© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Should Michigan 'rebalance' how it spends Medicaid dollars on long-term care?

File photo
(photo by Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio)
File photo

AARP is out with a proposal this week that calls for targeting state Medicaid dollars to fund at-home care. The senior citizen advocacy group says the state could care for three people at home for the cost of one patient in a nursing home. 

“I don’t think this is an ‘us vs them’ kind of issue," says Robert Kolt,  AARP state president," referring to nursing home operators, "I think this is ‘what are we going to do short-term to take advantage of savings…in the long-term…how do we create an age-friendly Michigan.”    

Pat Anderson is a vice president with the Health Care Association of Michigan, the state’s largest nursing home trade group. She says nursing home operators support letting people receive long-term care at home. 

But Andersonsays there are problems making sure the care the patients get at home is good enough.

“You know if you’re going to put the dollars there make sure what you’re paying for you’re getting," says Anderson.

State health officials are currently reviewing new options for funding long-term care. 

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.