Nursing homes get short-term 14% funding increase for Medicaid patients

EVERETT — Pete Wolkin celebrated a funding increase for nursing homes included in the most recent state budget, but would love to see a longer commitment from lawmakers.

“Certainly the new budget will help us out,” Wolkin said. “It will help us provide the care that we need to for Medicaid residents. It will help us pay our staff more and cover our expenses.”

Wolkin is the director of operations at Nightingale Healthcare, which oversees two facilities in Snohomish County and five more in Washington and Oregon.

The two-year state budget increases the Medicaid rate for skilled nursing facilities by 14% over the next two fiscal years, and adds funding for some specialty care. The Washington Health Care Association calculated the total additional Medicaid funding to be $406 million.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/nursing-homes-get-short-term-14-funding-increase-for-medicaid-patients/