Money comes ‘a little too late’ to save some Nebraska senior living facilities

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Senior living facilities continue to struggle even as funding to raise Medicaid provider rates starts to trickle in.

“Unfortunately, there were several facilities that were already very close to the edge or even still are, that that funding is just a little too late,” said Jalene Carpenter of the Nebraska Health Care Association.

Facilities across the state are finally seeing some money from the increase in Medicaid provider rates, which many facilities are using to increase staff pay.  It still has not solved the problem, as six nursing facilities and five assisted living facilities have closed or will close their doors this year.

“We do expect more to continue, and that has been very, very difficult on those communities,” Carpenter said.

Facilities are hopeful that they will start to receive some American Rescue Plan Act funds soon, but a new wrench has been thrown in the mix.

“Incredibly grateful for the funding increase we received, but we didn’t plan for this level of inflation,” Carpenter said.” So we are going to have to keep pace from a Medicaid rate in order for, again, these facilities to be competitive and remain open.”

Facilities were already struggling to pay for supplies before inflation.  If that’s not enough, some facilities are being slapped with fines over six months old.

Carpenter said one facility received a $20,000 fine for violations that occurred in January.

“Those deficiencies have been so long ago, back in January, they have already fixed the problem, they have submitted their plan of correction,” she said. “So the fact that it came so late, it’s very unexpected.”

The Nebraska Health Care Association is hoping to find quick solutions to staffing shortages to be able to take in more residents at locations that are open.

“We need a very short-term solution,” Carpenter said.

She noted that Nebraska’s congressional delegation recently talked about the importance of legal immigration.

“That is something we are incredibly supportive of because that’s something that can help us much faster,” Carpenter said.