When most people (i.e. me) think of Medicaid, they think of gov’t funded medical care for the poor.
Surprised me to learn that about 1/3 of Medicaid spending supports elderly patients in long-term care facilities (e.g. nursing homes).
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According to the Georgetown Health Policy Institute:
“Although most long-term care is provided by family members on an unpaid basis, most of the nation’s long-term care spending (75%) is
concentrated on nursing home care, and Medicaid, the nation’s health care program for poor and low income Americans, is the largest source of payment for that care.”
- Over 1 million total Medicaid nursing facility residents
- Over 400 million Medicaid nursing facility days per year
- Medicaid nursing facility per diem rate ~ $85
“Nearly half of the nation’s nursing home bill was paid by Medicaid in 2003, while just over a quarter was paid out-of-pocket, and less than 10 percent was covered by private insurance.”
The Homa Files 
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