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Committee backs raise to nursing‑home personal needs allowance; Medicaid director says partial increase already planned
Summary
House Bill 266, proposing to raise the personal needs allowance for nursing‑home residents from $38 to $50, was reported favorably after testimony and discussion. Medicaid director told the committee the department plans to raise the allowance to $45 in mid‑summer under existing budget authority.
House Bill 266, which would increase the monthly personal needs allowance for nursing‑home residents from $38 to $50, was reported favorable by the House Appropriations Committee on May 20.
Representative Wiley, sponsor of the measure, said the $38 allowance dates to 1987 and that the increase would help residents pay for clothing, haircuts and incidental items not covered by facilities. He urged committee members to move the bill and said the Medicaid director informed him earlier that Medicaid plans to raise the allowance to $45 in July or August using budget authority already approved by the agency.
Kim Sullivan, Medicaid director, confirmed during committee questioning that the department is already moving to raise the personal needs allowance to $45 later this summer; she said the decision predated the bill and that funds to make that increase have been budgeted internally. Committee members praised the proposal as restoring dignity and noted Louisiana’s current allowance level is among the lowest in the region.
Representative Fisher moved the bill favorable; seeing no objection, the committee reported House Bill 266 favorable. The sponsor said he would work with appropriations staff between committee and the floor to reconcile the committee action with the department’s internal increase and any fiscal implications.
