Nursing Homes Warn of Medicare Cuts’ Effects
From Times Wire Reports
Nursing homes may be forced to cut jobs and services if the federal government eliminates billions of dollars in federal Medicare funding this October, industry officials said.
“It’s like pushing access to quality patient care into a free-fall,” said Dr. Charles Roadman, president of the American Health Care Assn., which represents nursing homes.
The industry released figures claiming it would lose nearly $3 billion if the Medicare cuts move forward. Congress agreed to cut billions of dollars from Medicare in 1997 when it balanced the federal budget. But lawmakers restored some of the money after health providers complained. Those givebacks are due to expire this fall.
