 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
James H. Swan, PhD1, Padma Gulur, BDS1, Charlene Harrington, PhD2, and Ruth B. Pickard, PhD3. (1) Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University, 1845 N. Fairmount, Box 152, Wichita, KS 67620-0152, 316 978 5634, jim.swan@wichita.edu, (2) Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California St, Suite 455, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612, (3) Dept. of Public Health Sciences, Witchita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0152
Medicaid reimbursement for nursing facility care has long been a matter of concern, but it now faces an unprecedented state fiscal melt-down. Although state cutbacks can take many forms, cutting payment to providers may be a 'more popular' approach than cutting benefits or narrowing eligibility, while still effectively limited utilization as well as payment for services used. We report data on reimbursement rates and policies through 2002. Through that period, state cuts in reimbursement had not yet appeared: 2002 rate data show only one statewide example of an absolute decreases in rates, one example of no change, only two other states with increases less than the rate of inflation, and quite a few robust increases in rates. However, calls for such cuts, and statements by some state decisionmakers of such intent, make it likely that such cuts in reimbursement rates will appear starting in 2003. We will report: data from surveys of state Medicaid programs through 2002, and data from multiple sources illuminating potential and actual state actions in the 2003 rate year.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Medicaid, Nursing Homes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.