As National Assisted Living week comes to a close, assisted living facilities across the state are preparing for the rollout of the Affordable Care Act.
Executive Director of the New York State Center for Assisted Living, Shelley Sabo says she believes the main impact of the Act will be seen in their partnership with Accountable Care Organizations.
ACO’s coordinate care offered by groups of providers, and payments to ACO’s are based on costs savings and health outcomes.
“From an assisted living point of view facilities will have to start collecting and tracking data about their residents and their re-hospitalizations as part of that approach,” said Sabo.
Sabo says because assisted living care is paid for privately or through insurance people, shouldn’t experience any changes in payment or care during the rollout of the ACA. She says staff at facilities will be affected though.
“The greatest impact comes with the employee insurance and the employer’s obligations to that. I think you will see some changes starting October 1st. While it affects the staff within assisted living facilities it really shouldn’t affect the delivery of care to the residents,” said Sabo.
National Assisted Living week was created in 1995, to show appreciation for people who live and work in the facilities through activities and events.