More than a hundred 1199SEIU nursing-home workers from across New York State came to the state’s capital prepared for the single-digit temperature by wearing layered clothing, boots, warm hats and gloves. They also came prepared to protect quality care at nursing homes by telling their stories to state legislators.
Elaine Ellis, a CNA for more than 25 years at Sara Neuman Nursing Home in Mamaroneck, said, “It doesn’t matter what the weather is, I will always come to Albany to stand up for my residents. In this case, new statewide long-term managed care policies have the potential to reduce the money that nursing homes receive. "I came here to tell the legislators to support the part of the budget that would set standard wages for nursing home workers—so that our pay and the care we give don’t get the short end of the stick under managed care. We have a reputation at our nursing home for great care and I don’t want to see that go downhill for the next generation. I think the employers could agree with that.”
New York is implementing a new policy that requires any Medicaid recipient who needs nursing-home care to join a Medicaid managed long-term care plan. That means that instead of a daily rate to cover the cost of care, Medicaid will pay the plan a flat, monthly fee. Nursing homes and managed care plans will negotiate rates. However, without adequate protections, this policy could lead to a “race to the bottom” on rates, depleting the nursing homes of the resources they need.
The proposal for quality standards ensures that managed care companies will not be able to force homes to cut spending. Current standards will be protected, and they will become part of the contracts that the companies sign with nursing homes.
Elaine Ellis, a CNA for more than 25 years at Sara Neuman Nursing Home in Mamaroneck, said, “It doesn’t matter what the weather is, I will always come to Albany to stand up for my residents. In this case, new statewide long-term managed care policies have the potential to reduce the money that nursing homes receive. "I came here to tell the legislators to support the part of the budget that would set standard wages for nursing home workers—so that our pay and the care we give don’t get the short end of the stick under managed care. We have a reputation at our nursing home for great care and I don’t want to see that go downhill for the next generation. I think the employers could agree with that.”
New York is implementing a new policy that requires any Medicaid recipient who needs nursing-home care to join a Medicaid managed long-term care plan. That means that instead of a daily rate to cover the cost of care, Medicaid will pay the plan a flat, monthly fee. Nursing homes and managed care plans will negotiate rates. However, without adequate protections, this policy could lead to a “race to the bottom” on rates, depleting the nursing homes of the resources they need.
The proposal for quality standards ensures that managed care companies will not be able to force homes to cut spending. Current standards will be protected, and they will become part of the contracts that the companies sign with nursing homes.
