At Florida nursing homes, senior residents can lose much from the proposed spending cuts in Washington, D.C.
Medicaid is the primary payer of care for nurses in Florida, and the only way two-thirds of nurse residents can pay for daily tasks such as meals, bathing and dressing.
What if Florida is no longer paying for senior care? Do families need to intervene and provide care or pay the bill? Will some nursing homes be closed?
These questions are the best in Florida as Congress is considering where to cut federal government.
Medicaid provides health insurance to people with limited income and resources. Medicaid's federal cuts could affect the approximately 700,000 seniors currently covered, including people in long-term care facilities, as well as the 700,000 seniors currently covered, including those currently covered, as well as those who may need skilled nursing or home care in the future.
Most seniors in Florida will cost an average annual annual nursing bed from $104,000 to almost $117,000 in 2023, according to KFF, a nonprofit organization that provides health policy research and voting. Some residents start at Medicaid nursing homes or use them after they run out of private funds.
“Loss of Medicaid coverage poses unique challenges for older people, people with disabilities, and those who are likely to live in fixed income, providing access to high-priced healthcare and relying on Medicaid for long-term care coverage,” KFF states “Five key facts regarding Medicaid eligibility for seniors and disabled people.”
The depth and scope of potential Medicaid reductions are unknown, but House Republicans are unable to achieve their $880 billion savings goal to pass President Donald Trump's legislative agenda without significantly reducing programs like Medicaid. All states rely on federal matching funds to fund the Medicaid program.
In Florida, the federal government pays 57% of traditional Medicaid costs, while the state pays 43%. If federal games drop, state lawmakers need to know how to run the program by reducing federal funds. According to an analysis by Georgetown University, the state wins $19.5 billion a year from the federal government of Florida Decade.
For now, Questions and Uncertainty The future of Cloud Medicaid is being watched closely by Florida Eldercare advocates.
Nursing owner's perspective
Shawn Corley, president of Solaris Healthcare Properties, worries about the day they won't be able to accept new Medicaid residents at one of Florida's 20 long-term care facilities. He coordinated it to all federal lawsuits focusing on spending cuts and impact on Medicaid.
“A significant reduction could destroy the care we provide,” Corey said. “We can see economic instability in providers like us, which could lead to building closures, residents moving, or an unserved population with limited beds available.”
He points out that the impact of the reduction could affect not only nurse employees but also residents' families.
“If families don't have access to Medicaid funds, they may need to quit their job to take care of them from home,” Corey said.
Nick van der Linden, senior director of Reading Operations Florida, a statewide association representing all types of care for seniors, said that each nurse owner has set the percentage of Medicaid residents to take.
“Some owners will be more affected than others,” van der Linden said. “It is logical to assume that some owners will be out of the Medicaid business.
“That doesn't mean residents will be kicked out of nursing homes, but it could mean an increase in the needs of residents that cannot be met,” he added. “That means some people don't have access to long-term care that is medically necessary.”
Elderly cares at home
Over 90% of elderly people want to age at home rather than at long-term care facilities. However, this reduction could threaten the amount of home care received, access to daycare for adults, and medical device coverage.
Additionally, seniors will have to pay for all types of health services currently covered by Medicaid plans.
“I don't know where they're aiming for a cut right now, but the impact could be seniors at home. At home, they may have Medicaid funding for their aides to help them shop for sandwiches and grocery and brush their teeth.
Wiener said reductions in these services could lead to social isolation.
Why are elderly people at risk?
Medicaid funds countless programs for other age groups in Florida, but the highest spending comes from seniors and disabled people (78%). The US average is 51%, according to the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.
“If the state reduces Medicaid spending and most of the money goes to seniors, we can expect a big target for seniors and people with disabilities,” said Leo Cuero of the center.
Cuero said Florida lawmakers would probably consider three options if Medicaid cuts occurred.
It makes it harder for Floridians to qualify for Medicaid, reducing eligible services such as home care and reimbursement rates for certain prescription drug cut providers, and accepting Medicaid is less attractive
By reducing the reimbursement rate, seniors will face very limited choices of providers, Quaero added. They may find it difficult to access specialists, hire a home health attendant, or get an appointment with a gerontologist.
In Florida, Medicaid (58.8%) in Miami-Dade County has the highest percentage of seniors covered, followed by Broward County (21.6%). Palm Beach County is probably a much lower percentage of around 12% due to its large wealthy population.
“These aren't just spreadsheet numbers, they represent Florida families who may lose access to essential healthcare,” says Alison Yager, executive director of the Florida Health Justice Project, which provides an analysis of Florida health policy. “In Miami-Dade County, nearly three people rely on Medicaid on five seniors.”
“The state is narrowed down with fixed dollars from the federal government,” Yager said. “The cost won't go away. They're just moving to the states, hospitals, healthcare providers, residents.”
Wiener of the Palm Beach County Partnership for Aging in Palm Beach County said community leaders working with seniors are already facing challenges, even without cuts in services.
“We already keep people who are struggling with housing and care safe,” she said. “A lot of retirees here are getting older, so that's a big deal. Florida seniors often lose.”
South Florida Sun Sentinel Health Reporter, Sindy Goodman, can be contacted at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.
