Threat of state cuts spark fear of nursing home expulsions

By CASEY COLLIER
With the threat of Medicaid cuts that could force thousands of nursing home patients out of their care, local individuals in the elderly health care and senior services sector are watching the Louisiana Legislature closely.
The Louisiana Senate Republican Caucus issued a statement Wednesday addressing the Edwards administration’s plans to notify elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients of a possible cancelation of certain services they now receive.
The statement read in part, “We in the Senate have no intention of putting Medicaid recipients on the streets or closing down medical schools. It is imperative that we approach the budget issues in a responsible and measured fashion to make sure that we continue to make it a priority to serve the needs of our poor, elderly and disabled citizens. It is our intention to fund these vital Medicaid services.”
Further, the statement outlined the Senate Finance Committee’s intentions to “pass out a budget by the end of this week with the full Senate considering the budget outlining Senate priorities with the limited funds available early next week.”
Amanda Landry, Franklin Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, said Thursday of the possible cuts, “The letters haven’t arrived yet, and nobody knows what’s going to happen. It’s a sad situation.
“Right now, the Nursing Home Association is trying to keep us abreast of what is happening in the Legislature. But nobody has any answers.”
She went on to say that she had yet to confirm to the residents of the facility the possible Medicaid cuts, citing her reason for abstention as not wanting to cause an unnecessary panic.
“When families have called, we have explained what we know, which is not much, only what’s been in the news,” Landry said.
However, she added, “It’s a sin and a shame that these people are being used to make a political way, on both sides. I don’t think it is one side more than the other, it’s both, and it’s a shame because they are fooling with people’s emotions.”
Beverly Domengeaux, St. Mary Council on Aging executive director, said, “We are watching the situation and we are evaluating the services that we may or may not be able to provide. It looks like there is going to be a lot of shortfall all the way around, but the people who mainly will be hurt, are the seniors.”
Top House Republicans questioned Wednesday the timing of Edwards’ administration’s sending of some 37,000 notification letters to would-be effected Medicaid recipients, calling it a “scare tactic.”
Ahead of the SRC’s statement, Health Secretary Rebekah Gee and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne are reported to have insisted that this was not the case.
“It is not a tactic,” Dardenne said. “This letter is scary.”
Gee reportedly said that while eligibility loss would not occur until July 1, it was imperative to send the letters Thursday, to allow for those effected, to plan.
Gee said, “We’ve really tried to underscore that these are real people. But unfortunately, we have to take action. This is not the heart of the administration to do this.”
Dardenne said he would imagine the reaction by anyone who gets one of the letters to be “extremely adverse,” and said he doesn’t blame them. “The letter is very clear in telling these individuals that these cuts may happen and are not set in stone.”
Domengeaux said she estimates the cuts would increase her services by roughly 7 percent. “We do not get Medicaid money,” she said. “Therefore, we would have to use our state and federal funds. I would probably have to hire more people. But, my funds keep getting cut already and I am already in a contract that I can’t void, so if I went over the amount for services in the contract, I would have to make up for the rest of it myself.
“Where are these people going to go? If they don’t have families and they don’t have housing, where are they going to go?”