Families Say Low Wages Make Finding In-Home Nurses Difficult
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.
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