There was a bill recently introduced to the Texas Legislature that will have a direct effect on the rights an aging loved one has within their assisted living facility that you should know about. The bill is S.B. 1629 and is for those receiving residential long-term care services on Medicaid for Texans over the age of 65.
The bill analysis that the Texas Legislature has provided claims to cover around 390,000 individuals across the state of Texas. The analysis mentions that the state has provided Medicaid dollars to facilities for voluntary programs that aim to provide their residents a higher quality of care. However, many facilities do not take advantage or participate in these programs which is part of why S.B. 1629 was introduced.
The idea behind S.B. 1629 aims to make nursing care better by increasing the transparency and accountability for nursing homes that are part of the Medicaid program. The bill plans to change the Human Resources Code to ensure that any money recovered from the current nursing facility Direct Care Staff Rate Enhancement Program will be put back into the program. This way, nursing homes that have better staff-to-resident can receive ongoing funding to enhance their staff rates. The goal is to encourage nursing homes to provide improved care by using the funds to support better staffing levels.
The bill would also set up a “direct care ratio,” ensuring that at least 80 percent of Medicaid funds received by nursing homes go directly to the residents’ care. This measure aims to prioritize the well-being of those living in nursing homes.
Finally, the bill would mandate nursing facilities reimbursed through Medicaid to disclose their ownership structure. This requirement aims to increase transparency and make it easier for people to understand who owns and operates the nursing homes.
As a caregiver, this potential bill would allow you to more easily find the direct owner of an assisted living facility when you want to bypass middle management. It also aims to provide better care by ensuring that facilities continue to have proper staff-to-resident ratios too.
If you have a question about how this bill might affect your loved one’s current care facility, reach out to Senior Living Specialists today. Our years of experience can provide insight on what these changes could mean for your loved one.
