Hundreds of 1199SEIU nursing home workers from across New York traveled to the state capital in Albany over the last two weeks, appealing to lawmakers to establish a nursing home standard wage. The proposal, which would be a provision in the state budget, sets a standard rate of compensation for nursing home workers and ensures that contracts between managed care companies and employers are sufficient to provide those wages.

The need for the requirement stems from new state policies which stipulate that all nursing home residents whose care is paid for by Medicaid must join a Medicaid managed care plan. This means that instead of paying a daily rate to cover the cost of nursing home care, Medicaid will pay a flat, monthly fee that covers the cost of care. New York State will no longer set nursing home reimbursement rates, and instead, managed care companies will negotiate the rates with nursing home operators.

1199SEIU nursing home organizer Damon McGee led several groups of caregivers on lobby visits around the state’s Legislative Office Building. He said, “As always, we come here to advocate for our residents. Without the right protections, the new managed care policies could lead to a “race to the bottom” on rates---nursing homes could wind up without the resources they need to provide quality care to our residents.”

The standard compensation budget language ensures that managed care companies will not be able to force homes to slash spending, thereby reducing quality of care. It is designed to protect current standards based on existing practice. Those standards would become part of the contract agreements reached by managed care companies and nursing home operators.

The proposal will not require an increase in Medicaid spending. It is supported by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Assembly, but was not included in the Senate’s 2013-14 one-house budget bill. On March 14, 1199 nursing home workers delivered several cartons filled with thousands of postcards to the office of Senate Leader Dean Skelos. The cards urge all legislative leaders to “Protect Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents” and “Establish a Nursing Home Standard Wage.”