PA Nursing Homes Continue to Provide High Quality Care

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania nursing homes face a number of challenges — from chronic funding shortfalls, to a rapidly aging population, to changes in the way long-term care is delivered.

Yet, with a focus on enhancing treatment services and improving residents’ overall experience, these skilled nursing facilities still rank among the best in the nation for quality of care, according to Russ McDaid, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA).

“The high level of care our nursing homes provide is a testament to the hard work of the men and women who are on the front lines each and every day, doing the best job possible for the residents in their care,” said McDaid, who made his inaugural appearance as PHCA’s new president and CEO on a statewide public affairs TV program that begins airing this weekend.

Each and every day, Pennsylvania’s 700-plus nursing homes provide high-quality, compassionate care to more than 81,000 frail elderly and disabled residents who need around-the-clock support for clinically complex medical conditions, including debilitating afflictions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

McDaid, who has been involved in health and human services at the state and federal levels for more than 20 years, said the state’s skilled nursing centers continue to surpass major quality milestones. Pennsylvania nursing homes receive fewer deficiencies than the national average, and rank the lowest in serious deficiencies, which means that the state’s nursing homes rank better than all other 49 states.

From the second quarter of 2014 to the second quarter of 2015, Pennsylvania nursing homes improved or stayed the same on all 11 quality measures, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ five-star rating system, and now rank better than the national average on 9 of the 11 measures.

Pennsylvania nursing homes are continually improving clinical outcomes, with reductions of urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers, use of antipsychotic medication, resident pain and more.

Additional information about the high quality of care provided by Pennsylvania’s nursing homes can be found at http://www.paforqualitycare.org/.

That nursing homes continue to excel in quality is impressive given the financial strains they face, McDaid said.

Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program does not come close to covering the real cost of care. Pennsylvania now ranks among the worst in the country with respect to Medicaid reimbursements, according to a study by Eljay LLC, a nationally recognized leader in long-term care consulting.

The commonwealth reimburses nursing centers an average of $23 a day less per resident than the true cost of care. That shortfall has almost doubled since 2007, when it totaled $13.23 per resident per day.

With two-thirds of all nursing center residents relying on Medicaid to pay for their care, nursing centers now lose an average of $8,500 per resident every year on two-thirds of the individuals in their care.

McDaid explained that because of this funding gap, nursing homes can’t invest in capital improvements or advanced technology that would enhance care, nor can they pay competitive wages that would increase staff retention, which is so vital to high-quality care.

The recent stopgap budget, partially enacted in December, kept funding for nursing homes level, even though facilities face a 2.4 percent increase in basic inflationary costs, while continuing an add-on payment that helps facilities that have a high Medicaid population.

The governor will give his budget address for the 2016-17 fiscal year on Feb. 9.

“We recognize that elected officials are tasked with crafting a fair and responsible budget — and that the inherent challenges in that process are even greater amid especially difficult times,” McDaid said. “We’re grateful to this administration and the General Assembly for making seniors a priority, and we look forward to working with all our leaders to make sure the necessary state funds are available to ensure our frail elderly continue to get the level of care they need to live with dignity and respect as they age.”

“Pennsylvania Newsmakers” is one of the state’s premier politics and public policy television talk shows. The show is available at www.newsmakerstv.com and will air regionally:

• WGAL Channel 8 (Harrisburg and Lancaster) Sunday, Jan. 31 at 11:30 a.m.
• WBPH (Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia) Monday, Feb. 1 at 8:30 p.m.
• WKBS 47 (Altoona) Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m.
• WPCB 40 (Pittsburgh) Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m.