Wyoming Committee Advances Bill to Raise Medicaid Nursing Home Limits
Wyoming's Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee directed staff to draft legislation raising the personal needs allowance for Medicaid nursing home residents from $50 to $100 monthly and the asset limit from $2,000 to $5,000. The current limits date to 2001 and 1989 respectively and have not kept pace with inflation, according to hospital association and ombudsman testimony. Supporters, including the Wyoming Hospital Association and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, say the low thresholds cause residents to lose coverage over small asset fluctuations and create uncompensated care burdens for facilities. The change is estimated to cost the state $1.3 million annually; the committee will consider the draft bill at its November meeting.