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