News Releases for December 2002
December 18, 2002
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Hoeven Budget Proposal Addresses Nursing Concerns
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that current inflation and cost factors will help address concerns expressed by the nursing home industry regarding direct care reimbursement, operating margin payments and incentive payments, without transferring funds from other areas.
“We’ve met with the industry and pointed out that there is room under our budget to fund either their operating margin and incentive payments, or provide a higher reimbursement rate on direct care of as much as 98 percent of direct care costs,” Hoeven said.
Hoeven addressed the Long Term Care Association last week and told the group that there is room for flexibility in the budget, and that there are things he thought could help. He invited a working group of industry representatives to meet with him and staff to discuss ways to meet their concerns.
“We are working with them and giving them the opportunity to tell us where those dollars can best be spent to help the industry as a whole,” Hoeven said. “We plan to continue that effort, as well as our efforts to enhance the entire continuum of care for our seniors.”
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