Minimum wage order sends veterans packing from nursing homes

[hal2kilo]

I suppose this is unintended consequences, but surely it could have been predicted.

http://www.ktbs.com/story/25467149/minimum-wage-policy-sends-veterans-packing-from-nursing-homes

Could be something to do with that backward state not participating in the Medicaid portion of ACA.

How do you think people who no longer have any assets "reside" in those places.

 

[Fern]

I'm not an expert on veterans care but I still call shenanigans. 24 hour care is stupid expensive and someone wants me to believe that if they're required to pay more than the current minimum wage they can't afford to be in business? Again sounds like a poor business plan to me.

I'm going to guess that you're not too familiar with the 'business plans' of 'nursing homes'.

First, there are several kinds. To my knowledge the tern "nursing home" isn't actually used in the industry.

To put it as simply as possible lets say there are two types:

1. Private. These can charge what they want for wealthier people. They are usually d@mned expensive.

2. Public. By "public" I mean those that provide care that is primarily paid for by the govt, whether it be Medicare, Medicaid or the VA. They cannot just charge what they want. The govt tells them what they will pay. When you combine that inflexibility of billing with numerous govt regulations it is very difficult to just break even.

The organization in question seems to be one falling into category #2.

I have clients that are that type of facility. I'm not positive, but I don't think they qualify as a 'federal contractor' because they contract through the state govt to provide benefits for Medicaid (and possibly Medicare). I.e., they are a state contractor.

If a home like my clients contracted with the VA they would have to cancel the contract too.

Fern

 

[Fern]

Could be something to do with that backward state not participating in the Medicaid portion of ACA.

How do you think people who no longer have any assets "reside" in those places.

I think it unlikely to have any to do with not participating in Medicaid expansion. If the state doesn't participate it just means fewer customers for such homes.

As to your last sentence the answer is mostly Medicare.

Fern

 

[theeedude]

Nope. Check the requirements. Most are called DSPs. You don't even need a high school education. You take a course, learn CPR, and watch them to make sure they don't fall and such. Some cook meals. It's not a super hard job. They get paid to sleep as well.

They are usually looked after by a manager that has a college education and nursing is done by LPN/RNs.

It's still hard stressful work.
How much does the VA pay per veteran per hour for care?

 

[theeedude]

My grandpa hired off a guy from a rehabilitation facility. The guy was working his behind off taking care of a dozen old people for minimum wage, basically running the place. My grandpa ended up there after a bad fall, but he didn't like the place and wanted to go home, but he liked the guy who was taking care of him. So he offered to pay him what he was making there, but he would only have to take care of one senior, and get free room and board. The guy jumped ship the next day, and the nursing home was b!tching and moaning about it, because they didn't know how good they had it until it was gone. They tried to counteroffer him more money, but he turned it down because he had it with them. He took amazing care of my grandpa, nursed him back to health.