LIBERTY – The decision by Sullivan County to close its adult care center in Liberty only makes the shortage of nursing home beds in the county worse. That assessment comes from Stephen Hanse, president of the New York State Health Facilities Association, who calls the pending closure “tragic.”
Hanse said the problem boils down to low state Medicaid reimbursement rates.
“Basically, nursing homes are being reimbursed for costs based on 2012 costs, so you have this perfect storm of underfunding Medicaid care and a workforce crisis in long-term care,” he told Mid-Hudson News. “The state is focusing on it, but it is taking time, it is going to take effort.”
Hanse said professionals who normally take jobs in healthcare are joining other higher-paying employment sectors, making the situation worse.
Sullivan County has pledged to find room for patients so that no one is left out in the cold.
County employees at the Care Center at Sunset Lake will be placed in other county departments wherever possible, and those who are not, will be given assistance in finding new employment.
Comments