When Ideology Trumps Compassion

When Ideology Trumps Common Sense and Compassion:

In the past week, Florida lawmakers turned down a $2.1 million federal grant that would pave the way for the state to receive $35 million in federal funding that would move elderly and disabled patients from nursing homes to their own homes during the next five years. With the help of this federal funding elderly people could be moved out of nursing homes to independent-living facilities or to support care at home with their families resulting in less money to be spend on nursing-home care. Republican legislators defended their refusal of the latest federal grant, known as the Money Follows the Person funding. "Not only would accepting the Money Follows the Person grant go against our policy of implementing federal health-care reform, but it would be redundant to the multiple efforts that Florida has already made to improve the delivery of long-term care," said Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, chairwoman of the state's House Appropriations Committee.
Grimsley said the federal grant came with "significantly higher administrative costs that have been unnecessary" because Florida already has been successful at moving people from nursing homes. Nan Rich, Leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus, disagrees. In a letter to the editor published in todays Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/02/2295756/rejecting-funds-to-help-elderly.html she argues that “ the funding would have garnered Florida $35,7 million in federal funds over the next five years.” She is correct stating that “ Florida's share of the federal funds will go to another state whose leaders aren't willing to shortchange their elderly and disabled for the sake of ideology.” The remainder of her letter speaks for itself and is worthwhile reading in its entirety:
“It just doesn’t make any sense for Florida to refuse the “Money Follows the Person” funds. The grant covered 100 percent of the staffing and administrative costs. The federal Medicaid match for this program would have increased from about 56 percent to almost 78 percent for the first year, and we would have been under no obligation to continue the program after that. Even if we did, however, we’d still save money by moving more eligible people out of nursing homes. Our state’s seniors, disabled people and taxpayers deserve better than the short-sighted political posturing that we saw last week.”
Is there any hope that rational thought will prevail in Tallahassee?
Yours
Bernd