Advocate for elder care says medically needy program is vital

A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology showed a serious shortage of affordable assisted-living units in many Florida counties. This bad situation will likely get even worse if Gov. Jeb Bush's current plan to eliminate the medically needy program is approved by the Legislature.

Such a drastic action would seriously undermine our Pines of Sarasota's 57-year mission to provide adults who have limited financial resources with the health care and services which enhance their quality of life.

The Pines of Sarasota currently provides shelter, food and medical care for 35 assisted-living residents under the medically needy program. The approximately $1,100 per person per month we receive only pays for about three-fourths of what we otherwise charge monthly for our assisted-living units. The difference -- about $375 per person per month -- is subsidized by the Pines of Sarasota as part of our charitable mission. The annual subsidy now exceeds $157,000.

Subsidizing 25 percent is one thing. Subsidizing 100 percent is quite another.

The news is no better for our nursing-home side. In addition to eliminating the medically needy program, the governor has proposed a $200 million cut in statewide funding for nursing-home patients.

Meanwhile in Washington, Congress is considering a $24 billion cut over 10 years in Medicare funding for the short-stay nursing home patients we treat. Another $40 billion over 10 years in Medicaid senior-care programs is also on the chopping block.

No business can remain in business over the long term if its costs far exceed its revenues. For us, the elimination of the medically needy program will mean we would have to seriously consider an immediate freeze on all medically needy assisted-living admissions.

Over time, attrition among those we have now (we can't just evict them, nor would we) will obviously reduce their number. Low-income people in need of care will have to look elsewhere. Where?

Governor Bush and the Legislature are right to look for new ways to rein in Medicaid spending, but the people in our assisted-living and skilled-nursing units are there because their physical and mental needs require it.

It is incumbent on us as a just and caring society to honor the intergenerational compact by adequately funding caregivers who are doing this important work.

Good care costs good money. Let's hope the Legislature carefully weighs all its options before making any sweeping changes to the programs our sick and elderly rely on.