|
March 14, 2017
Medicaid Caps Are Harmful to People Needing Long-Term Care
Medicaid is a lifeline for nursing home residents and other long-term care consumers. But that lifeline may be taken away. The US House of Representatives has just issued a proposal to change the Medicaid program by going to a system of per capita caps. The proposal is part of a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. These changes to Medicaid would be devastating to nursing home residents and other long-term care consumers. Tell your members of congress to oppose per capita caps!
Here’s why per capita caps are so harmful:
They only give states a fixed amount of money per Medicaid beneficiary. The amount doesn’t change over time, so the result is a massive cut in Medicaid funding. For long-term care consumers, this means:
- Services/coverage would be drastically reduced or eliminated.
- Eligbility standards would be tightened, making it harder to get into a nursing home or receive home and community-based services.
- The personal needs allowance for nursing home residents could be slashed to the federally required minimum of $30 per month, leaving residents with even less money for items like clothing or hair cuts.
- Nursing home quality care would decline because nursing homes would cut staff and there would be fewer nursing home inspectors (surveyors).
Check out our fact sheet to learn more about how Medicaid caps will harm people needing long-term care.
Please contact your members of Congress NOW and urge them to vote against per capita caps. Click here to take action.
To learn more about per capita caps and how they can hurt nursing home residents, other long-term care consumers and their families, go to our webpage on preserving Medicaid.
PLUS, on Thursday, March 16th, participate in the National Medicaid Call-In Day. Tell your Congressperson to vote "no" on the healthcare repeal bill. Call 866-426-2631 to make sure that healthcare and Medicaid are not taken away from the people who need it most.
Back to Top
AARP Public Policy Institute Report on Medicaid and LTSS
AARP Public Policy Institute has released a report entitled "Medicaid: A Last Resort for People Needing Long-Term Services and Supports." The report reviews how Medicaid is the nation's largest publicly funded health and long-term services and supports (LTSS) insurance program for people with low incomes. Nearly one out of five older adults will need Medicaid to help pay for LTSS at some time during their lives. Millions of adults with disabilities and older adults depend on Medicaid to get the healthcare and LTSS they need. Read the report here.
Back to Top
The American Health Care Act - Harmful to Long-Term Care Consumers and Those Who Care For Them
Consumer Voice issued a statement on the American Health Care Act.
The American Health Care Act is detrimental for long-term care consumers and those who care for them. Proposed changes to Medicaid, the primary payer of long-term care in this country, to a capped payment system would result in cuts to the amount of money states receive, impacting the services provided to beneficiaries. Inevitable cuts will mean that states will likely change Medicaid eligibility requirements, and reduce services being offered, including access to long-term care.
Read the rest of Consumer Voice's statement on the American Health Care Act here.
On Monday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report estimating the budgetary effects of the American Health Care Act. The report estimated that the legislation would reduce federal deficits by $337 billion by 2026. However, the bill would mean 14 million more people would be uninsured in 2018 than under the current law. The CBO report predicted the increase based on some people choosing not to have insurance because of the repeal of the individual mandate and some people forgoing insurance in response to higher premiums. Read the CBO report here. For more information, read the article in the New York Times.
Back to Top
NCEA Fact Sheet on Role of Guardianship Standards in Addressing Elder Abuse
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) has released a new fact sheet - "Role of Guardianship Standards in Addressing Elder Abuse." The fact sheet, created in collaboration with the American Bar Association, Commission on Law and Aging, summarizes highlights from the National Guardianship Association (NGA) Standards of Practice. The NGA Guardianship Standards were developed to help guardians address practical problems and challenge guardians to practice guardianship at a level higher than the minimum standards often found in state laws. View the fact sheet here.
Back to Top
Reminder: Join Us for a Free Webinar on the Revised Nursing Home Regulations
Join us for Part II of "A Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations," this Wednesday, March 15th at 2:00pm ET. The Consumer Voice, Justice in Aging, and Center for Medicare Advocacy are continuing to examine the revised federal nursing home regulations the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released on October 4, 2016. In this webinar, we will take a closer look at the following sections of the revised regulations:
- Admission, Return, and Bedhold
- Visitation Rights
- Rehabilitation Services
Join this webinar to hear experts from all three organizations discuss changes in the regulations and their impact on the care delivered to consumers.
Presenters:
Eric Carlson, Directing Attorney, Justice in Aging
Toby Edelman, Senior Policy Attorney, Center for Medicare Advocacy
Robyn Grant, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Consumer Voice
Lori Smetanka, Executive Director, Consumer Voice
Space is limited. Register now.
Back to Top
HHS OIG Hotline Scam
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) confirmed that the HHS OIG Hotline phone number - 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) - is being used as part of a telephone scam. The scammers change the appearance of the caller ID to represent themselves as HHS OIG Hotline employees. The scammers then try to obtain or verify the victim's personal information in order to steal money or commit other fraud. HHS OIG does not use the HHS OIG Hotline phone number to make outgoing calls, and individuals should not answer calls from that number. It is still safe to call into the HHS OIG Hotline, and HHS OIG is asking those who believe they may have been a victim of the phone scam to call that number to report it or email spoof@oig.hhs.gov.
Back to Top
CMS Memo: FY 2017 Special Focus Facility Program Update
A memo from CMS was released March 2, 2017 that includes an update on special focus facilities (SFF) for fiscal year 2017. The memo provides information on the total SFF slots and candidates for each state, initial selection notice, graduation from the SFF program, and authority for termination. Read the memo here.
Back to Top
Spotlight on Resources
The Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) have a multitude of resources available online covering a wide range of long-term care topics. Visit the Consumer Voice website and the NORC website to explore all the available resources. Take a look at this week's highlighted resource:
Guardianship - This issue page from NORC provides reports, resources, ombudsman best practices and information to share with consumers about guardianship
Back to Top
|
In this Issue
Medicaid Caps Are Harmful to People Needing Long-Term Care
AARP Public Policy Institute Report on Medicaid and LTSS
The American Health Care Act - Harmful to Long-Term Care Consumers and Those Who Care For Them
NCEA Fact Sheet on Role of Guardianship Standards in Addressing Elder Abuse
Reminder: Join Us for a Free Webinar on the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations
HHS OIG Hotline Scam
CMS Memo: FY 2017 Special Focus Facility Program Update
Spotlight on Resources
Combined Federal Campaign
#10552
Thank you for your support!
Save the Date:
Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference
November 5-8, 2017
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
Arlington, Virginia
Calendar of Events
Wednesday, March 15: A Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations - Part II, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from Consumer Voice
Thursday, March 16: National Medicaid Call-In Day, Call 866-426-2631 to tell Congress to vote NO on the healthcare repeal bill
November 5-8, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA
Join the conversation and follow us on social media!
Last Week's Most Popular Post:
Tuesday, March 7:
Thank you to Senator Al Franken for reintroduction of the Arbitration Fairness Act.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Thursday, March 9:
Restoring Statutory Rights Act would restore rights of Americans affected by forced arbitration
Long-Term Care Resources & News
Read past issues of The Voice here.
Support the Consumer Voice While You Shop Online
.jpg)
|
