Ohio Governor’s Budget Cuts May Hurt Skilled Nursing Jobs

On March 15, Ohio Governor John Kasich released what he calls “The Jobs Budget,” but according to Peter Van Runkle, Executive Director of the Ohio Health Care Association, the proposed budget threatens the quality of care for the elderly who are no longer able to care for themselves.
The association is referencing cuts in the budget which reduce reimbursement for assisted care by nursing professionals by $380 million over the next two years.

“Nearly 70% of the costs go to personnel costs – nurses, aides, physicians, physical therapists- all of whom are critical to ensuring that our most vulnerable receive the care and dignity they deserve,” Van Runkle explained. “The Governor’s cuts will result in closed facilities and will place tremendous hardship on families who will be forced to travel long distances to visit loved ones. Connection to family is a critical aspect of quality care that can’t be measured in dollars and cents. It’s difficult to understand how this will help Ohio move forward.”

As part of the governor’s strategy, the state should expand home and community-based care for the elderly. While the Ohio Healthcare Association agrees with this strategy, they believe that those services cannot replace skilled nursing facilities which care for more acute, sicker individuals.

SOURCE Ohio Health Care Association