An article in Virginia Mercury includes perspectives from VHCA-VCAL and legislators on the Joint Commission on Health Care’s report on nursing home staffing issues. The article explores issues around minimum staffing levels and Medicaid funding issues. VHCA-VCAL President and CEO Keith Hare and Senior Vice President for Policy and Reimbursement Steve Ford are quoted in the piece.

The article notes that “Representatives for the industry say that Medicaid reimbursement rates have always been the primary problem for nursing homes in Virginia. Keith Hare, the CEO for VHCA-VCAL, said rates should be raised without setting new and potentially difficult requirements for facilities, which are struggling — like much of the most of the health care industry — to hire and retain staff.

In reference to the reports policy recommendations on better funding behavioral health care for nursing home residents, Ford noted, ““The rate methodology really focuses on physical health needs and does not focus on mental health.”

Read the full article: Black and low-income Virginians are disproportionately affected by nursing home understaffing (virginiamercury.com, October 7, 2021)