JEFFERSON —
Nursing home patients who are waiting on an eligibility decision for Medicaid should now get their answer in a more timely manner if they live in Ashtabula County.
Commissioners on Tuesday approved a creative agreement between the county, Ashtabula County Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Health Care Association, which will provide 50 percent of the wages and fringes for two ACDJFS long-term care unit workers.
The workers determine the Medicaid eligibility status of residents entering nursing homes. Martha Gillespie, who administers that unit, said there is a large amount of communication, research and documentation that goes into every eligibility analysis. Prior to the budget cuts driven by the state’s loss of revenues, the ACDJFS long-term care unit had eight employees. But the budget constraints took that down to one person in 2010. Gillespie said that one person had to juggle some 1,200 cases.
In addition to manpower issues, there can be issues with getting the proper documentation and doing the extensive research on an applicant’s financial history, which must go back five years in some cases.
Gillespie said there have been applicants that took six months to determine, although the state says a determination must be made in 30 days. During the long waits, they’ve had residents die. Or a resident and family may be spending resources unnecessarily.
ACDJFS Executive Director Patrick Arcaro said the agency was able to add a second worker to the unit by making an internal transfer. The agreement that was approved formally on Tuesday will allow for two new hires to the long-term care unit. The Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA) will provide the reimbursements for the next year. Arcaro said that will give the agency time to find additional funding to keep the positions intact after the association’s funding ends.
Gillespie said she knows of only two other counties in Ohio that have forged this agreement, which includes memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with area nursing homes. Fourteen homes were invited to participate.
“I am happy to say that eight of the 14 area nursing facilities have agreed to take part in the MOU, which will reimburse the ACDJFS 50 percent of the total wages/fringes for these two positions, which represents the non-federal share of their compensation,” Arcaro said.
Participating homes are Andover Village Retirement Community, Ashtabula County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Austinburg Nursing and Rehabilitation, Country Club Retirement Center III, Eagle Point Skilled Nursing and Rehab, Geneva Village Retirement, Lake Point Rehabilitation and Rae Ann Geneva Skilled Nursing.
“Due to this MOU, two additional staff members will be hired,” said Commissioners Board President Peggy Carlo. “In today’s tough economic times, this is a great way to combine resources.”
Dollar value of the agreement is $55,500 over the coming year.
Arcaro said the employees will be located at the ACDJFS office on Main Avenue but will be stationed in the participating nursing homes as deemed necessary by the agency, facility and OHCA.
Gillespie said navigating the Medicaid system can be very daunting, and the department is planning a free seminar on the process from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Ashtabula County Nursing Home.
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Agreement should help nursing home patients get speedy answers
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