2019-20 State Budget

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, Governor Tom Wolf released the proposed fiscal year 2019-20 state budget.

The budget called for NO funding increase for skilled nursing facilities.

PHCA issued a press release noting that “For the fifth straight year, the Governor proposed flat funding for long-term nursing facility care. Make no mistake about it: flat funding is a cut to our sector. It is abundantly clear that Pennsylvania’s oldest and most frail seniors and disabled citizens are not his priority. This lack of investment in seniors living in nursing facilities and their caregivers is fiscally unsustainable for this critical component of the long-term care continuum.“

Proposed budget items of note included:

Medicaid Long-Term Care Funding: The Governor’s proposed budget again flat-funded Medicaid funding for nursing facilities. In addition, the Medicaid Access Add-On program, which directs funds to high Medicaid facilities, was again removed from the Governor’s proposed budget, forcing the legislature’s hand to add the dollars back.
New AL/PC Surveyors: The budget proposed additional funding for seven new staff to conduct increased inspections of AL and PC facilities.
Minimum Wage Increase: The Governor proposed a $12 minimum wage that would begin on July 1, 2019. The rate would then be increased annually by 50 cents until it hits $15, after which the rate would be adjusted based on the annual consumer price index.
Workforce Training Programs: The Governor also unveiled a plan to boost training programs for workers and to help connect workers to available jobs.

Visit the Pa Budget Office website to learn more about the proposed budget.

Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Zach Shamberg, Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs, at (717) 221-7934 or zshamberg@phca.org.

Issue Briefs

2019-20 State Budget

This brief makes the case for seniors to be a priority in the 2019-20 state budget: Medicaid funded nursing facilities need a 2.8% increase in the FY 2019-2020 budget and the legislature must provide $17 million to fully fund the Medicaid Access Program to preserve access to care.

February 2019

Medicaid Funding for Nursing Facilities: A Crisis for Senior and Caregivers

An average Pennsylvania nursing facility caring for 100 Medical Assistance (MA) residents is under-reimbursed by almost $1.75 million annually or ($47.50) per day of care by Medicaid, according to PA’s own Case Mix Rate System. Current MA Rates do NOT cover the costs of providing quality care to Pennsylvania’s seniors. MA underfunding is directly contributing to the sales of PA nursing facilities.

February 2019

Pennsylvania’s Long-Term Care Medicaid Funding: MYTH VS. FACT

MYTH: Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) is less costly to the Pennsylvania Medicaid program than Nursing Home Care. FACT: When a Medicaid-eligible Pennsylvanian needs round-the-clock skilled nursing and rehabilitation services (which are provided to them in a nursing home), that level of care is the most efficient use of Pennsylvania’s tax dollars—and the safest and most appropriate level of care for that individual.

February 2019

Partner spotlight

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