Today, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (D-HI-02) introduced bicameral legislation to provide fair Medicare payments for nursing facilities in Hawaiʻi and Alaska. The Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2021 authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment at skilled nursing facilities in those states to take into account the higher costs of delivering care. Unlike hospitals and certain types of healthcare facilities in Hawaiʻi and Alaska that already receive a cost-of-living adjustment under Medicare to account for expenses like rent and groceries, skilled nursing facilities do not.
“Nursing homes are on the front lines of this pandemic and need all the support they can get to care for our most vulnerable residents,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill fixes the Medicare reimbursement rates so that Hawai‘i nursing homes get their fair share of federal dollars and have the resources to continue to provide high quality care.”
“Hawaiʻi and Alaska rank among the highest in cost-of-living nationwide–healthcare is no exception. As noncontiguous states, we face access to healthcare challenges that are uniquely our own. The Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2021 ensures that our skilled nursing facilities are adequately funded, their staff are equitably paid, and we support access to quality care,” said Congressman Kahele. “This common sense legislation is vital to providing the best care possible to our kūpuna and most vulnerable community members.”