By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-976138.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Florida Nursing homes are growing concerned over proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. The industry is already dealing with cuts to state Medicaid support, and as Lynn Hatter reports, they're urging congress to hold funding where it is now.
The Florida Healthcare Association represents many of the state's nursing homes. And the association's senior director of reimbursement, Tony Marshall, says federal and state cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are causing a lot of uncertainty for nursing home operators and occupants.
"Any reductions they make at the federal level to Medicaid would affect what the state pays into that program as well. The Medicare program is entirely federally funded, and reductions proposed to Medicare would be significant. And when you put them together it creates significant financial instability."
Nursing homes spend most of their money on health care for their residents and salaries for their employees, leaving little room for anything else.