Medicare to pay higher rates for nursing home care of AIDS patients

Nursing homes caring for patients with AIDS are set to receive increased Medicare reimbursements, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services director Scott McClellan announced this week. Beginning this fall Medicare reimbursement rates for nursing homes that care for people with AIDS will increase 128% due to the special needs of the patients and more complicated care involved. The increased compensation covers costs of routine services like room, board, nursing care, and some medical supplies; treatment costs, including laboratory services and medications; and capital costs, including facilities and equipment. "The care of patients with AIDS can be extraordinarily high," said McClellan. "This action to implement the new payment rate reflects the increased costs associated with caring for this special group of beneficiaries. We want to take whatever steps are necessary to assure continued access to care for people living with AIDS."