Nursing Homes Would Receive an Immediate Infusion of $182 Million Over the Next Six Months Alone. Caregivers Urge Accountability to Ensure Funding Makes It to the Bedside.
For Immediate Release: February 8, 2022
Contact: scott.vogel@seiuhcpa.org and karen.gownley@seiuhcpa.org
(Harrisburg, PA) – Nursing home workers were elated to learn that Governor Wolf heard their voices and intense grassroots campaign to demand more immediate resources to protect nursing home residents and essential frontline caregivers.
The Governor proposed investing $546 million over the next 18 months alone into the state’s nursing home system to respond to the catastrophic short staffing crisis, including a Medicaid rate increase for long term care workers and facilities which has not seen an increase for over a decade.
Gov. Wolf is proposing to invest $91 million from the state in the second half of this fiscal year which ends on June 30, 2022. And with the federal government matching the state’s investment, the total Medicaid funding increase will rise to nearly $190 million in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
If made permanent, Wolf’s budget proposal for the next full fiscal year in 2023-24 would invest $364 million every year for essential workers and the nursing home system.
In response, Matt Yarnell, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement from the Governor is nothing less than historic.
“Let’s be clear, this major investment to respond to the catastrophic staffing crisis in our nursing homes simply would not have happened unless caregivers demanded a response from our elected officials.
“Our essential workers have sacrificed themselves, their safety, and their families during this global pandemic and we have seen the near collapse of our caregiving workforce. And yet, our amazing nursing home leaders decided to stay, fight and advocate on behalf of residents, seniors, and co-workers.
“Now the state legislature needs to act and implement the Governor’s proposed budget to make this investment and Medicaid rate permanent to improve care and give our nursing home workers relief and support for the long term.
“It is imperative that this funding comes with accountability and transparency. Currently only 63% of Pennsylvania’s nursing home funding is actually spent on resident care. Our elected leaders must make sure public dollar investment into long term care goes directly to care, and does not end up with CEOs or in corporate offices.
“Our essential caregivers are earning poverty level wages while doing the hardest job in America. It is unacceptable and immoral the immense stress and risk we put our nursing home workers through which harms our residents and seniors.
“We applaud the Governor for recognizing the urgency of this crisis. He proposed a historical and vital investment for essential workers. The state legislature needs to come to the table along with caregivers and the industry to pass a budget that meets the needs of residents and improves quality care.”
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SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania is the state’s largest and fastest-growing union of nurses and healthcare workers, uniting tens of thousands of professional and technical employees, direct care workers, and service employees in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home- and community-based services, and state facilities across the Commonwealth. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania members are committed to improving the lives of health care workers and ensuring quality care and healthy communities for all Pennsylvanians
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