The Department of Health has identified the problems hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) face in transferring inpatients to nursing homes and the problems of nursing homes not receiving patients because they are understaffed. is aware of

DOH spokesman Mark O’Neil said the government has taken important steps to support the health system during last year’s staffing shortages.

“You may recall that the department deployed several strike teams statewide to ease the burden on hospitals and allow patients to move from hospitals to well-staffed SNFs.” “The administration also worked swiftly with Congress in a bipartisan fashion to allocate $225 million to support health care workers,” O’Neill said.

The administration has also prioritized addressing funding for these facilities in the governor’s budget proposal, with the state’s final budget investing more than $500 million, with hundreds of millions of dollars going to Pennsylvania’s nursing home residences. We look forward to supporting you in providing quality care.

“To maintain and improve the quality of resident care, we need more direct payments for resident care and, above all, federal funding available for staff recruitment and retention,” O’Neill said. said. “Additionally, the budget included financial accountability language that required nursing facilities to spend a minimum of 70% of their funds on residents and resident-related expenses. , which will come into force in 2023.”

The state does not have vaccination requirements for skilled nursing facilities, but strongly recommends vaccination at these facilities. However, some of his SNF workers have mandatory vaccinations from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), he said.

O’Neill said the state is not tracking data on the number of patients affected by this.

“The department does not track this information because tracking such conditions in a rapidly changing healthcare environment could be counterproductive and hinder patient care,” he said. Hospitals and care homes are often quick to resolve mobility issues on their own.As noted above, during the peak of COVID-19, when both hospitals and care homes were overwhelmed, the department eased the situation. We have initiated multiple short-term remedies for

cause

Katie Andreano, spokesperson for LeadingAge PA, an association that represents more than 360 elderly service providers statewide, said hospitals and long-term care provider relationships play an important role in the elderly services ecosystem. said to be fulfilling A period rehabilitation unit where older people receive specialized care after hospitalization.

“Many long-term care providers throughout Pennsylvania, including members of the LeadingAge PA, have faced difficult decisions over the past few years, often limiting admission of new residents to on-site rehabilitation units. ”said Andreano. “Our members have strong relationships with local hospitals and health systems, are in frequent contact about discharges and bed capacity, and are working on weekly or daily basis based on staffing levels and COVID-related isolation requirements. , determine their capacity.”

Andreano said there are two primary factors and one secondary factor that contribute to the decision to limit admissions. “The current workforce crisis, outdated COVID-19 protocols, and inadequate funding. LeadingAge PA members are mission-driven organizations that want to provide needed care and services to as many older people as possible. , we will not accept new residents if the level of care we provide is at risk due to a lack of services, staff, and we do not have enough single rooms to adhere to COVID-19 isolation protocols.”

Andreano said nursing homes are struggling to retain dedicated workers. One reason, he said, is that Medicaid funding has remained flat for years, making it impossible to sustain even basic inflation costs.

“The pandemic is only exacerbating this, exacerbating the funding and labor crisis as nursing homes struggle to ensure access to care for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. “Nursing homes will face a funding shortfall of about $1.2 billion in Medicaid from 2019 to 2020, almost double the shortfall from just a few years ago,” she said, according to a report commissioned by LeadingAge PA. became.”

‘Very Needed’ Funding

The recently enacted 2022-23 state budget provided the first overall increase in Medicaid funding for long-term care in nearly a decade, Andreano said.

“This funding, which will begin distribution in January 2023, is a much-needed first phase, but record inflation costs and COVID-19-related costs will drain an already struggling sector. We keep it up,” says Andreano. “Additionally, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent decision overturns the Venue Shopping Rules, which also take effect in January, perpetuating the financial instability of aging service providers and reducing their access to long-term care. It just makes access even more dangerous.”

There are no easy solutions here, but there are a few places to start, she said.

“Providers can’t wait for funding to grow every decade, but access to care is a balance,” says Andreano. “Now that the COVID-19 virus is becoming a part of everyday life and the threat of serious consequences has diminished, it is no longer necessary to implement rules and regulations that hinder both the ability of providers to operate efficiently and residents. It’s time to rethink and upend the ‘quality of life.’

Significant investments need to be made in the aging service workforce, she said.

“Solving the problem of laboratory competence that is preventing temporary nursing assistants from getting certified is one place to start,” says Andreano. training), increasing investment in training programs and educational opportunities to build the pipeline of future caregivers, and increasing funding to support competitive wages and benefits will also begin to address this issue. prize.”