Published: Saturday, July 24, 2010
GUEST COMMENTARY / OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS
Behind the cuts are tragic human stories
Long-term care for our most vulnerable citizens is imperiled in Snohomish County and statewide.
The global economic downturn forced the state to make around $5 billion in cuts in the past two sessions.
These cuts haven't gotten near as much attention as the tax increases they outnumber by over 7-1. Nor have the human consequences been much examined. That's unfortunate given that the next two years are almost certain to bring more cuts.
While a "Barefoot Bandit" captures headlines, cuts began July 1 for the state's most medically-fragile residents -- roughly 11,000 patients on Medicaid -- receiving skilled nursing care in nursing homes statewide.
Consider a family-owned 70-bed Everett nursing home where patients now receive $5.13 less per day than in April. Statewide there will be an annual loss of roughly $1,500 in care funding for each patient. Very obviously it will be difficult for caregivers and patients to weather that blow. If facilities close, what happens to the displaced patients?
Regrettably, their suffering isn't as newsworthy as the question of whether Bristol Palin's engagement is on again.
Given that Motel 6 rates don't go lower than $39.99, imagine boarding home residents maintaining their quality of life on as little as $47.19 in daily state Medicaid payment for 24/7 care, meals and housing. Or consider the plight of Snohomish County in-home care clients among the 8,100 statewide to lose service hours for meal preparation and incontinence care.
Yet these stories are overshadowed by the question of who will win "America's Got Talent."
Fast-forward: It could get worse. Our state was one of 47 seeking additional assistance from the federal government to fund Medicaid services for the medically-indigent. The assistance, a 6-month extension of extra funding through the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (called "FMAP"), seemed so certain that 30 states like ours banked on it. It's worth $480 million to our state budget.
For other states this assistance is worth much more. Due to its efficiency, Washington only draws a matching federal dollar for every dollar it spends on Medicaid. Yet Mississippi, run by Governor Haley Barbour -- the former national Republican chairman -- receives $1.65 for every dollar it spends. Small wonder Republican governors have joined their Democratic colleagues in calling for this help, and Governor Chris Gregoire has led in organizing them on the issue.
Regrettably, that bi-partisanship has not been replicated in Congress.
Despite support from Representative Rick Larsen and Senator Patty Murray, as well as other congressional Democrats, it may be impossible for this vital life-ring for senior citizens to get through a U.S. Senate where 41 members can veto an idea 59 members support. A partisan divide exists even though John McCain's former economic adviser, Mark Zandi, declares the FMAP extension an essential investment -- it would go to caregivers' wages and they, in turn, would spend it.
The partisan wrangling in Washington, D.C. is at odds with considerable bipartisanship that has occurred in our Washington in the past on long-term care issues. For example, while the proposal did not pass this past session, as many Republicans as Democrats supported a bill put forth by nursing home providers willing to pay a fee to stabilize care funding by drawing additional federal resources.
We'll know as soon as August 9 whether the FMAP extension is doomed. If it is, Gov. Gregoire has noted further cuts will be imminent on top of the $5 billion previously made. Her budget director has observed such cuts will fall heavily upon those with human services' needs.
We must remember these facts in wrestling with concerns about the cost of government. With under-funded education the state's paramount constitutional duty, more state cuts will, unavoidably, inflict even greater injury upon seniors and those with disabilities who look to fellow citizens for help with their care. It's not enough to decry government "waste" without actually specifying what that waste is. There are human stories behind cuts, and there are human lives that could be wasted if more cuts occur.
State Rep. Brendan Williams, a Democrat from Olympia, is not running for re-election.
The global economic downturn forced the state to make around $5 billion in cuts in the past two sessions.
These cuts haven't gotten near as much attention as the tax increases they outnumber by over 7-1. Nor have the human consequences been much examined. That's unfortunate given that the next two years are almost certain to bring more cuts.
While a "Barefoot Bandit" captures headlines, cuts began July 1 for the state's most medically-fragile residents -- roughly 11,000 patients on Medicaid -- receiving skilled nursing care in nursing homes statewide.
Consider a family-owned 70-bed Everett nursing home where patients now receive $5.13 less per day than in April. Statewide there will be an annual loss of roughly $1,500 in care funding for each patient. Very obviously it will be difficult for caregivers and patients to weather that blow. If facilities close, what happens to the displaced patients?
Regrettably, their suffering isn't as newsworthy as the question of whether Bristol Palin's engagement is on again.
Given that Motel 6 rates don't go lower than $39.99, imagine boarding home residents maintaining their quality of life on as little as $47.19 in daily state Medicaid payment for 24/7 care, meals and housing. Or consider the plight of Snohomish County in-home care clients among the 8,100 statewide to lose service hours for meal preparation and incontinence care.
Yet these stories are overshadowed by the question of who will win "America's Got Talent."
Fast-forward: It could get worse. Our state was one of 47 seeking additional assistance from the federal government to fund Medicaid services for the medically-indigent. The assistance, a 6-month extension of extra funding through the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (called "FMAP"), seemed so certain that 30 states like ours banked on it. It's worth $480 million to our state budget.
For other states this assistance is worth much more. Due to its efficiency, Washington only draws a matching federal dollar for every dollar it spends on Medicaid. Yet Mississippi, run by Governor Haley Barbour -- the former national Republican chairman -- receives $1.65 for every dollar it spends. Small wonder Republican governors have joined their Democratic colleagues in calling for this help, and Governor Chris Gregoire has led in organizing them on the issue.
Regrettably, that bi-partisanship has not been replicated in Congress.
Despite support from Representative Rick Larsen and Senator Patty Murray, as well as other congressional Democrats, it may be impossible for this vital life-ring for senior citizens to get through a U.S. Senate where 41 members can veto an idea 59 members support. A partisan divide exists even though John McCain's former economic adviser, Mark Zandi, declares the FMAP extension an essential investment -- it would go to caregivers' wages and they, in turn, would spend it.
The partisan wrangling in Washington, D.C. is at odds with considerable bipartisanship that has occurred in our Washington in the past on long-term care issues. For example, while the proposal did not pass this past session, as many Republicans as Democrats supported a bill put forth by nursing home providers willing to pay a fee to stabilize care funding by drawing additional federal resources.
We'll know as soon as August 9 whether the FMAP extension is doomed. If it is, Gov. Gregoire has noted further cuts will be imminent on top of the $5 billion previously made. Her budget director has observed such cuts will fall heavily upon those with human services' needs.
We must remember these facts in wrestling with concerns about the cost of government. With under-funded education the state's paramount constitutional duty, more state cuts will, unavoidably, inflict even greater injury upon seniors and those with disabilities who look to fellow citizens for help with their care. It's not enough to decry government "waste" without actually specifying what that waste is. There are human stories behind cuts, and there are human lives that could be wasted if more cuts occur.
State Rep. Brendan Williams, a Democrat from Olympia, is not running for re-election.
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