Nov 02, 2020

Nebraska to boost aid for nursing homes hit by coronavirus

Posted Nov 02, 2020 6:54 PM

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will get a temporary financial boost from the state to help cover the cost of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement comes Monday as state officials said the number of virus-related hospitalizations hit a new record.

The state will increase its Medicaid reimbursement for care facilities by an extra $20 per day for each eligible resident, using a combination of federal and state money.

The cost of caring for long-term care residents varies widely throughout Nebraska, but the average is around $200, so health officials said the extra money would amount to about a 10% increase.

Nebraska’s long-term care facilities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic.