10,000 could be forced into nursing homes — which may not be there

If lawmakers do nothing to correct the $215 million budget shortfall, 10,000 seniors and frail Oklahomans could be forced out of home-based care and into nursing homes after Dec. 1.

The budget reduction plan offered by the Department of Human Services would eliminate state funding for the ADvantage Waiver Program, which is designed to help seniors and adults with disabilities live at home.

People on the program can delay nursing home placement or other types of adult care, which is often more expensive than finding in-home supports.

Compounding the problem is that there may not be nursing homes available to accommodate the population increase.

Nursing homes don’t have enough beds to support the influx of waiver recipients and they already face reduced funding from another agency also affected by budget cuts.

Nico Gomez, who represents an association of nursing homes, has already warned nearly half of the 301 nursing homes statewide could be in danger of closing.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority earlier said it would also cut nursing home funding if it does not receive additional appropriations to replace funds cut from its budget.

According to DHS, more than 21,000 people and 450 providers are part of the ADvantage Waiver Program.

The agency submitted its revised budget Wednesday as lawmakers debated a Republican revenue package intended to fix the shortfall with a combination of tax hikes on cigarettes, motor fuel and beer. That measure later failed in the House.

“These reductions are not going into effect at this time; but, if budget relief is not forthcoming, a number of these cuts will need to be initiated starting Dec. 1,” said DHS Director Ed Lake. “We remain optimistic the Legislature will take the steps necessary to replace the $69 million in our budget to avoid these unconscionable cuts.”

The agency’s revised budget also would eliminate state funding for adult day services, senior meal sites and personal care services.The services that could be eliminated include employment and training programs, adult day services, inhome support with daily living tasks such as bathing, feeding, changing and medication administration.

“These are people who waited years, some close to a decade, on a chronological waiting list for services, to now be penalized for keeping their children, now adults, at home. They will lose all of their support services,” said Lara Morrison, Oklahoma Community-Based Providers board president and executive director at Central State Community Services Oklahoma.

If the tax proposal fails to pass, there are other ways of filling the budget gap. Lawmakers could eliminate tax incentives or cut other state spending priorities. They can also implement new or higher fees, but recent supreme court decisions have chided the Legislature for adopting fees solely to raise revenue.

House Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, put it bluntly Tuesday when asked about the options still available if the Republicans’ tax plan falls.

“I’ve told everybody we’re not going to have these draconian cuts to (health agencies),” he said. “Over my dead body. Like, that ain’t happening; I won’t let it happen.”