BALTIMORE (AP) - Some families and placement agencies in Maryland say they struggle to find and place in-home nurses as the state underpays them.
The Baltimore Sun reports in-home licensed professional nurses make significantly less in Maryland when working in someone's house instead of a hospital or nursing home. Placement firm BAYADA Home Health Care says Medicaid covers about $35 per hour for those nurses in Maryland, compared with $46 in Delaware and $50 in Washington.
Nurses get a portion of that money, which covers some costs of at-home nursing care for those with disabilities. The Maryland General Assembly voted this year to increase rates by 3 percent, but critics say that isn't enough. A legislative task force will report to the General Assembly by Nov. 30 on whether another increase is needed.