Challenges
Our state’s nursing centers are struggling. The ongoing workforce crisis, expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and costs associated with increased federal regulations have had a significant negative impact on the viability of nursing centers and threatens their ability to care for residents and patients.
CHALLENGES FOR GEORGIA’S SENIOR CARE FACILITIES
- Staffing agency utilization has grown tremendously, with the cost of contract nursing having increased by 312.7% (from $4.36 per patient day to $17.99 per patient day) between 2019 and 2022.
- In 2021, 64% of nursing centers in Georgia incurred negative margins.
- Georgia has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the Southeast (in comparison to SC, KY, TN, VA, AL, FL, MS and NC).
The current conditions are not sustainable, and a number of providers are being forced to limit admissions, which impacts access to care in their local communities. Long term care providers are dedicated to working with our state’s leaders to ensure access to care for elderly Georgians now and in the future.
