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Nursing Home Update
November 18, 2009

NURSING FACILITIES ESCAPE LATEST ROUND OF BUDGET CUTS 

Today, at the Board of Public Works meeting, the Governor presented approximately $360 million in additional budget cuts to close out the FY2010 fiscal year.  Total budget reductions for FY2010 have now totaled over $1 billion.  Nursing facilities DID NOT incur any additional cuts.  However, other programs within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene did incur additional reductions, such as:   

  • Medicaid payments to hospitals ($21 million GF Savings)
  • Mental health savings from tighter utilization review and increased review of eligibility criteria ($6.5 million GF Savings)
  • Recover and revert funding for managed care organizations on behalf of Medicaid enrollees later determined ineligible ($900,000)

A complete listing of today's budget cuts can be found on the Governor's website.  As the State begins to debate the FY2011 budget and how to address the projected $2 billion deficit, LifeSpan is advocating against any additional cuts to the nursing facility industry and is working with our members to educate legislators on the impact that these cuts have on operations and quality of care. 

LIFESPAN SEEKING TO QUANTIFY COSTS RELATED TO DELAYS IN MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND/OR NON-PAYMENT OF SERVICES

To assist us in this endeavor, LifeSpan is asking each nursing facility to complete a survey.  As legislators begin to debate the FY2011 budget, we need to ensure that the full fiscal picture is being taken into account.  Not only are nursing facilities facing unprecedented State and federal cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, but these cuts are exacerbated by delays in Medicaid eligibility and non-payment of services as a result of residents being determined ineligible or residents/families not assisting in the eligibility process.  Not only does LifeSpan intend to use this information to quantify the fiscal impact on nursing facilities but also to seek changes in the law to assist nursing facilities in addressing non-payment and discharge issues.  Please take a few minutes and complete this survey.  Click HERE to download the survey.  (Remember, member log-in is "quality").

IS YOUR FACILITY EXPERIENCING A SHORTAGE IN SEASONAL FLU VACCINES? 

There have been reports from other states that nursing facilities are experiencing a shortage in seasonal flu vaccines.  The Office of Health Care Quality has inquired as to whether Maryland nursing facilities are also experiencing a shortage.  If your nursing facility is having trouble obtaining an adequate supply of the seasonal flu vaccine, please contact Danna Kauffman at dkauffman@lifespan-network or 410-279-5572 so that we can alert OHCQ and work with you to make sure that you have an adequate supply. 

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS??

Call Danna Kauffman at 410-279-5572 or email at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org

Thank you for your membership and have a great Thanksgiving