Maltese supports Medicaid Restructuring and Medicaid Planning

Maryann Maltese, Democratic-Independent, Huntington Resident supports the continuation of Medicaid restructuring and the continuation of the right of Spousal Refusal when Seniors need Nursing home and Skilled Nursing Care. The Right of Spousal refusal is to ensure the the health Spouse continues to be permitted to reside at the Marital residence while making an incredibly difficult decision to place their Spouse in skilled care., said Maltese. The average private costs of Nursing Home-Skilled Care is between $7,000-$10,000 per month-which can quickly deplete ones savings. This is why I support Medicaid Planning and the Right of Spouse Refusal.

It is not my place to Judge any family that needs to make this decision, as reasons are personal, but I have the most respect for those families that make that decision because under most circumstances placement improves the lives of both Spouses- but COVID 19 exposed something ugly about lack of communication and need for medical upgrades within those Nursing Care-Nursing Homes that are required to have such items, said Maryann Maltese. My heart goes out to those who lost family members to COVID 19-there are not words to ease your minds of your loss-but we can ensure going forward that we need to have the Ventilators and to be more sensitive in handling the way manage COVID Pandemics and deaths that have occurred and if not-if it is blatant disregard for human life-then the toughest rules and penalties going forward be issued to those involved, said Maltese.

With the parameters of how COVID 19 has negatively impacted the Senior population and took off within Nursing care facilities like wildfire is evident that the continuation of Medicaid Planning-Medicaid Payment to off-set costs of Nursing Home Care, the Right for Spousal Refusal for those eligible and NYS Partnership on Long Term Care Insurance is needed. I worked on the NYS Partnership Long Term Care Insurance Language, NYS Healthcare Proxy Law Language, Aids Confidentiality Laws, and Senior EPIC Program which are all programs to help low-income seniors or seniors that need to do some planning receive NYS guidance where we can advise, said Maltese.

Once in Albany, I support and will ensure that the upcoming legislative session continues to help or require Nursing Homes, Skilled Care facilities and or Acute Care facilities have ventilators based on population ratios of each facility on site to handle possible outbreaks of COVID like illnesses or Phenomena Type Stands. It's also important for NYS Department of Health to periodically check in on these facilities to ensure that the equipment is on site-upgrades in place and communications between the DOH and the families impacted are taken seriously, said Maryann Maltese.

As the Medical Community advanced in their ability to defeat COVID- sometimes New Waves of former COVID or new strings of bacteria and plagues can form which become more resistant to present antibodies or known medical treatments. I don't say this to scare anyone-but proactive measures are needed now and If Nursing Home facilities regardless of their classifications; acute care, skilled care, hospice care do not have up to date medical equipment or ventilated medical rooms to handle plagued outbursts skillfully then we in NYS Legislature must enforce that they do. I make this promise now-because I have the track record working with Members who ensured funding for Nursing or Medical Care facilities such as Northwell, and Long Island Jewish Hospital, Parker Jewish Rehabilitation because these operators are known for offering some of the best care in NYS. Now, that I'm running for the 12th Assembly District in Huntington-my doors are open to the Nursing Home Facilities, A Cute Care Families, Hospice who are working with our families and loved ones. Most families looking to place loved ones in Nursing Care facilities look to do so within their immediate surroundings-and I'm happy to be part of a round table conversation to discuss what we can do together going forward, said Maryann.

As consumers who place our loved ones in care families-I recommend if you visit facilities prior to admissions if one can, if we don't then as loved ones-or at home care providers we then are not doing our jobs. Due to Covid- It's NYS now that needs to make sure that every Nursing Home with the classifications that manage delicate senior populations have ventilators and-or up to date air-conditioning systems to ensure proper health and safety standards of residents. The Nursing Home becomes the Home setting, with medical care 24-7 for those residents and families who need the help. Some are skilled Nursing Care Families and some are Acute Nursing Care facilities. Placing one into someone else's care is never an easy choice, but once made-the facilities that provide Nursing Care need to be equipped to manage COVID or other Pathogen related illnesses. Again, it's not for me to Judge anyone who decides to place a loved one in a Nursing Facility-it's for us in Albany to ensure that the various operators within NYS are managing the Nursing Care facilities that they have permitted to provide skilled care or Nursing Care too, said Maryann Maltese.

I will ensure that NYS makes the right decision to ensure that going forward, all Skilled Nursing Home's have ventilators based on client population rations onsite and to ensure that these Facilities have or required to have the upgrades needed onsite to manage potential outbreaks. When plague epidemics hit-Communications need to be top notch because of the nature of the pathogen and the individual care needs beyond contracting COVID that might be needed for each resident. I'm not a medical practitioner, but I absolutely understand the differences in how NYS classifies Nursing Homes based on client needs and once the client-resident is accepted into a Facility it's the Facility that is responsible for your loved one's care, said Maryann Maltese.

To share your viewpoints with Maryann, contact Maryannmaltesefornysassembly@gmail.com