From the New York Times (5.15.11):
Nursing Homes Seek Exemptions From Health Law
by Rober Pear
It is an oddity of American health care: Many nursing homes and home care agencies do not provide health insurance to their workers, or they pay wages so low that employees cannot afford the coverage that is offered.
The numbers are stark. Among workers who provide hands-on care to nursing home residents, one in four has no health insurance. Among those who provide care to people living at home, one in three is uninsured.
The new health care law is supposed to fix the problem by guaranteeing access to affordable coverage for all. But many nursing homes and home care agencies, alarmed at the cost of providing health insurance to hundreds of thousands of health care workers, have started a lobbying effort seeking some kind of exemption or special treatment...
Why should we care?
As much as we fight for freedom from institutionalization, the fact remains the there are a large number of people with disabilities receiving services in nursing homes. Our brothers and sisters confined to nursing homes will receive better quality care if their service providers are healthy and happy with their jobs. We don't want nursing home staff forced to come to work sick because they can't afford health care, nor do we want nursing home staff to continue to cycle through the system as they burn out.
Additionally, the reason that nursing homes are using to seek this exemption is that Medicaid reimbursement rates are too low to allow them to pay for health care for their employees. This concern is an opportunity for us to work with the nursing home industry in advocating for higher reimbursement rates.
Do you see this issue differently? Please comment below.
Higher reimbursement rates for nursing homes will not provide better quality of care for individuals who reside there. The nursing home industry is for profit and the profit will always be the bottom line.Increasing their reimbursement rate only takes away from much needed community based programs.
Posted by: Patty McDonald | May 18, 2011 at 02:38 PM
I know someone who made a fortune earning nursing homes. dont buy the "cant afford to pay for their health care" excuse. the profits are going into someones pocket.
Posted by: Diane Kleinman | May 19, 2011 at 10:01 PM
It seems strange that some nursing homes have the resources to import skilled nurses and caregivers from other countries, but they can't provide the sufficient benefits and salaries to their local workers. That's the definition of irony. I hope it will be fixed soon. Nursing homes are there primarily to care for old people, not serve as a money-making enterprise.
Posted by: Andews Hayes | July 12, 2011 at 04:29 PM