Singer: Nursing Home Bill Will Reduce 'Medicaid Evictions'

Senator Robert Singer, Republican member of the Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee, issued the following statement after reading the Department of Public Advocate's report detailing allegations that elderly patients were evicted on short notice from one company's nursing homes when their personal savings were exhausted.

"My bill, S-221, would require nursing homes to work with private pay patients to ensure that the residents are aware of where they are on a waiting list for a Medicaid bed before their private funds run out and Medicaid takes over," Singer said.

Nursing homes often limit the number of Medicaid patients they will accept because the reimbursement payments paid by the program are lower than what private patients pay. S-221 would require that nursing homes and assisted living residences provide private pay residents with an informational sheet on the requirements for Medicaid eligibility before they are admitted.

Under other provisions of the bill, if the resident or legally responsible payer informs the nursing home that the resident's savings will be depleted in six months, the nursing home would be required to inform that patient of his or her ranking on the waiting list for a Medicaid bed.

"Moving to new nursing home or assisted living facility can be a traumatic experience for our parents and grandparents. Elderly patients and their families must be given the time they need to plan. This legislation will give them the time they need. This bill has been amended to reflect concerns expressed by our governor and passed by the Senate. There is absolutely no reason why it should be delayed in the Assembly when the need is so great."

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