Rewards and challenges of affordable assisted living in oklahoma

www.achievisseniorliving.com achievis@cox.net Achievis Senior Living handled the start-up management and marketing for Oklahoma’s first affordable assisted living community. It is a complex project that involves federal tax credits, Section 8 housing, and the new Medicaid ADvantage waiver program for assisted living. Oklahoma assisted living development is Achievis’ primary focus. However, the company works nationwide conducting feasibility analysis, budget calculations, consulting, and marketing for a variety of senior housing and long term care clients. Providers frequently ask Joyce Clark, owner of Achievis, about her recommendations for adding Medicaid beds to their private pay communities. The purpose of this blog is to outline some general information, rewards, and challenges of Oklahoma assisted living development of Medicaid beds. The ADvantage program is a 1915© Home & Community Based Medicaid Waiver that serves Medicaid eligible persons who meet a nursing facility level of care. The person must also meet other qualification criteria to receive assisted living services. Provider reimbursement is a three-tiered, per-diem rate structure ranging from $42.24 to $79.73 for services. In addition the provider can charge up to 90% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate for room and board. That currently amounts to $606.60 per month. Oklahoma assisted living development of Medicaid beds has a number of rewards and challenges. Rewards include: 
Increases opportunity to maintain 100% occupancy.
Diversifies resident and revenue base.
Enlarges target market.
Expands continuum of care.
Intrinsic value of assisting low income seniors and disabled.
Allows qualified residents to stay at same community when their funds are depleted.
Because of regulatory and staffing issues, it can be more affordable for a Medicaid certified nursing home to implement Medicaid assisted living than for an existing private pay provider to accept a low number of Medicaid residents. Physical plant requirements are a consideration. Each unit must be private with its own bathroom, lockable door, and a kitchenette. Units in communities built prior to 2008 must have a minimum of 250 square feet. Units in newer homes must have at least 360 sq. ft. Oklahoma assisted living development (Medicaid) has financial and operational challenges such as: 
Increased staffing to manage assessments, program requirements, paperwork, and additional communications and meetings.
No reimbursement when resident is out of the building (hospital, travel, rehab).
No pending or retroactive reimbursements.
Tier of Care is determined by state prior to community’s assessment. Modifications can be time consuming and delays resident move-in or impacts reimbursement rate.
Additional regulations and survey.
Threats of funding cuts.
Time consuming resident qualification process.
Providers who want to offer ADvantage Wavier assisted living must be licensed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and certified by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Reimbursement is paid from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Please contact Joyce Clark, Achievis Senior Living, at 405.812.9089 or achievis@cox.net if you would like additional information or need development, marketing, or management services.

Rewards and challenges of affordable assisted living in oklahoma

by Joyce Clark on Jun 13, 2010

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

2 Embeds 8

Statistics

Rewards and challenges of affordable assisted living in oklahoma — Document Transcript

http://www.achievisseniorliving.com	7
http://www.lmodules.com	1