HCAC
e-news
June 21, 2002 ~ Published by Home Care Association of Colorado
MEDICAID HOME HEALTH
SERVICES CUT BY $16.4 MILLION
1. HOME HEALTH RATE CUTS TOTAL $16.4 MILLION EQUALING NEARLY
400,000 VISITS L
An
analysis of last week’s Colorado Board of Medical Services cuts to home health
rates shows that Medicaid home health services will be cut by at least $16.4
million in the next fiscal year which begins July 1, 2002. This amounts to
nearly 360,000 skilled nursing, therapy and home health aide visits to
Colorado's most frail, elderly and disabled citizens
--- PLUS as many as 30,000 private duty nursing hours for our state’s
severely disabled children.
In
addition the Board approved numerous utilization control measures that will cut
millions more dollars in home health spending and reduce visits even more.
Without these visits many Coloradans will be forced into more costly
alternatives.
w HCPF-recommended rate cuts will amount
to at least a $16.4 million cut in home health services
in next state fiscal year.*
- $13.7 million for home health aide (certified nurse aide) visits
- $1.3 million for skilled nursing visits
- $ .8 million for private duty nursing services
- $ .6 million for PT/OT/Speech therapy visits
* These dollars equal a loss
of nearly 360,000 skilled nursing, therapy and home health aide visits to
Colorado's frail, elderly and disabled citizens --- PLUS a loss of 30,000 private duty nursing hours
for severely disabled children:*
-
330,000 home health aide (CNA) visits (which average 1 hour and 20 minutes long)
- 18,000
skilled nursing visits
- 9,500 PT/OT/ST
visits
plus
- 30,000 Private Duty
Nursing hours
*Based upon HCAC Medicaid utilization
data.
2. AGENCIES URGED TO CONTACT PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Every Colorado home care agency is
strongly encouraged to pass this information on to any public official that can
be reached - county commissioners, legislators, members of the board of medical
services, etc. Use this information to emphasize the HUGE impact on our state's
most frail, elderly and disabled citizens. Without home care, they'll be showing
up in hospitals and nursing homes at a much greater cost. Use this information
in conjunction with YOUR OWN individual numbers - emphasizing the impact on
clients and client services as well as numbers of staff you will be laying off
if you are forced to stop providing these services for which you can't afford to
provide under the new rate schedule.
3. READ THE RULES AS PROPOSED BY HCPF STAFF!
L
The rules may be reviewed and downloaded at http://www.chcpf.state.co.us
Scroll to Medical Services Board; Then to “Agendas with Proposed Rules;”
Then to June 14, 2002; Document 7.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED QUICKLY!
HCAC is working to schedule home health provider testimony at the next Medical Services Board meeting scheduled for Friday, July 12, 2002 at Jefferson County Dept. of Human Services in Golden. We have been asked for specific comments and agency plans on what you will do under this rate structure. PLEASE comment on how these cuts and changes will impact your home health clients and families as well as your agency.
It is preferred that comments be sent via e-mail to
ecaruso@assnoffice.com
so they can be forwarded on to pubic policy makers.
Comments will
also be accepted via Fax: (303) 694-4869 or
Mail: 7853 E. Arapahoe Court #2100, Englewood, CO 80112
If you would like your comments to be included in the formal record of the Medical Services Board please mail them to:
State Board of Medical Services
C/o Karen Snell, Board Administrator
Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing
1575 Sherman Street
Denver, CO 80203-1714
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