ATLANTA, GA
— A new study from
Brown University’s School of Public Health
warns that
37 nursing homes across Georgia
are at risk of closure following
massive cuts to Medicaid
enacted under a new
federal budget bill backed by President Donald Trump
. The findings have raised alarms among public health officials and lawmakers who say Georgia’s most vulnerable residents could soon lose access to long-term care.
$1 Trillion in Cuts Over 10 Years
The
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office
reports the budget bill — recently passed by a
Republican-controlled Congress without a single Democratic vote
— will slash
$1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade
. That loss in funding could devastate Georgia’s eldercare system, which is already operating under strain.
“This is a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of Georgia seniors,” said
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.)
on Wednesday. “Georgia nursing homes are already struggling. … This law is going to deepen those challenges.”
How the Study Identified Facilities at Risk
The study found
579 nursing homes nationwide
are vulnerable to closure, based on two main risk factors:
-
Facilities where
85% or more of patients are covered by Medicaid
-
Facilities with
occupancy rates below 80%
In Georgia, at least
30 counties
have facilities that met those criteria. Counties with
two nursing homes listed as “at risk”
include:
-
Baldwin
-
Bibb
-
Fulton
-
Hancock
-
Muscogee
-
Tattnall
-
Wilcox
The study concluded that such Medicaid cuts would
shift the burden to state governments
, forcing them to make difficult choices about what services to preserve.
“Significant cuts in Medicaid will force states to make decisions about which ‘optional’ Medicaid services they will continue to fund,” the report states.
Although
nursing home care is technically a mandatory benefit
under Medicaid, the funding shortfall could force states to
tighten eligibility requirements
, effectively reducing access.
Push to Reverse Cuts Gains Momentum
Democratic lawmakers — and a
small number of Republicans
— are now calling for
revisions to the budget later this year
in hopes of
reversing or softening the Medicaid reductions
.
“(Republicans) need to work with us to save nursing homes and hospitals across the country,” said Sen. Ossoff. “We must undo the damage that’s already been done.”
The issue comes at a time when many Georgia nursing homes are still recovering from
pandemic-era staffing shortages
and
financial strain
.
More information is available via
Bryan County News
.
Do you or your loved ones rely on Medicaid-supported elder care? Share your experiences or concerns with the Saluda Standard-Sentinel.
