Appropriations Committee takes testimony on Medicaid support for nursing homes

BEATRICE – The Appropriations Committee of the Nebraska Legislature held hearings this week on bills involving rates at assisted living and nursing homes who see a large segment of Medicaid patients.

Senator Myron Dorn has proposed intent legislation to deal with what could become a crisis in long-term care. "The last three years, we've lost 29 nursing homes....they closed down in the State of Nebraska...out of a little over 200 and some. If we continue at that rate and we have ten nursing homes close every year, we will be pretty soon in a crisis mode, for nursing homes."

Dorn says some of the homes face difficulty finding enough staff…and the Medicaid reimbursement rate is inadequate. "The nursing homes in Nebraska are about 60-percent Medicaid people. The Medicaid rate does not cover the total cost in nursing homes....so the private-pay people are having to make that up. That rate hasn't been increasing at the rate of inflation...so it becomes really a challenge. If you get up into that 75, 80-percent Medicaid-rate people in your facility....you won't be open very long...because you just cannot have enough income, to overcome that."

The 30th District Senator also had two bills before the Appropriations Committee this week involving budgetary support for behavioral health needs in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Legislature will hit the halfway mark of its 60-day session, next Tuesday.