VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2003 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

035246464
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 325 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules on February 3, 2003) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Martin) Recognizing the problems affecting the provision of long-term care services to Virginia citizens.

WHEREAS, the demand for nursing facility services will increase dramatically in the future with 60 percent of those who turn 75 needing long-term care sometime in their life; and

WHEREAS, 46 percent of those who enter a nursing facility will deplete their life savings in 3 months or less and will need assistance from the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Medicaid currently pays only about 85 percent of the allowable costs incurred to provide care for a nursing facility patient; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, nursing facilities in Virginia lost more than $80 million in caring for Medicaid patients and this loss has been partially passed to the private pay patient who, in order to meet this shortfall, would have to pay an extra $42 per day or $15,000 per year, which amounts to a hidden tax on those persons already bearing the financial responsibility for their care; and

WHEREAS, the 2002 General Assembly imposed a $25 million cut in Medicaid payment rates to nursing facilities; and

WHEREAS, to remain licensed, nursing facilities must meet national survey and certification standards enforced by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and

WHEREAS, nursing salaries and professional liability costs continue to increase at rates much higher than general inflation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly recognize the problems affecting the provision of long-term care services to Virginia citizens; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the Joint Commission on Health Care in order that the members of the Commission may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter during their deliberations.