Several skilled nursing centers in Salt Lake are closing their "locked" units for Alzheimer's patients.
Owners claim Medicaid reimbursements can no longer compensate for the higher costs of taking care of the residents.
News Specialist Ed Yeates takes a look.
Bruce McClaire has Alzheimer's disease. He's one of several residents in the Draper Rehab and Care Center who needs specialized care in what is called a "locked" Alzheimer's unit.
ED YEATES, EYEWITNESS NEWS: "IN AN ALZHEIMER'S UNIT LIKE THIS ONE, PATIENTS IN HERE HAVE ALL THE FREEDOM TO WANDER ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO GO. BUT THEY CANNOT PASS THROUGH THIS LOCKED DOOR TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CENTER OR TO THE OUTSIDE."
Many residents have little or no private funding and rely on Medicaid to pay the bill.
Because these skilled centers take in the more critically ill who need continuous care, the cost per day per patient may run as much as $130.
Medicaid currently averages reimbursements of only $98 per day per patient.
The Draper Center decided to downsize its unit to cut costs. With less space, it's now turning people away.
MELANIE BALLARD, DRAPER CARE CENTER: "WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS ALL OF THESE CENTERS OUT HERE OR ALL THE UNITS HAVE CLOSED AND THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY PLACE FOR THEM TO GO. I'VE HAD SEVERAL FAMILIES CALL AND JUST IN PANIC. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO. THERE'S NO PLACE OUT HERE TO TAKE MOM OR DAD."
Another dilemma. Melanie Ballard says new assisted living centers popping up all over the county are pulling many privately funded patients away from these older skilled nursing centers, making it even MORE difficult to absorb Medicaid losses.
The State Health Department is currently reviewing the problem and may revise its reimbursement policy to prevent more closures.
Ed Yeates, Eyewitness News, Draper.
Because of downsizing, the Draper Care Center has turned away five families with Alzheimer patients in just the past month.
April 15, 2002
