Letters to the Editor

As many know about ten nursing homes in smaller towns in Montana have closed, partly because Medicaid did not reimburse the facility the cost for skilled long term care. Several others are just barely staying open unless the state can increase the amount of reimbursement, those will close

I was in contact with former Senator, Daryl Toews of Lustre, he sent names and addreesses of Legislators we should contact to enourage the state to increase the amount of Medicaid reimbursement to nursing homes for skilled care per bed per day.

Daryl, who is on the board of Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow, along with Wes Thompson, administrator of Valley View Home and others met last week with a committee who will meet with the Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee. It would be helpful it would be helpful to send emails or letters expressing concern for this nursing home crisis in our state.

How devastating for those residents to have to move after spending most of their lives in one community and for their families to travel to visit them. They have worked, paid taxes, saved thousands of dollars to take care of themselves in their old age, but with inflation that does not last especially for those living to be eighty or more years old, What else can they do but apply for Medicaid, and will a facility accept them? It is nearly impossible to take care of a family member at home unless they can find help, remodel their homes, buy lifts, special beds, and other needed equipment, have Workmen’s Comp coverage for employees in case they get injured lifting and etc.

Every family has a loved one or a friend who is or will be affected by a shortage of skilled care beds. Finanically the closure of the nursing homes affects everything in these small towns, hospitals, pharmacies, floral shops, food suppliers, barbers, beauty shops, every one! Also many lost their jobs, where do they find employment with equal wages in town? Our Governor is always pleased with new businesses to help the economy, what about keeping the businesses we already have. What happens to the abandoned buildings, who maintains them?

Thank you in advance for contacting the following legislators to encourage them to vote to increase the reimbursement of Medicaid assistance for skilled care to nursning homes. There are six people on this commitee.

Norma Kelly

Malta, Montana

Bob.Keenan@legmt.com -Representative

Mary.Caferro@legmt.gov -Representative

Jane.Gillette@legmt.gov -Representative

Denns.Lenz@legmt.gov -Representative

Carl.Glimm@legmt.gov -Representative

Christopher.Pope@legmt.com -Representative