To the editor:
New Hampshire’s population is the nation’s second-oldest. The growing need for long-term care cannot be met unless the state improves Medicaid reimbursement.
The Medicaid population for nursing homes in Cheshire County is as high as 78 percent, as of the last count for the Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland. Recently, after having been owned by Catholic Charities New Hampshire since 1990, the former Good Shepherd nursing home – now the Jaffrey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center – was sold. If such facilities are to succeed in providing excellent care, the state needs to support the caregivers who work there.
The gap between Medicaid payments and care costs has grown dramatically over the years. This shows a profound disrespect to the dedicated staff caring for, and supporting, the state’s clients on Medicaid. That same disrespect has created a crisis for Medicaid in-home care and assisted living as well. The closure of the 16-bed, town-owned Carpenter Home in Swanzey again signaled the severity of the crisis.
We encourage legislators, and Gov. Sununu, to support bipartisan Senate Bill 308, and finally make the workforce investments necessary for the state to stop “balancing” its budget on caregivers’ backs.
Brendan Williams
president/CEO, the New Hampshire Health Care Association
Pembroke