Possible nursing home cuts still under consideration

Feb. 09--Officials with the North Dakota governor's office say all departments funded by the state's general fund will see the 4.05 percent cut, according to Jeff Zent, communications and policy adviser for the governor's office.

"The governor has no discretion," he said. "When an allotment takes place, it is across the board."

Zent was speaking to recent comments by Craig Christianson, chairman of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association. Christianson said in a Sun story Friday that the governor had the authority to reduce or eliminate cuts to the Medicaid program.

"The state agencies are now required to trim the general fund budgets," Zent said. "They are trying to find ways to minimize the impacts."

Pam Sharp, director of the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget, said Monday the only exemptions to the cuts were for primary education.

"The statute calls for all cuts to be across the board," she said. "There is a constitutional fund that restored any cuts to K through 12 education."

Sharp said the North Dakota Department of Human Services, the agency that administers the Medicaid program that reimburses nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, will be required to make budget cuts.

On Thursday, the Department of Human Services declined to make any comments on possible cuts until the new budget was presented to the OMB.

"The actual cuts to Medicaid are yet to be determined," Sharp said. "They have to evaluate all programs."

The OMB has called for all state departments to submit new budget plans by Feb. 17 for consideration.

knorman@jamestownsun.com (701) 952-8452

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