Nursing home residents at Signature HealthCARE of Tower Road presented state Senator Michael “Doc” Rhett with a plaque of appreciation today at an event celebrating the state’s approval increasing the personal needs allowance (PNA). Recently signed into law by Governor Deal, $15 increase in the state’s monthly personal needs allowance benefits Medicaid nursing home residents, who have often exhausted other financial resources.
“At Signature HealthCARE, we have held dialogue and conversations with legislators for years showing that the dollar amount residents receive does not begin to cover basic costs. It is a win across the state and industry for Georgia state legislators to prioritize the needs of nursing home residents increasing the monthly personal needs allowance,” Kathy Gallin, Signature HealthCARE’s Director of Legislative Affairs.
“Our residents were once the voice, parent, or caregiver for others, and now it’s our turn to serve them,” Loretta Barnes, Signature HealthCARE Administrator, said. “Today we are celebrating the PNA increase because of lawmakers like Senator Rhett and Senator Renee Unterman.”
The personal needs allowance benefits nursing home residents on Medicaid and provides for items like clothing, shoes, telephone expenses, cards to send to family, reading materials, brushes, lotion, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, a haircut and other daily items that one typically does not think twice about.
State legislatures in both Georgia and Florida have passed increases in the personal needs allowance because of Signature HealthCARE’s advocacy.