The WHA Post-Acute Care Workgroup met on Oct. 22 to discuss current and longstanding post-acute care issues, evaluate actions taken to date and consider further options to address those issues.
The workgroup members, representing hospitals and health systems throughout Wisconsin, continued to identify the ongoing issue of hospital patients waiting for discharge to a nursing home but without a nursing home that will accept them as one of its main concerns. Based on numbers reported by its members, WHA estimates there are about 400 patients in Wisconsin hospitals awaiting a post-acute care placement, affecting not only patients whose discharges are delayed, but also the hospital’s capacity to treat other patients needing acute care services.
After reviewing the well-attended post-acute care conference that was held in August, the workgroup discussed and evaluated actions that have been taken to address or mitigate pandemic-related issues, including
legislation recognizing acute hospital care at home services in Wisconsin and providing for Medicaid payments for certain swing bed services. The workgroup also discussed the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ agency
staffing resource assistance,
EMResource Bed Tracking System, and
memo from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to health plan issuers concerning post-acute care coverage.
The workgroup heard from WHA Chief Quality Officer Nadine Allen about potential projects with the WHA quality team focused on improving care transitions and considered other ways to advance care along the care continuum.
For questions, contact WHA Policy Counsel
Laura Leitch.