3. Add an additional 4.7 SGF, 11 million all funds to the HCBS/FE funding for licensed adult care homes.
Continued increases in staffing costs, food costs, energy costs and nearly everything else, we are requesting a 10% increase to the Frail Elder (FE) rate on units of care in licensed adult care homes. The cost is estimated at 11 million dollars in all funds with 4.7 million in SGF. This would bring the per unit (15 minutes) from $5.04 to $5.54.
Additional talking points:
State of Kansas Report on Nursing Facility Medicaid Rates*:
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Medicaid rates reimburse 90.06% of allowable nursing facility costs statewide.
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The total average allowable daily cost per resident is $229.42.
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The statewide average Medicaid occupancy rate for participating facilities is 60.19%.
KHCA Analysis
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Nearly 10% of all allowable costs for a Medicaid resident are not reimbursed.
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This causes a shortfall of $25.04 per day per Medicaid resident.
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Given the average statewide Medicaid occupancy rate, a typical facility is losing $25.04 per day per resident on 60.19% of the residents they care for.
Over the last three years, 21 long term care facilities have closed, Many additional homes have temporarily and/or permanently reduced their bed capacity.
Our long-term care system is collapsing under the weight of high costs and low staff. It is hurting the quality and availability of services in our communities, and we are struggling to find solutions.
Since the pandemic:
- The aging services workforce has shrunk more than 10%
- Labor costs are up 22%
- Staffing agency labor costs have increased by 270%
Between labor shortages and the spiraling costs of goods and services, it has been impossible for our providers to keep pace financially.
Our reduction in workforce continues to cause access to care issues all over the state.
- 60% of our providers cite insufficient staff as the primary reason for turning away a new admission
- 44% have a waiting list of residents seeking admission
- 110 of the facilities in our survey turned down 1,100 admission referrals in November, 2022
In the next ten years, the 65+ population in Kansas will increase by another 208,000, and that number will continue to grow as the 85+ population increases by triple digits. The vast majority of these senior Kansans will need long term care services and supports.
At a time when our state needs to be growing long term care options and investing in a senior care workforce, we are instead contracting in every direction.
Our communities and our families need your help.
I am honored and privileged to serve each and every one of you. Thank you for this opportunity
