LTC Providers Blast MedPAC Funding Recommendations
Washington, DC -- 12/13/2004 -- (Eli Digital) With their staffing costs
on the rise, long-term care providers say it would be mistake for
Medicare to freeze their payment rates.
The American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality
Nursing Home Care are criticizing the Medicare Payment Advisory
Commission's 2006 funding recommendation, saying that MedPAC's proposal
to hold the line on reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities would
be "failed policy." MedPAC met last week in Washington to consider
payment recommendations for skilled nursing facilities and other health
care providers.
"Since 1997, skilled nursing providers have been on an
economic roller coaster ride of Medicare cuts followed by temporarily
restored funding," said AHCA President and CEO Hal Daub. "Making
matters worse, Medicaid under-funds care for two out of every three
senior citizens in nursing homes, at a total annual loss of $4.1
billion. The Medicare program has provided the safety net for Medicaid,
ensuring that poor seniors have access to quality long-term care."
MedPAC noted that SNFs had an average Medicare profit margin
of 11 percent in 2003 and are projected to have an average 13 percent
Medicare profit margin in 2005.
5:29:15 AM 
|
|
