The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

September 6, 2007

Your View — Walz response correct, incomplete

I am director of campus operations for Mankato Lutheran Homes.

Rep. Tim Walz was right to take exception with those who advertised in opposition to CHAMP, the bill that expands children’s health services. But his response does not paint the complete picture of Minnesota nursing homes.

Unlike those responsible for the ads, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, of which Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance is the state affiliate, supports CHAMP and its many important features. As the associations for not-for-profit nursing homes, we are driven by missions, not profit. Just as we care for older adults, we support legislation to improve children’s health care.

We are deeply concerned, however, that the act would freeze Medicare payments for nursing home care. In Minnesota, Medicare margins for nursing homes must be used to offset inadequate Medicaid payments. So, freezing Medicare payments ultimately hurts the poorest nursing home residents who rely on Medicaid.

We implore Congress to remove the freeze on nursing home payments because it would make worse an already serious problem of inadequate resources to pay staff, maintain facilities and deliver quality. In Minnesota, 57 percent of nursing facilities are losing money, yet, so far, have found ways to continue their missions of caring.

Minnesota nursing homes have joined not-for-profit and for-profit nursing homes nationwide to embrace a national quality improvement plan called Quality First. It is working.

We hope Congress recognizes this and works to strengthen, rather than freeze, funding that supports quality nursing home care.

Jennifer Pfeffer,

Mankato

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Your View