Monday, April 9, 2007

Elder residents served notice as homes quit taking Medicaid

FREMONT, Neb. — Residents in assisted living facilities in three Nebraska cities have been served notice after the company operating the homes decided to no longer take Medicaid.

Officials at Assisted Living Concepts say Medicaid longer covers the costs of caring for the residents.

The change means 26 people at homes in Fremont, Wahoo and Blair need to move out by June 30.

"At this point, the Medicaid program pays less than it costs us to take care of folks," said Laurie Bebo, president and chief operating officer of Assisted Living Concepts. "Now the private pay folks are subsidizing the Medicaid folks."

Bebo said people who pay for assisted living care pay 50 percent more than Medicaid residents — about $25 below what it costs to care for a resident each day.

Milwaukee-based Assisted Living Concepts runs 207 facilities in 17 states with 8,300 units. All the facilities nationwide will be affected by the change.

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