The Public Health Emergency (PHE) has allowed for a safety net in healthcare. This means that a significant amount of funding is available to enable care for those that may be uninsured, Medicaid, and other vulnerable patients.
As of now, the PHE has been extended until January 23rd, 2023. But looking ahead, what states are replacing the PHE safety net?
Some states have already incorporated pieces of the PHE waivers into their budgets. This allows temporary Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funding to become permanent.
Here are all of the states that have already taken steps to replace the PHE:
- Illinois
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
As of July 1st, 2022, Illinois has approved a $700 million increase in nursing home funding. This new funding pool will allow $290 million to $350 million of the budget to be used for staffing incentives. $170 million of the budget pool will be used to boost the base Medicaid reimbursement. Another $83 million will be used for CNA compensation and workforce retention, promotion, tenure, and training, $70 million will go towards, and $52 million is going to be used in the transition from Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-IV) to Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), and $34 million will be used to end reimbursement rate disparities in rural areas.
Florida has also increased their rate to provide $293 million for nursing center care. This will also equate to $419,000 per care center. This new funding will require all nursing home employees to be paid at least $15 per hour.
Lastly, Pennsylvania increased its Medicaid reimbursement rate to 17.5% for nursing homes. This will result in an extra $35 per resident per day.
The hope for many advocates is that all 50 states will revisit and readjust their budgets to replace the PHE safety net in 2023.
The changes resulting from the shift in PHE status can be made more efficient with effective communication in healthcare. Communication in healthcare is not only efficient, but it also creates an all-around more positive patient experience.
Udo can help healthcare providers communicate more easily and connect amid upcoming changes. Learn more about the power of Udo and the automated results Udo brings to the healthcare sector here.