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LNHA RECOGNIZES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
Association Celebrates Lifelines of Support for Thousands
(Baton Rouge – July 29, 2015) Tomorrow, the Louisiana Nursing Home Association (LNHA) will recognize the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. LNHA thanks Louisiana’s congressmen for working to protect these programs that provide many Louisianans with access to the quality and affordable health care they need.
Executive Director Joe Donchess made the following statement: “For 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have been lifelines of support to Americans entering their golden years, providing support every step of the way. LNHA is proud to recognize this special anniversary of these programs and highlight their critical purpose for individuals receiving long term and post-acute care.”
Medicare serves about 1.7 million older Americans and individuals with disabilities receiving skilled nursing and rehabilitative care. Over 50 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries who require post-acute care are discharged from an acute care hospital to one of the nearly 16,000 skilled nursing facilities nationwide, including 280 facilities in Louisiana.
Medicaid is the largest payor of long term care services and supports. About 73 percent of Louisiana nursing facility patients rely on Medicaid on any given day for their care. The program itself has evolved from supporting mostly women and children to one that cares for nearly one in five people, including seniors and other individuals requiring long term and post-acute care.
For Americans requiring long term and post-acute care, these programs work in tandem to provide much needed support. Typically, Medicare beneficiaries return home or to the community after a relatively short, rehabilitative stay – requiring an average of 27.3 days of skilled nursing care.
LNHA’s member facilities are committed to working towards solutions that provide access to quality long term and post-acute care. Happy 50th anniversary, Medicare and Medicaid!
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ABOUT LNHA
Louisiana Nursing Home Association is a non-profit organization representing more than 250 non-profit and for-profit nursing facilities and assisted living communities thatcare for approximately 30,000 elderly and disabled individuals each day.For more information on LNHA, visit our website at www.lnha.org.
