The Long Term Care Coalition is comprised of Life Services Network, The Illinois Council on Long and the Illinois Health Care Association. Through our association with the Long Term Care Coalition, we work to educate the general public, media, provider representatives, lawmakers and public officials about the care and funding needs for older adults who reside in nursing homes.
It is the hope of the three long-term care associations that through our combined efforts we can clarify and illuminate the challenges facing our industry, as well as serve as a catalyst to unify and energize lawmakers to advocate for the necessary Medicaid funding and reforms that will allow and encourage the caregivers of Illinois’ elderly to focus on providing the best care possible.
Facts about the Medicaid Funding Crisis in Illinois:
- The primary source of paying for care in Illinois skilled nursing facilities is Medicaid: 63 percent of all residents – or two-thirds – are on Medicaid.
- Funding must be in line with today’s costs. The current reimbursement system covers only 76 percent of the cost of caring for residents.
- Full funding for all current costs will take an additional $800 million through the next four fiscal years. This cost would be shared by both the state and federal governments, with each entity paying an additional $100 million for each of the next four fiscal years.
- The three long-term care associations have recognized the importance of working with state government in solving this crisis, and have proposed a five-year phase-in of funding the MDS. The first phase approved by the Illinois legislature begins Jan. 1, 2007, with a $30 million allocation, which will be annualized to $60 million beginning July 1, 2007. The additional $100 million in state general revenue funds for each of the next four fiscal years will be matched by federal funds and will bring long-term care reimbursement into line with the actual cost of care.
- A lagging Medicaid payment cycle from the state may be unrelated to reimbursement of care but demands attention on the merits of fundamental reasonableness and governmental priorities. The length of the payment cycle places undue stress and hardship upon providers. The rising cost of borrowing has had a significant negative impact on the financial viability of facilities that are already under-funded. The unintended result of this policy is the creation of criteria of participation in the Medicaid program for those with unlimited access to large lines of credit – as opposed to the true criteria of delivering high quality of care. Other states make Medicaid reimbursement a high priority among their monthly payments.
- The convergence of these four factors – inadequate Medicaid reimbursement; unfunded mandates and regulations; inconsistent interpretation of regulations; and a lagging payment cycle – has had a crippling effect on an industry that serves as one of the largest employers in Illinois in its mission of caring for our parents, grand-parents, relatives and friends.
Click the links below to view The Changing Face of Long Term Care Legislative Newsletters:
Healing Clients' Wounds - Facing the Cost
Illinois Ranks Worst in Medicaid Funding
Building Stronger Bodies - Facing the Cost
Rising Costs - The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Improving Alzheimer's Care - Facing the Cost
Click the links below to view the Seniors First Newsletters.
Seniors First Issue 1
Seniors First Issue 2
Seniors First Issue 3
Seniors First Issue 4
Seniors First Issue 5
Seniors First Issue 6
Seniors First Issue 7
Seniors First Issue 8