Lack of Washington Community Capacity Forces Over 2,000 Medicaid Patients to Stay in Hospitals at Cost of $461 Million Over Decade

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News From 2000 to 2008, Seattle nursing homes refused to admit at least 2,025 Medicaid beneficiaries with physical and behavioral complex care needs following a hospitalization.  Due to being rejected for admission at nursing homes, these individuals remained hospital inpatients until a placement was secured or the individuals were deemed healthy enough to be discharged. Over the eight-year period, hospitals caring for these individuals wrote off $461 million in charges. The Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has recognized the problem, but existing adult care homes have not . . .