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A new bill that Governor JB Pritzker signed might lead to more assistance for nursing home residents and staff members throughout Illinois.
In Chicago on Tuesday afternoon, the Nursing Home Rate Reform Bill, also known as House Bill 246, was signed into law by the governor. According to the proposed legislation, Medicaid-funded nursing facilities all throughout the state will get more than $700 million annually to help with staffing needs and care quality.
A $1.50 boost will be given to CNAs with at least one year of experience under the proposed legislation, with Medicaid covering their portion of the increase. After the initial hike, there will be a $1 raise every year for the next six years, with a total salary increase of $6.50 an hr.
According to Pritzker, the new incentives will encourage more people to work in nursing homes, which could eventually result in improved care for seniors.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker declared, that today takes a great stride forward in providing the care, decency, and respect that our treasured elders deserve. We are allocating more than $700 million in Medicaid money to a standard that encourages higher-quality care: an equity-driven staffing model.
Owner of St. Anthony’s Continuing Care Raj Shah said, “It is really difficult to locate CNAs, RNs (registered nurses), and LPNs (licensed practical nurses), and we have to hire more people. Patient care is our main goal. Nothing else is significant to me.”
They were losing more than a million dollars annually for two and a half years because of the circumstances, Shah claimed.
He thinks that the treatment his patients receive would significantly improve now that House Bill 246 gives his employees annual raises at no further expense to him.
“We could absolutely need some assistance right now with the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates,” Shah added. “I’m therefore really pleased about the bill.”
Written by Dylan Santoyo
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
WGN: Pritzker signs bill to improve nursing homes in Illinois
Chicago Tribune: Nursing home bill aimed at increasing staffing, improving care signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of denisbin’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of denisbin’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
