Stimulus Money for Facilities
	Are you an Administrator with a significant HMO population? There may be money heading your way. For years, we’ve been lobbying HMO organizations on your behalf. Some of the issues we’ve been complaining about have been the difficulty getting home health or mobile services, difficulty obtaining appointments with specialists, transportation issues and poor reimbursement for Primary Care Providers. Faced with a declining census, as facility residents disenroll from managed care plans to join the ranks of “Straight Medicare”, it appears they’ve begun to get the message. We’ve been asked to participate in a Pilot Program, with some HMO organizations in our area, as we are one of a few groups providing care to this population in facility settings. All the details of the program weren’t finalized at the time this newsletter was sent for printing; however, the additional money would come in the form of a capitated payment for the additional services you are providing HMO clients. Initially, not every HMO will be participating and Sunshine Health Center must be listed as the clients PCP. Unlike the Nursing Home Diversion program that only reimburses ALF’s, this program would be available to all group home settings. Log unto our website and learn more under the “News & Events” link.