Medicare Funding Cuts Continue, Place Nursing Home Residents at Risk of Poor Care, Abuse
As Indiana nursing home abuse lawyers, we are concerned about the risk to residents of nursing homes because of impending cuts in Medicare funding to these facilities. In Indiana and elsewhere in the country, several nursing homes could stand to lose millions of dollars as Medicare payments continue to be slashed. Cuts of up to $1 billion to skilled nursing care facilities have already been implemented. Federal authorities are now considering more drastic cuts to the tune of $1.5 billion.
Funding Cuts will Impact Nursing Home Care, Could Subject Residents to Abuse Risk
According to representatives at the American Healthcare Association, there is definitely a possibility that these funding cuts could force many nursing homes in Indiana to shut down. At the very least, nursing homes may be forced to cut down staffing to deal with the new decreased resources. This could have a detrimental effect on the quality of care residents at these facilities receive.
Indiana has already taken massive Medicare cuts, and ranks at number 11 among US states that have lost huge amounts in nursing home funding.
The funding crisis is not restricted to Indiana alone. Across the country, nursing home facilities are suffering as Congress considers increased healthcare cuts as part of reforms.
There is enough evidence to indicate that the problem will get worse before it gets better. The baby boomer population is aging rapidly, and millions of baby boomers are expected to get to the age where they require nursing home care, over the next few years. Last year, 16,000 nursing homes in the country cared for 1.95 million people. That was an increase from 1.7 million people in 2007.
In Indiana, programs like the Natural Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) have traditionally provided elderly residents with essentials, like handrails and wheelchair ramps, to encourage them to stay in their homes and relieve congestion in nursing homes. All five NORC programs in Indiana have lost funding. That means that these citizens will have to move out of their homes and into nursing facilities, which will now have to deal with a severe funding crunch and fewer staff. These facilities will hardly be in a position to provide elderly patients with the kind of care they need. Studies show, and Indiana nursing home abuse lawyers will tell you, that when there are funding shortages and staffing crunches, it’s patients who stand to suffer.
Unfortunately, as Indiana continues to reel under funding cuts, it’s the most vulnerable members of our society who will stand to suffer the most.
