Thousands of families in New York State depend on nursing homes to provide quality care for their loved ones. But now, nursing homes are facing a massive financial crisis – the pandemic, combined with skyrocketing inflation and labor costs are pushing many nursing homes to the brink.

Most nursing home residents rely on Medicaid to pay for their care. The problem is that in New York State, Medicaid hasn’t kept pace with inflation for more than a decade and doesn’t even cover the acutual cost of care for nursing home residents. While costs go up every year, New York has failed to provide any meaningful increase in Medicaid funding in 15 years – adding just a 1% increase last year. That’s 1% over 15 years!

Nursing homes are being forced to limit admissions and even close entire facilities altogether as the gap between costs and reimbursement rates becomes unsustainable. This is a problem for the entire healthcare system as hospitals become overcrowded because there is no option for a safe discharge for patients who need nursing home care.

New York ranks in the bottom five of U.S. states for the amount they fund Medicaid for reimbursements to Nursing Homes. NY Seniors and families deserve better! If nothing is done, families will run out of options for skilled nursing care for their frail and elderly loved ones.

Covid, inflation, inadequate Medicaid rates, and the nationwide staffing shortage have put the nursing home industry on life support.

Tell Albany it’s time to adequately fund Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes! Sign the petition to tell Governor Kathy Hochul and the NY State legislature to include a 20% increase in Medicaid in the NY State Budget – the future of nursing home care depends on it.