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WYDEN, SMITH APPLAUD FEDERAL
WAIVER TO AID OREGON NURSING HOMES
Higher reimbursements will help facilities
hire and retain workers
May 28, 2004
Washington, DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today applauded
the granting of a waiver from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services to help Oregon improve its nursing home industry.
The waiver will allow Oregon to provide better Medicaid reimbursements
to the state’s nursing homes and to attract additional Medicaid
matching funds. Increases in rates will be used to enhance working
conditions for employees and improve the quality of care they
provide to clients.
“This waiver will help
to provide better care for all our nursing home patients,”
said Wyden. “Senator Smith and I were pleased to work with
the State of Oregon and with our nursing home providers to make
it happen.”
“Oregon’s nursing
homes care for those who have cared for us,” said Smith.
“This waiver will help facilities attract and retain high-quality
staff that will deliver high-quality care in our communities.”
Oregon’s reimbursement
rates are at levels established in July, 2002. These rates reimburse
less than 80 percent of the amount that facilities spend to care
for Medicaid clients in 2004. With this waiver, Oregon will move
out of the bottom third of state rankings of Medicaid nursing
facility payment.
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