Adult Day Health Care Council Releases Report On Impact of Cost-based Reimbursement

ALBANY, NY (12/22/2008)(readMedia)-- Take a struggling yet essential health care program, squeeze the financial lifeblood out of it, and what's left?

New York's adult day health care providers were already fighting for their lives, even before Gov. Paterson's budget proposals saw ink.

The Adult Day Health Care Council will release a report today on the findings of a survey conducted on the impact of the change to their reimbursement, and the results are troubling.

Even before the budget ax falls:

• More than seven percent of programs predict they'll be forced to close within six months.
• Thirty-seven percent of the programs responding have cut staff; 33 percent expect to reduce staff over the next six months.
• The move to a new reimbursement system for ADHC has cut Medicaid rates paid to these programs by an average of 20 percent.

Adult day health care is a community-based long term care program that provides comprehensive health care services in a congregate day setting. Participant needs are assessed and met through personalized care plans developed and implemented by a team of medical professionals, including the participant's personal community physician.

ADHC programs serve 12,000 chronically ill, disabled and frail elderly New Yorkers - some of whom may have to turn to nursing home care if these programs are cut, incurring even more Medicaid expenses when the goal - to save money - would be well served by protecting adult day health care.

For the full report, log on to www.nyahsa.org/adhcc

For interviews, contact Christine M. Fitzpatrick, ADHCC Executive Director at 518-449-2707 ext. 130.

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