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Senator Lovely urges increase in Medicaid personal needs allowance for nursing home residents
Summary
Senator Joan B. Lovely made a personal statement urging an increase in the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) — the monthly amount nursing home residents on Medicaid may keep for incidentals — from the current $72.80 (set in 2007) toward a proposed $113.84.
Senator Joan B. Lovely used a personal statement on the Senate floor to press for an increase in the Medicaid personal needs allowance (PNA) for nursing home residents.
Lovely said the PNA — the monthly amount a Medicaid nursing home resident is allowed to keep for personal incidentals such as clothing, toiletries and reading material — has not been raised since 2007 and currently stands at $72.80 per month. She said the FY25 budget request included raising the allowance to $113.84 per month and that the 2007 level erodes personal dignity given inflation since then.
Lovely thanked advocacy groups including Dignity Alliance for their continued work on the issue and said she would keep the matter before the membership. The amendment she had offered on the floor was withdrawn by unanimous consent and she made the personal statement to keep the subject in view for future discussions.
The transcript records Lovely describing typical personal expenses covered by the PNA and noting that room, board and medical care are covered by Medicaid but that incidental personal needs are paid out of the resident’s allowance. No legislative action on the PNA occurred during the provided session excerpt; Lovely said she would continue advocacy on the issue.
