County-owned hospitals in Indiana have diverted more than $2.6 billion in Medicaid funding away from nursing homes, contributing to dangerously low staffing levels and inadequate patient care, according to newly obtained financial data from The Indianapolis Star , also known as IndyStar .
Why It Matters
Indiana’s nursing homes rank among the worst in the nation for staffing, despite receiving billions in additional Medicaid payments meant to improve conditions for elderly and disabled residents.
Instead, nearly half of the $5.6 billion generated by nursing homes over the past 15 years was retained by county hospitals for unrelated expenses, such as new hospital buildings and equipment, according to IndyStar .
What To Know
Indiana’s Medicaid reimbursement system allows nursing homes owned by county hospitals to receive significantly higher payments than private facilities.
County-owned homes qualify for an additional $108.30 per patient per day on top of the standard Medicaid rate of $297.42. However, much of that money never reaches the nursing homes…