Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives recently sent a letter to leaders of the House Budget Committee urging them to maintain Medicare and Medicaid funding levels for long-term care in fiscal year 2011.

“Nearly 80 percent of the 1.5 million patients cared for each day by SNFs rely on Medicare or Medicaid for their care,” Reps. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) wrote in their letter to House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) and Ranking Member Paul Ryan (R-WI). “Studies show that on a consistent basis, Medicaid fails to cover the cost of care for patients in nursing homes.  In 2009, the shortfall was projected to be $4.6 billion nationwide or $14.17 per patient, per day,” they said.

The letter also noted Medicare funding reductions of more than $12 billion over ten years that went into effect October 1, 2009. The American Health Care Association praised the letter for calling “needed attention to the chronic Medicaid under funding crisis, which is increasingly problematic for patients and facilities.”