Oklahoma desperately needs nursing home staffing. New bill would only make the situation worse
While we all agree that frail, older Oklahomans need quality nursing home care, we do not agree on the process to improve quality. Oklahoma is fortunate to have some excellent homes. However, many fall far short of the expectation. In fact, Oklahoma ranks a dismal 47th in the nation for nursing home staffing measured by direct care staff hours per resident per day.
In 2023, $47 million was approved by the Oklahoma Legislature for a nursing home rate increase, the largest increase in the history of the state’s Medicaid program. With the federal match, the increase totaled more than $140 million. Instead of the funding being allocated according to the methodology in the statute that rewards providers who staff at higher levels, the funds were allocated equally to all providers. The result: Many providers continue to staff below the state-mandated minimum. Despite that rate increase, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office saw an unprecedented 35 percent increase in nursing home complaints in 2023, with the No. 1 complaint being resident care.
Oklahoma lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1417. It will negatively impact the care of our most frail and vulnerable residents living in nursing home facilities. Under the current statute, 70 percent of new dollars are to be allocated to direct resident care. SB 1417 would change the reimbursement funding system, modifying the ratio for any new available funding to allocate less for staffing.
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While wages and other operation costs have increased, it is imperative that any new funding be tied to the 70/30 reimbursement methodology. This methodology directs more funding to providers who commit to better staffing to improve resident care. This will ensure the accountability and transparency that nursing home residents, their families and taxpayers deserve.
It is often said that nursing homes in Oklahoma will close without rate increases. The reality is that it will be the quality providers who staff twice that of other providers who won’t survive if nursing home rate increases aren’t directed to those who make the commitment to staffing.
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Yes, the older population is set to increase dramatically in the coming years. We must ensure that our state’s long-term care infrastructure is positioned to deliver improved care in the future. It is more important than ever that ANY new funds be allocated to reward quality providers.
SB 1417 would eliminate the only assurance we now have that any new funding is directed to providers committed to quality staffing. Direct care staffing is the single most important determinant of quality care. The best way to ensure this is to encumber any additional funding to ensure dollars are targeted to increased staffing.
Oklahomans need and deserve to have quality long-term care options. It’s time for our legislators to ensure accountability for every dollar directed to nursing home reimbursement, and that should start with voting NO on SB 1417.
Ruth Tatyrek is a senior citizen in Oklahoma City and a licensed clinical social worker.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why Oklahoma Senate should vote no on SB 1417, nursing home bill
