Virginia Medicaid gave the state's worst-rated nursing homes millions in bonuses meant to reward quality
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Virginia's Medicaid agency awarded the state's lowest quality nursing homes millions of dollars in bonus cash meant to reward quality. While critics point to that fact as proof the program is doing very little to actually improve quality of care in facilities, the industry maintains the program is successful.
Cynthia Jefferson's first thought was one of shock after learning her aunt's nursing home Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center received more than $700,000 this past year in extra taxpayer funds from the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), which oversees Medicaid in Virginia.
The money came through a program that "strives to reward quality and to support improvement."
“Where's the money going? The food looks like slop. If you're getting that type of money, then you at least should feed these people a proper meal," Jefferson said. “Medicaid and Medicare need to hold these people accountable first of all."
Henrico Health and Rehab has been identified by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) as the lowest-rated, worst-performing nursing home in the state, which is called a special focus facility.
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