The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is seeking a $10 million increase in the state’s 2008-09 budget allocation to increase the Medicaid reimbursement to $100 per visit for skilled services. The increase will help offset the cost of nursing care, rising gasoline prices, and workers’ compensation premiums for home health agencies. Last year alone, Pennsylvania home health agencies traveled more than 210 million miles and spent an additional $6.7 million in 2007 to help cover the rising gasoline costs.
“A raise in the reimbursement rate will help us bring in more nurses, and also provide more people with the comfort of being treated in their own home,” said Vicki Hoak, Pennsylvania Homecare Association executive director. “People who use home health care have a lower readmission rate to the hospital, and it costs less to provide home health care than to have a person remain in an inpatient facility.”
What is your state home care association doing to help you increase reimbursement for Medicaid patients? Are you actively involved with your association? If not, it’s time to get involved.
