Is there some monetary incentive for nursing homes to refer patients to hospitals than transfer them to other nursing homes? I don’t know enough about the money issues to figure out why they would want to hang on to sick patients if what Cuomo says is true. Maybe in the first case (referral to a hospital) the patient comes back to them where as in the other case (transfer) they lose the patient all together. Either way, this is a dumb time to play whose schlong is bigger between the governor and the nursing home beauraucracy. It is sad that people have to die because of that.
I’m thinking this is about Medicaid.
Patients on Medicaid/dual-eligibles cost the state less at a nursing home than in a hospital.
Skilled nursing facilities probably much less difference.
But cost was likely a big factor.
Also, if beds were available, why was the stare sending WuFlu patients Upstate? To share the wealth with certain favored facilities?