MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                         3003

No. 19

(Senate Joint Resolution 13)
A Senate Joint Resolution concerning

Levels of Care in Nursing Homes

FOR the purpose of requesting the United States Congress
and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to
eliminate artificial levels of care in nursing
hones, authorized by Public Law 89—97 Titles XVIII,
XIX and the Medical Care Program of Maryland.

WHEREAS, It has been recognized by both health
authorities and the public that distinctions between
[["Intermediate A, Intermediate B" and "Domiciliary"]]
levels of care of nursing home patients authorized by
Public Law 89-97 Titles XVIII, XIX and required by the
Medical Care Program of Maryland are largely a technical
matter and do not reflect any real difference in the
amount of care required by a nursing hose patient; and

WHEREAS, To the extent that the levels do represent
a needed variance in treatment, many patients are
incorrectly categorized and therefore at incorrect
monetary reimbursement is received for their treatment;
and

WHEREAS, Many patients have stabilized in a
particular level of a nursing home; and then transfer to
a home of a different level, nay unnecessarily upset both
the patient and his family; and

WHEREAS, Guidelines establishing these arbitrary
distinctions in Maryland of "Skilled" "Intermediate A",
"Intermediate B" and "Domiciliary" nursing home patients
authorized by Public Law 89-97 Titles XVIII, XIX [[were
enacted]] and implemented at the [[federal]] State level
[[and, therefore,]] by Health Department regulations
create [[a national problem]] undue hardship to the
citizens of Maryland requiring care in nursing homes and
to their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That
the General Assembly urges the Congress of the United
States and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to
abandon artificial levels of care and replace them with
the concept that nursing homes should be a place where a
person can live with a full spectrum of health services
without disruption and dislocation resulting from a move
from one level to another; and be it further