Closer Look at "Vague" Sequester Report: Ohio Seniors' Medicare-Funded SNF Care to be Cut $37.3 Million on January 1, 2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Filling in details and context to what National Journal characterized as a "vague" Office of Management and Budget (OMB) report detailing how the sequestration provision of the Budget Control Act will impact federal programs, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (AQNHC) today released new Avalere data specifically delineating the impact of a 2% across-the-board cut to Ohio seniors' Medicare-funded skilled nursing facility (SNF) care.

According to Avalere, Ohio seniors' Medicare funded SNF care will be cut $37.3 million on January 1, 2013, prompting AQNHC President Alan G. Rosenbloom to state, "While the Sequester Transparency Act required OMB to release its report, we believe there must be maximum transparency in regard to how the sequester will negatively impact seniors in general, and Ohio seniors' Medicare-funded nursing home care in particular -- information that was not included in the late Friday afternoon report. The state-specific data add more context and detail in regard to the sheer level and number of funding reductions facing skilled nursing providers and the rapidly aging patient population under their care."

Peter Van Runkle, Executive Director of the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA), stated, "Repeated cuts to Ohio SNFs negatively impact vulnerable patients, workforce stability and threaten quality. We intend to make clear to our congressional delegation that a default policy of more budget cuts is no replacement for thoughtful federal reforms that help our key health sector save Medicare resources and improve quality across the entire care continuum."

Nationally, the sequester cuts will total $782.5 million in 2013, and total $9 billion over 10 years, according to the Avalere findings. (For sequestration cuts data for all 50 states, go to www.AQNHC.org.  

The U.S. nursing home sector and its patients already face a $65 billion cumulative reduction in Medicare funding over the next ten years as a result of several different federal budgetary actions and regulatory changes made by Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) since 2009, according to additional Avalere data previously released by AQNHC. The January 2013 sequestration will increase this total.  

Contact: Rebecca Reid 410/212-3843

SOURCE Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care

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