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NURSING HOME REFORM NEWSLETTER

February 14, 2006

 

THE RICH GET RICHER?
Listen to nursing home industry people long enough and they will come to their favorite excuse for not hiring enough staff.  Money.  “We would do that,” they will say with a downtrodden look, “but we would need more money.”   If one of the nursing home people come up with that, you tell them this:  In 2004, they were reimbursed by the state and federal governments in the amount of $593,649,490 (that’s millions, folks) for taking care of Medicaid patients.  In 2005, that amount went up to $640,218,308.  Part of those millions came from a cute little trick the industry pulled in the 2004 legislative session (late at night on the last day).  They got the so-called provider tax increased where they put in a dollar and get back three or four.  That little gambit brought them in more than $23 million in 2004 and (hold your hat!) almost $69 million in 2005.   They told some gullible legislators that they would use the extra money for improving the quality of care.  Of course, they did not, and if you see a nursing home owner driving around in a slick Jaguar, you might wonder how he got it.   Now we have a good idea.  By the way, on this reimbursement money, about 70 percent comes from the feds, the rest from the state.

THIS MAY BE A FIRST…. AND A BREAKTHROUGH...
This is almost too much to believe.  Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville, and head of the Senate health and welfare committee, has co-sponsored a resolution with Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, D-Lexington, that directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to jump at any opportunity to have Kentucky participate in an anticipated federal program to reward good care in nursing homes with money.  Like the nursing homes need more money.  Nevertheless, this  is a breakthrough of historic proportions.  The Republican and the Democrat working together to get a pilot program started in the state to improve things like staffing, training, and turnover rates.  The feds haven’t announced such a program yet, but the two senators are to be complimented in having us ready to go for it.  Now if they would just also decide to get HB 362 passed that would mandate minimum staffing standards in nursing homes, they would be way ahead of the feds.  Rep. Kathy Stein introduced that bill again but so far House health and welfare committee chair Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, has not let it out for a vote.  But let’s don’t tamper with a miracle and see if the rest of the lawmakers support this joint resolution, SJR 176.  Democrats and Republicans working together!  What is this legislature coming to?

HELP WITH FEEDING...
Look for Kentucky  to release regulations okaying paid feeding assistants for nursing homes.  These will be people who are not nurses, but the nursing home industry hopes that it will help its staff shortages in most nursing homes.  Finishing touches are being put on it now in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.  It will be filed after Feb. 15 with the Legislative Research Commission.  There is mixed feelings among nursing home advocates and professionals on this one.  For example, the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, a national advocacy group, is against paid feeding assistants.  They say a professional caregiver needs to be with residents at all times, particularly at feeding time.  But many other advocates say that paid feeding assistants look very good after watching nursing home residents.

QUICK LEGISLATION UPDATE...
We are keeping this newsletter short so you can get to your Valentine Day parties.  But here is a quick update on some of the other legislation we are following:

HB 121 – This is the bill that would make any nursing home without fire sprinklers notify anyone applying for admission to the home.  It has passed the House and has gone to the Senate for consideration.

Sponsored by Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington.

SB 141 – This is the bill that would have any state employee who tipped off a nursing home that it was going to be inspected by the state to be fired.  It has passed the Senate health and welfare committee and has been stuck for a few days in the Senate rules committee.

Sponsored by Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville.

WE’LL CALL YOU….

Hundreds of you have volunteered to call legislators when we need help passing a bill.  Stand by because we are sure you will soon be needed.  There’s lots more legislation to come.

P.S.

RULES FOR DRINKING AT UK BASKETBALL GAMES:

1. Drink every time they show Ashley

2. Drink once every time they show Donna.

3. Drink 2 every time they show Tubby giving his stare.

Chug your drink when Tubby's coat comes off.

4. Drink every time an announcer comments on how we "just don't have

Kentucky talent" or “the last time this happened to the Cats was...."

5. Drink twice when an announcer mentions that UK fans aren't used to

losing.

6. Chug it if they discuss the possibility of us not making the NCAA

tournament.

7. Drink every time the announcers mispronounce Woo-kosh Orb-zhoot.

8. Drink every time Patrick misses a 3.  Drink 3 more if the

announcers mention any of the clutch 3s Patrick shot last season

(Louisville, Michigan State).

9. Drink every time the Cats have a 1 and 1 opportunity to cut into

an opponents lead, miss the front end and the other team goes down

and scores killing the Cats "momentum."

10. Drink three every time we throw an idiotic lob pass up the floor

that results in a turnover (either stolen or out of bounds).

11. If Shagari Alleyne scores, scream "Go to Class!" then drink three.

12. Forget the beer and stick to bourbon if Billy Packer or

Dick Vitale are announcing the game.

13.  Forget worrying about the Cats and go out and have a big time with your Valentine.

            -- Thanks to Joe Isaac for passing this along.

DON’T FORGET….

MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES IN KENTUCKY NEED US. THEY ARE KENTUCKY’S FORGOTTEN PEOPLE.




Bernie Vonderheide
KENTUCKIANS FOR NURSING HOME REFORM
Tel: (859) 312-5617