TR-92-38 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_ EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
One Ashburton Place, Room 1109
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
N
"I 150 N
WILLIAM F.WELD c7��
GOVERNOR
DAVID P. FORSBERG
SECRETARY
' July 27, 1992
c_
Mr. Thomas L. Locke
' Town of Agawam
36 Main Street
Agawam, MA 01001
Dear Mr. Locke,
' Thanks very much for your letter regarding Medicaid 'gybed hold
policy. We appreciate hearing from people who have
concerns about public policy issues being discussed by this
' administration.
To deal with the issues raised by you and others during the
past few months, we have decided to maintain the bed hold policy
that applies to every Medicaid recipient. The Medicaid program
will continue to pay for empty beds, for up to eight days, but
at the lowest case- mix reimbursement rate. We believe
reimbursing nursing homes at the lowest case-mix rate more
accurately reflects the reduction in costs associated with
merely "holding" an empty bed, while not having to provide
' direct care services.
No Medicaid resident will have to be discharged from the nursing
' home to enter a hospital. The Medicaid prograra will continue to
offer a "bed. hold" payment.
Thanks for writing.
Sincerely, -r�
r�
' Charles D. Baker - {
Undersecretary for Health
cc: Bruce Bullen '�
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
} STATE HOUSE • BOSTON 02133
•
WILLIAM F. WELD
' GOVERNOR
ARGEO PAUL CELLUCCI
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
July 1, 1992
' Ms. Ursula Retzler
Clerk of the Council
Town of Agawam
36 Main Street
tAgawam, MA 01001
Dear Ms. Retzler:
tThank you for your recent letter in which you expressed your opposition to the
proposal to eliminate Medicaid reimbursement for empty nursing home beds, also
known as the 10-day "bed-hold". Many people have written to share their concerns
' about this sensitive matter.
These uncertain economic times mandate reexamining, prioritizing and restructuring
state programs; we have to make difficult decisions and choices. The 10-day
"bed-hold" policy is currently under review and your comments will be taken into
consideration.
Lieutenant Governor Cellucci value your opinion and appreciate the important issues
you raise. Thank you for taking the time to write.
' Sincerely,
' William F. Weld
Governor
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A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD'S DRAFT' RESOLUTION
SPONSORS: COUNCILORS LOUIS RUSSO AND NANCY GRAVEL
TR-92-38
' WHEREAS: Currently, Medicaid pays for long term care facilities for approximately
35,000 nursing home residents in Massachusetts, and
WHEREAS: The average Medicaid patient needs to be hospitalized once a year for up
1 to seven days and depends upon the Medicaid program to pay for care, and
WHEREAS: Patients may no longer be able to return easily to their long term care
facilities and will likely remain hospitalized longer than medically
necessary, thereby increasing the cost to Medicaid by approximately 300%,
and
1 WHEREAS: Displacing the frail elderly from the long term care facilities in which
they presently reside will . cause undue .trauma to the elderly and their
families and have a negative effect on the elder's quality of life.
NOW, THEREFORE: The Agawam Town Council resolves to support Agawam's .Council on
Aging's opposition to Massachusetts Governor William Weld's .draft
regulations which are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 1992.
1 Dated this day of .line , 1992.
Per Order of the Agawam Town Council
1 JqAnne H. Wi is , President
Agawam Town Council i
A s to orm and Legality -�
C
Thom ke, Town Solicitor L' �
MAYORAL ACTION
Received this Z3rd day of JUM 1992
rfrom Town Council Clerk.
APPROVAL OF LEGISLATION
By the powers vested in me pursuant to Article 3. Section 3-
6 of the Agawam Charter, as amended . I hereby approve the
hpassageIfthebove legislation on this � day
1992
r
ristopher Joh s n, Mayor
DISAPPROVAL OF LEGISLATION
' By the powers vested in me pursuant to Article 3, Section 3-
6 of the Agawam Charter, as amended, I hereby veto the
passage of the above legislation on this
day of , 1992 for the following reason(s) :
r
Christopher C. Johnson, Mayor
RETURN 0 LEGISLATION T COUNCIL CLERK
U E0
' Returned to Council Clerk this ,� _ day
of June 1992.
Im
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TR-92- 38
1 EMERGENCY PREAMBLE
WHEREAS: Massachusetts Governor William Weld has issued .draft regulations to take
effect on July 1, 1992, and
WHEREAS: Such regulations would eliminate payments to reserve the beds of nursing
home residents who must be taken to the hospital, and
WHEREAS: Forced displacement of the frail elderly would have a traumatic and
negative effect on their quality of life, and
WHEREAS: The Agawam Town Council fully supports the Agawam Council on Aging in its
opposition to Governor Weld's draft regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, under Section 2-9 of the Agawam Town Charter, this resol6tion is
being introduced as an emergency measure in an effort to promote the health,
safety, and welfare of Agawam' s elderly citizens and their families.
Fa
TOWN OF AGAWAM
36 MAIN STREET AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS 01001
Tel. 413-786-0400
gTE0 `
' June 16, 1992
His Excellency
William Weld
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Re: TR-92-38-A Resolution in opposition to Governor William Weld' s .
Draft Resolution
' Dear Governor Weld:
PPlease be informed that by unanimous vote; except for one councilor
opposing, the Agawam City Council , during their regular meeting on
Monday, June 5, 1992, approved the enclosed resolution with regards
to the above.
Sincerely,
Ursula Retzler
' Clerk of the Council
Enclosure
cc'Lt. Gov. Paul Cellucci, with enclosure
Senator Linda Melconian, "
Rep. Michael Walsh, "
Rep. Carmen Buell , "
' Agawam Council on Aging, 'F
Richard Mundo, Exec. Dir. ,
Western Mass. Coun. on Aging,'
Mayor Johnson,
Bruce Bullen, Assoc. Comm. of 'Medical Services, "
Council Members
A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO GOVERNOR WILLIAM WELD'S DRAFT' RESOLUTION
SPONSORS: COUNCILORS LOUIS RUSSO AND NANCY GRAVEL
1
TR-92-38
' WHEREAS: Currently, Medicaid pays for long term care facilities for approximately
35,000 nursing home residents in Massachusetts, and
WHEREAS: The average Medicaid patient needs, to be hospitalized once a year for up
to seven days and depends upon the Medicaid program to pay for -care, and
WHEREAS: Patients may no longer be able to return easily to their long term care
' facilities and will likely remain hospitalized longer than medically
necessary, thereby increasing the cost to Medicaid by approximately 300%,
and
WHEREAS: Displacing the frail elderly from the long term care facilities in which
they presently reside will . cause undue .trauma to the elderly and their
families and have a negative effect on the elder's quality of life.
NOW, THEREFORE: The Agawam Town Council resolves to support Agawam's .Council on
Aging's opposition to Massachusetts Governor William Weld's .draft
regulations which are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 1992.
Dated this day of , 1992.
Per Order of the Agawam Town Council
' Joanne H. Willis, President
Agawam Town Council
A s to orm and Legality
Thom ke, Town Solicitor
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