| First, what is Medicaid?.......... | | | | |
| | | | "We are completely at the mercy of Medicaid |
| Well, Medicaid is a Federal medical bills | | | | for our stability," she said. Flannery said |
| assistance program that pays medical bills | | | | that for the current rate year, which ends |
| for eligible, needy persons. It is | | | | Sept. 30, nursing homes in North Carolina are |
| administered by each state. All payments are | | | | projected to incur a $117-million loss for |
| made directly to the providers of medical and | | | | Medicaid patients.. |
| other health care services. The | | | | |
| Medicaid-eligible person does not pay the | | | | "You can only bleed your private-pay patients |
| health care provider for services. The only | | | | so much," Flannery said. |
| exception is a patient in a Medicaid-approved | | | | |
| nursing facility who may be required to | | | | If changes aren't made, wage-earners in |
| contribute part of his/her income toward the | | | | future decades could be paying larger sums of |
| cost of care. | | | | their earnings just to help pay for the |
| | | | upkeep of the elderly and other health |
| Medicaid is welfare for the poor, the true | | | | benefits, he said. |
| and honest poor. Medicaid is NOT for people | | | | |
| of means trying to fake impoverishment in | | | | At the current pace, 40 percent of all wages |
| order to get on the dole. That door has been | | | | would be needed to pay for Social Security, |
| slammed shut. | | | | Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans |
| | | | Administration benefits by 2050, Moses said. |
| Reflecting a national problem, leaders of | | | | |
| North Carolina's nursing home and long-term | | | | "The trends can't continue and won't," he |
| care facilities say that the money which | | | | added. |
| Medicaid provides for patient care simply | | | | |
| isn't enough to cover costs. | | | | Flannery would like to see a tax credit |
| | | | reinstated that would give individuals a |
| North Carolina's problems reflect a grrowing | | | | break if they purchase their own long term |
| national concern. It's a trend that likely | | | | care insurance, and we agree. |
| could send the industry spiralling into a | | | | |
| financial crash, said the head of a reform | | | | In any case, long term care insurance is wise |
| group. | | | | for all to consider, as you cannot count on |
| | | | the citizenry and its elected officials to |
| As the public funding infrastructure implodes | | | | loosen their purse strings at this late date. |
| over the next decade or two, we're going to | | | | It won't happen any time soon, believe me. |
| hurt a lot of poor people who won't have any | | | | That's fantasy-based wishful thinking. |
| access to a decent safety net. | | | | Period. |
| | | | |
| Stacy Flannery, with the N.C. Health Care | | | | Long term care insurance activist, Clay |
| Facilities Association, said that nursing | | | | Cotton, writes for - The Online Baby Boomers |
| homes in North Carolina are approaching a | | | | Decision Assistance Center, where you get |
| $14-per-patient per-day loss when caring for | | | | Free Long Term Care Insurance advice, |
| Medicaid patients. And she said that the care | | | | comparative rate quotes and personal |
| of about 75 percent of the patients in North | | | | guidance, all while safely at home in your |
| Carolina nursing homes is paid for by | | | | favorite pajamas and bunny slippers. |
| Medicaid. | | | | |