ARAPAHOE, NE - Rural Nebraska nursing homes are facing troubles as some shut down portions of their care or close altogether.

Residents and their families are left scrambling to find care because of the nursing shortage and Medicaid reimbursements that can't keep up.

The president and CEO of Nebraska's Health Care Association, Jalene Carpenter, said that at least 6 nursing home facilities closed or partially closed this year.

The Westside Regency Assisted Living wing closed in Stanton, Nebraska, as well as the assisted living wing at Parkside Manor in Stuart, Nebraska.

Closures of this kind are forcing families to travel up to 100 miles for the care their loved ones require.

Many families mention the benefits of being around a community of people with who they are familiar and comfortable with and this has become increasingly difficult for those who are located in rural areas.

Arapahoe Mayor John Kollar is urging state lawmakers to act on the coming closure of their local nursing home, Good Samaritan Society, on December 31.

Medicaid patients currently make up roughly 60 percent of nursing home patients. This comes at the detriment of the care facilities as they report losing between $20-40 on each Medicaid patient.

In an effort to combat this growing issue, Governor Pete Ricketts said on Monday, December 20 that he would increase the Medicaid reimbursement figure by $20 per day for patients at long-term residential facilities, beginning January 1.

“If you do the math of $30 per day for one resident over the course of a month, and then you have a facility that potentially has anywhere from 20 to 40 residents on Medicaid, that adds up very quickly,” Carpenter said.

For more on this article click HERE