Funding
By: Megan Dobbs
Updated: May 6, 2009
The state of Texas reimburses nursing homes less than 48 other states, and now law-makers are looking to change that.
There are about 20 nursing homes in Abilene, not even counting the rest of the Big Country.
That's thousands of local seniors affected by this type of state funding.
Several lawmakers, the AARP, and other groups want the state of Texas to up the amount it pays to care for Medicaid patients in nursing homes.
Democratic representative, Patrick Rose, who chairs the House Human Services Committee, says an estimated 368 million dollars in new money is needed for the coming two-year budget.
The money would be to operate and staff nursing homes that serve Medicaid patients.
The state Medicaid reimbursement for the homes is $112 per day.
Advocates say Texas hasn't funded cost increases for Medicaid nursing home residents since 1999.
Texas nursing homes that offer Medicaid serve 60,000 residents.
The corresponding Senior Spotlight video should read, "Derral Reed, Owner Home Instead Senior Care" for the last soundbite
