Study: Ohio Faces Medicaid Challenges

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers across Ohio face 2012, a new report reveals the depth of their financial challenges. Medicaid, the health program for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, underfunded Ohio SNFs by $262 million, or $14.31 per patient per day, in 2009. The report projected those figures to rise to $330 million and $18.23 per patient per day in 2011, but those calculations were done for Fiscal Year 2011, which did not take into account the Medicaid rate cut of nearly $10 per day imposed on Ohio SNFs by the state budget bill, House Bill 153. This cut took effect for Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1, 2011.