Connecticut’s Republican senators are calling for a special session to override a portion of the state budget that cut $5.3 million in Medicaid funding for nursing homes.
The loss of funding could put nine nursing homes at risk of closing. The senators said they are hoping to prevent that by working with state Democrats to “identify cuts and savings elsewhere.”
“This policy disregards the serious and traumatic consequences closures would have on vulnerable nursing home residents including persons with dementia. Such closures could potentially push people into a community that does not have the proper supports,” the senators wrote in a letter to Democratic legislative leaders.
“We absolutely need to hold nursing homes accountable to ensure safety and quality care. But this policy puts money before people. It is discouraging nursing home facilities from caring for the most vulnerable, all just to free up money to spend elsewhere in the budget.”
Connecticut’s state budget was approved in spring and removed stop loss protections for nursing homes that don’t meet certain federal quality measures, or those that have high vacancy rates. Lawmakers argued the state already has procedures to hold nursing homes accountable for errors and this policy change doesn’t enhance that system, but rather makes it harder for facilities to improve and offer care.
“In a $40 billion budget, finding $5.3 million over the next two years to restore this Medicaid funding is not an unachievable task. Should you agree to pursue a special session for this purpose, Republicans would like to work together to identify savings or cuts elsewhere in the budget that can be used to restore this funding and to prioritize support for vulnerable seniors,” they wrote.
