Increasing nursing home closures in Pa. affect access to and quality of care

A nursing home closure ripples through a community. Families that chose a home based on its location or service might have to drive farther or settle for a facility with lesser appeal. Caregivers must find new employers. Residents have to adapt to new spaces and routines.

Pennsylvania had 695 nursing homes in 2019. That number is down to 669, as of Aug. 30. The Pennsylvania Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities, warns that more could soon shutter or declare bankruptcy.

PHCA says the nursing home industry has long suffered from a lack of funding, and argues that facilities are struggling under a new state mandate that increased the daily amount of direct care nursing home residents receive.

“Despite recent attempts to close the Medicaid reimbursement gap, funding still falls short of the actual cost of care due to years of underfunding, inflation, staffing mandates and more reliance on the state Medicaid program,” a representative of the organization told Spotlight PA via email.