PRINTER'S NO. 2216
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
422
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY FIEDLER, DONATUCCI, SCHLOSSBERG, WILLIAMS, RYAN,
A. DAVIS, CALTAGIRONE, KORTZ, LEE, KINSEY, YOUNGBLOOD, OTTEN,
HARRIS, FREEMAN, WARREN, McCLINTON AND DAWKINS, JUNE 24, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 24, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to increase the
Medicaid reimbursement rate for long-term care nursing
facilities in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Medicaid, which provides health coverage to millions
of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, older adults
and individuals with disabilities, is the primary payor for
long-term care services in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid accounts for one in six dollars spent in
the health care system, but more than 50% of long-term care
spending nationally; and
WHEREAS, More than 52,000 older Pennsylvanians and those with
disabilities, or almost two-thirds of long-term care nursing
facility residents, rely on Medicaid coverage of services
because of debilitating and chronic illnesses and conditions;
and
WHEREAS, The average daily cost of a private room in a long-
term care nursing facility in this Commonwealth was $333, or
$121,363 annually, in 2018; and
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WHEREAS, Medicaid is administered by the states according to
Federal requirements and is jointly funded by states and the
Federal government; and
WHEREAS, The amount of Federal payments to states for
services covered under Medicaid, also known as the Federal
Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), is based on the state's
average per capita income relative to the national average and
the state's multiplier; and
WHEREAS, For every dollar a state spends on Medicaid, the
Federal government matches it at a rate that varies from year to
year; and
WHEREAS, For fiscal year 2020, Pennsylvania's FMAP was 52.25%
with a multiplier of 1.09; and
WHEREAS, Some long-term care nursing facilities in this
Commonwealth have indicated they will soon be unable to offer
the same level of care and services if the Medicaid
reimbursement rate is not increased to meet the growing demand;
and
WHEREAS, Over the past decade, the Medicaid reimbursement
rate has only risen about 4%, while costs for long-term care
nursing services have increased 7% in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, As the population in this Commonwealth continues to
age, more individuals will need some form of long-term care
services in their lifetimes and most individuals and their
families are unable to cover the associated costs; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for long-term
care nursing facilities in Pennsylvania.
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