Questions about long term care

As many of you know, Campbell County Health owns and operates the newly opened Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center. We have been hearing some different perspectives regarding the costs of healthcare, especially with long-term care. We hope that the post below will help answer some these questions.

Let’s start at the beginning: what is a long term care facility vs a nursing home?

For those who don’t know, a nursing home is a facility that provides skilled nursing care—registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA)—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for its residents, and is licensed by the Wyoming Department of Health as well as Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS). Assisted living and independent living does not have the same 24-hour nursing care for residents as a long-term care center provides.

Currently, there is a high demand for long-term and short-term rehab care, and The Legacy will not always have a room that is appropriate for the candidate. On top of that, admission to a long-term care facility is based on a physician referral according to care the resident needs. Some facilities may not meet all of the needs of the candidate. Referrals will be reviewed and considered on an individual basis according to care needs, financial criteria, and room availability.

For those who may be wondering: New long-term care admissions to The Legacy will resume in mid-December 2016. Helping our current residents adjust and settle into their new home is our first priority.

Rates/Costs:

The daily rates at The Legacy include nursing care, room and board, cable TV, oxygen, housekeeping, laundry, bathing, grooming and routine and customary supplies to complete these services. Medications, physician visits, therapies, and personal use items such as clothing, shoes, hair appointments, telephones, etc., are not included in the monthly rate. Here are the costs:

• The cost per day/month is the same from the costs at Pioneer Manor. Long term and short term rehab residents pay within a range of $253 to $268 per day, or $7,843 to $8,308 for a 31-day month.
• The cost of the building itself is $53.3 million dollars. CCH borrowed $25 million for construction and the remainder was funded from CCH cash reserves. Using cash reserves was a strategic Administrative and Board of Trustee decision in order to provide a safe, efficient work environment for employees and a safe, comfortable living environment for residents.

How do you afford long term care?

Private pay, hospice care, private insurance, Veteran’s Administration, Worker’s Compensation, and Medicare are all sources of payment for long-term and short-term care. Below is a bit more information on federal programs:

• Medicare and Medicaid are federal programs, and The Legacy is required to work within the guidelines and parameters, including quality of care measures. Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government. To qualify for Medicaid, a single or widowed person’s financial resources cannot exceed $2,199 monthly, which includes social security, pension, checking, savings, etc. For a married resident with the spouse living in the community the annual financial resources cannot exceed $119,220; a home and one vehicle are exempt from this amount. If a home or vehicle is sold, the proceeds are negotiated with Medicaid for repayment of funds used for care. Learn more at www.medicaid.gov.

The Legacy Amenities

Many residents who live at The Legacy require assistance with grooming, bathing, using the restroom, and even eating. In addition to standard healthcare services that are required in a nursing home there are many quality of life services as well including:

• transportation to and from doctor/dentist visits, social events and even to participate in parades and other community events
• activities staff who research, develop and coordinate multiple activities that are therapeutic for the folks who live there
• a commercial kitchen is necessary to provide nutritious, appropriate meals for the current 116 residents three times a day, and regular snacks throughout the day
• the building and every single room must be kept clean and free of germs, which requires a cleaning staff
• Click here for a list of additional services and amenities at The Legacy

For questions, please visit www.legacywyo.org or call 307.688.7000.