PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – New York Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Chateaugay Lake, wants more funding to staff nursing homes.
He says providing resources so that New Yorkers can age with dignity is his top priority. He wants the state to set reimbursement rates as high as 16% this year for nursing facilities.
Last year, lawmakers were able to get roughly 6% approved in the budget, but Jones says the increased amount did not go far enough to fix staffing issues. He adds that many nursing homes have beds available, but they do not have the staff to provide the level of care needed.
“I do not want to see a nursing home close down in my district — the need is there, it is just they do not have the resources, they do not have the ability to hire more staff to get more of our residents in our nursing homes,” Jones said.
He also says he would also like to see more facilities built in the future.
