Sunday, December 28, 1997

Home Health Care: Costs taxpayers less than nursing homes

By RUSSELL GRAY / Guest Columnist

In reference to your guest column by Anita Bradberry Dec. 21, I felt compelled to respond to the cost issue for home health vs. nursing home care.

I am an administrator of a small West Texas nursing center, where our average tile level (reimbursement rate level for a Medicaid resident) is $73.22 a day total cost (what Medicaid and the resident's Social Security pays). This rate covers a licensed nurse 24 hours a day, RN seven days a week, certified nurse's aides 24 hours a day, activity programs daily, three meals and snacks daily planned by a food service supervisor and a registered dietitian, housekeeping services, laundry services, beauty shop weekly for women, once a month barber shop for men, all over-the-counter drugs ordered by the resident's doctor, all doctor-ordered treatments and dressings, all items used in ADL care, lotion, facial tissue, shampoo, bath soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, denture paste, denture tabs, denture cups, combs, hair brushes, shaving cream, shaving lotion, razors, etc.

We provide walkers, wheelchairs and other equipment ordered by the doctor. The resident is not out any money for these things. Residents keep $30 from their Social Security check every month and the rest is applied income. Medicaid supplements residents' income to $73.22 daily rate. This daily rate covers everything the resident needs. We also transport our residents back and forth to doctor's appointments, to town or the post office, etc.

We are regulated very closely by the state to make sure no resident's rights, dignity or independence is lost. We have a social worker to help residents adjust to the nursing home and address any social problems or family problems they have.

Whose tax money does Bradberry think pays for home health costs? Home health can bill Medicare $120 an hour for a nurse's aide for a one-hour visit. Higher rate of pay, all equipment, dressings or items used in someone's home by home health workers is billed to Medicare. Whose tax money pays for Medicare?

Get your calculator out, Ms. Bradberry. Home health costs taxpayers much more than nursing home care.

Russell Gray, L.N.N.A., is a resident of Rising Star.