Imposing caps on federal spending for Medicaid and its effects of the implementation on long-term care facilities. According to Options for Reducing the Deficit, Medicaid is dual program from with coverage from the federal and state government. The program covers long-term heath care for low-income individuals, primarily dependent children and elderly people and those with disabilities. The family income must meet the qualifications of 138 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The current regulations regarding the state and federal government contributes the to the majority of the Medicaid funding. The imposing caps on spending for Medicaid would have significant effects and implementation on long-term health care facilities. The caps that would be implemented are block grants with amounts that would not change no matter the enrollment or cost increase. Another cap would be for the federal government to the total amount the states would be provided. If that occurs the state would accept all the added cost. Additionally, the imposed caps would render a specific amount for each person enrolled with a specific amount for each enrollee. For the reasons that Medicaid covers care in long-term health care facilities as well as the fact Medicare doesn’t cover institutional care. For those in long-term health care facilities the caps would significantly impact those in need of the care from the facilities. Individuals with Medicaid are also enrolled in private manage care plans that support long term care facilities. If in fact the caps are implemented those in long-term health care facilities would be significantly impacted because although they are in need of long term care the cost of the care would be capitated to specific amount for each individual enrollee. This would cause a displacement of seniors in nursing home facilities. The question would have to be raised of where would the funding for those in long-term care facilities. Currently there are 1.4 million people in nursing homes and almost forty percent of those are considered of poverty level. One result would that because the Medicaid is federally funded but the state controls and decides how much is paid toward long-term health care facilities. It would also be the state’s decision to make the criteria harder to meet the needs to be considered for long term health facilities. Another consideration would be that the services provided would be limited or eliminated (Janowski, 2019).
In order to mitigate the negative effects of displacement of senior or not providing care to those in need because the criteria has changed would be to not place caps on federal spending for Medicaid. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services over 75 million people are enrolled in Medicaid as of 2019. Those number are a demonstration of the significant needs and reliability that are places on the various programs especially those that are provided to long-term care facilities. There are other changes that can be made that would not affect the nations disable and elderly. If the nation doesn’t take care of them, the question would have to be asked what kind of nation is this that throws away care for the disabled and elderly (Allen, 2012).
Reference
Allen, E. P., Cappelletto, W., & Siegel, S. (2012). THE IMPACT OF STATE MEDICAID
REFORM ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS NEEDING LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AnAlysis of Florida, Illinois, And new Jersey. NAELA Journal, 8(2), 125–161.
Janowski, M. (2019). Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Regulation Changes for
Long-Term Care. Support Line, 41(4), 4–9.
United States: Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2019 to 2028. (2018, December 19). Mena
Report.
In order to mitigate the negative effects of displacement of senior or not providing care to those in need because the criteria has changed would be to not place caps on federal spending for Medicaid. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services over 75 million people are enrolled in Medicaid as of 2019. Those number are a demonstration of the significant needs and reliability that are places on the various programs especially those that are provided to long-term care facilities. There are other changes that can be made that would not affect the nations disable and elderly. If the nation doesn’t take care of them, the question would have to be asked what kind of nation is this that throws away care for the disabled and elderly (Allen, 2012).
Reference
Allen, E. P., Cappelletto, W., & Siegel, S. (2012). THE IMPACT OF STATE MEDICAID
REFORM ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS NEEDING LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AnAlysis of Florida, Illinois, And new Jersey. NAELA Journal, 8(2), 125–161.
Janowski, M. (2019). Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Regulation Changes for
Long-Term Care. Support Line, 41(4), 4–9.
United States: Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2019 to 2028. (2018, December 19). Mena
Report.