June 4th, 2008

Yesterday, nursing home advocates led by the Pennsylvania Healthcare Association (PHA), rallied at the capitol for more state funding for nursing homes, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Stuart Shapiro, President of the PHA, says to adaquetely fund these homes lawmakers must include an additional $69 million in the budget for this coming year.

However, Rendell stands by the budget for nursing homes, touting that we are second in the state for the amount of funding.  He also says that since he’s taken office the funding has increased 34% above the rate of inflation with daily reimbursements to these homes up 2%.  But, Shapiro has figures to show that this doesn’t mean much.  In that same time period, nursing home costs have risen at 26% and he has data to show that daily care costs exceed state funding by $12 per resident.

Although Shapiro did state that this lack of funding is not Rendell’s fault.  He says the administration has “tried to do a good job” of funding these homes, considering the upcoming ”demographic tsunami,”  – a large increase in senior citizens.

Also yesterday, advocates for people with disabilities rallied claiming that too much money is filtered directly to nursing homes, and instead more if should be put towards in-home care.

Matthew Spolar reports that, “The coalition also wants state officials to extend an adult protective services program to include disabled citizens age 18 to 59. Advocates say Pennsylvania is one of six states that does not cover that segment of the population.”