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St. Louis City nursing homes shrinking as Medicaid rates, unpaid "Medicaid pending" bills squeeze operators
Summary
A consultant told the St. Louis City Health and Human Development Committee that low Medicaid rates, rising staffing costs and large unpaid Medicaid-pending balances have forced several local nursing homes to close, increasing housing and safety problems in surrounding neighborhoods.
Nancy Stevens, a representative of Berry City and Community Agencies, told the St. Louis City Health and Human Development Committee that low Medicaid reimbursement and large unpaid Medicaid-pending balances have made it financially untenable for several city nursing homes to continue operating.
Stevens summarized the problem to the committee: Missouri's Medicaid rates use a complex matrix and do not cover the rising costs of care, especially after COVID-19 drove up staffing prices. "Some of the facilities had Medicaid pending up to and including close to $3,000,000," she said, describing how facilities can carry unpaid claims for months while waiting for state adjudication.
The matter matters locally because the closures displace residents and create vacant, unsecured properties that…
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