Do LTC facilities get more money for bariatric residents?

[Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN]

All the insurance stuff goes WAY over my head, but I do know that our facility accepts Medicaid & Medicare.

We have been getting a LOT of bariatric residents lately. I believe we have about 60 residents here and average 6-8 CNAs on day shift. Varies because of call-in's. I have been told that the facility gets more money for bariatric. I don't know if it's because they require more care, staffing, or what. Management doesn't seem to understand why we are getting so upset about it. Honestly, it isn't that we don't want to care for them, it's the fact that using a Hoyer on one person can require 3 or 4 of us to get them out of bed and into a wheelchair. It's time consuming and gets everyone behind. We need more appropriate equipment; we have 1 lift capable of handling the weight.

If they get as much money as we *think* they are, then we want more help. I work with a great group of girls, NEVER any problem getting help, but helping each other is stressing all of us out. Plus we have the fear of injury.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

At one facility I worked for, there was a bariatric patient who had her own private room (everyone else on that wing had to share a room). One of the aides mentioned to me that her daughter paid extra money each month so that she could have that private room. So maybe, these patients do pay extra..too bad we( nurses,aides,etc..) never see any of it.

[yousoldtheworld]

I don't know if they pay specifically more if they are bariatric, but I DO know that every resident pays a different amount based on the level of care they require, with medicare (at least around here). The people who are total assist get more funding than the independents, that's why places are so adamant that you chart well for everything you do. So maybe these people require more care, and as such, bring in more money?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

There are several levels of assistance: independent, standby assist, minimum assist, moderate assist, maximum assist, and total dependence. A resident who requires maximum assistance or is totally dependent upon staff is going to generate a higher Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rate than the resident who is independent or needs occasional standby assistance.

Since many bariatric residents require assistance with toileting, transfers, bathing, and so forth, they are going to generate more money because they are not independent with their care.

[Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN]

Thank you, that makes sense!