AARP Arizona plays a role in supporting the coverage of aging.
Long-term care comes with a hefty price tag, and for certain providers, it also results in financial losses. Simultaneously, the demand for this type of care is on the rise among Arizonans. Consequently, it becomes imperative to approach the state Legislature and request additional funding.
David Voepel, CEO of the Arizona Health Care Association, which represents the state’s nursing homes, highlights the concerning lack of increase in reimbursement rates for the long-term care sector in recent years.
According to Voepel, skilled nursing is currently facing a deficit of $32.57 per patient day.
Having 100 residents, with 60 of them being covered by ALTCS, a facility could potentially lose approximately $2,000 per day due to the cost of long-term care.
He states that relying solely on that amount is not sustainable. Therefore, they are proposing a $14.4 million increase for long-term care. They plan to introduce separate legislation for this purpose and are also seeking support from the governor’s office and legislative leaders.
A bill that is anticipated to be reintroduced aims to grant families the permission to install cameras in the rooms of their loved ones in nursing homes. It is worth noting that a similar bill was rejected last year.