Rally to be Held on April 29 in Opposition to RI Governor's Proposed Nursing Home Cuts
Warwick, RI (PRWEB) April 26, 2008 -- Governor Carcieri's proposed 2009 budget calls for funding cuts that would have drastic implications on the care provided in Rhode Island's nursing homes. If implemented, these cuts would cause irreparable damage to the quality of care provided to approximately 9000 Rhode Island nursing home residents and cause some facilities to close, forcing residents out of what has become for many, their home.
On Tuesday, April 29, nursing home staff, advocates, and residents and their families, will hold a rally at the State House voicing collective opposition to these proposed cuts to nursing home care. The rally is expected to draw a crowd of hundreds of concerned Rhode Islanders, with speakers ranging from Stephen Jennings of AARP
to Rick Gamache, Chair of RIHCA.
Where: Rhode Island State House, Capitol Hill, Providence, RI
When: Tuesday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m.
BACKGROUND: The proposed nursing home budget cuts include a delay in the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which would postpone an annual inflationary adjustment that nursing homes receive in their reimbursement rates to counter inflationary increases, saving the state $1.9 million. Though the state would save $1.9 million, providers would lose nearly $4 million due to a loss in matching federal funds. Last year, a delay in the COLA resulted in approximately $7 million in decreased funding. Nursing homes cannot withstand further COLA delays without sacrificing the quality of care and services and/or reducing care staff.
Another significant proposed cut is a reduction in labor reimbursement, slated to save the state $2.4 million in general revenues by revising the labor reimbursement ceilings in nursing home payment rates. Due to a loss in federal matching funds, nursing homes would lose roughly twice that amount. The reduction in the labor cap would leave facilities that have already spent monies on labor in accordance with the rules of state law, without reimbursement for that expense. That will financially cripple many facilities.
Studies show that nursing homes are consistently under-funded for the actual cost of care by the Medicaid system by millions of dollars every year. Providers fear these additional cuts would be the tipping point that would seriously impede the provision of quality care and availability of necessary services.
PARTICIPATING SPEAKERS:
? Rick Gamache, Chair, Rhode Island Health Care Association; Administrator,
Elmhurst Extended Care in Providence
? Stephen Jennings, AARP
? Roberta Hawkins, Executive Director, The Alliance for Better Long Term Care
Established in 1972, Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA) is a non-profit organization focused on providing accessible, quality health care to Rhode Islanders. RIHCA is comprised of approximately two-thirds of Rhode Island's skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities. Today, RIHCA facilities care for over 7,000 people each year, in every Rhode Island community. RIHCA is located in Warwick, Rhode Island. For more information, contact RIHCA at (401)732-9333.
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