House Budget Proposal for Assisted Living
The House budget is clearly the best proposal for assisted living Medicaid funding, with $16.5 million in state funds ($33 million total funds) invested in three important areas:
- The labor component of the assisted living rates methodology increases from 79 percent to 84 percent funding.
- The specialized dementia care rate add-on increases from $43.48 per day to $55 per day.
- One-time “bridge funding” is extended to facilities that have 70 percent or greater census of Medicaid residents. The current funding is allocated to facilities serving a client census of 90 percent or greater.
Rep. Nicole Macri (D-43) is the lead on long-term care funding in the House budget. We are grateful for her thoughtful leadership to continue efforts to fully fund the assisted living rates model, improve rates to care for residents with additional care needs related to dementia, and recognize the needs of providers serving a significant majority of clients relying on Medicaid.
We fully appreciate and back the House proposal for funding, and we strongly encourage our members to weigh in to support the House proposal with their own legislators.
Funding is necessary THIS year—and it will take your action to help drive that message.