PLATTSBURGH — North Country state representatives weighed in on the state Department of Health’s proposed changes to how it determines nursing homes’ Medicaid reimbursement rates.

Instead of basing rates on the facility’s reports of acuity levels two days each year, the DOH is changing its methodology to incorporate an average of data from prior case periods, which is projected to result in more than $246 million in cuts statewide.

Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Plattsburgh, said he has reached out to the governor’s office regarding this issue.

“I worked with my colleagues in the legislature to commit substantial and necessary funding to these facilities in the 2019-2020 budget to ensure that they can provide the necessary and quality care to their residents.”

Jones called the DOH’s proposal contradictory and said it puts the state’s nursing homes in jeopardy of shuttering their facilities.

“This regulation should not be implemented, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of the nursing homes in the North Country to ensure the residents and employees in those facilities are protected.”

Assemblyman Dan Stec, R,C,I-Queensbury, said he understands the rationale behind the changes, but what it’s really doing is resulting in less cash outlay to nursing homes.

“Why is that getting done? Because we have a $2.9 billion gap in next year’s budget that’s already been identified so this is the reaction and the panic mode in Albany in the administration.

“For years we’ve been hearing from nursing homes and providers that the Medicaid rates were too low. We effectively cut them again.

“This isn’t the way to do it. There’s a better way to do this that doesn’t involve hurting these nursing homes that are already on a shoestring.”

Dan MacEntee — director of communications for State Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury — said the senator was aware of the reimbursement change and concerns raised by the region’s nursing homes.

“In late August, she sent a letter to the governor and Department of Health expressing her opposition given the potential impact on nursing homes and the patients they serve.”