Incentives Matter: Paying for Performance in Long-Term Care

Frequently lost in the debates over nursing home reform is an uncomfortable fact: the federal and state governments spend billions on care in outdated, understaffed institutions that don't always put residents' needs first, and we're all collectively getting what we're paying for. By better aligning reimbursements with the factors that matter most to residents, families, and staff – private rooms, elder-directed programming, and sufficient wages and benefits – officials can change the long-term care landscape without necessarily changing a single regulation. Laci Cornelison of Kansas State University's Center on Aging has been at the forefront of the push to link nursing home performance with reimbursement in her state. The Kansas PEAK 2.0 Project, for which Cornelison serves as coordinator, offers a blueprint for how other states and the federal government can incentivize change – and disincentivize the old broken model.   Learn more about the Kansas PEAK program: https://kdads.ks.gov/kdads-commissions/long-term-services-supports/peak Explore the IMPROVE Nursing Homes Act: https://thegreenhouseproject.org/press-releases/green-house-pioneer-applaud-the-improve-nursing-homes-act/ Show notes/call to action: Learn more about The Green House Project: www.thegreenhouseproject.org