‘We Are Losing Money Every Month’

At Immanuel Lutheran Communities in Kalispell, the long-term care facility is one of two “life plan” communities in the state, offering independent living, assisted living, memory, post-acute and long-term care for seniors. About 60% of the roughly 300 residents in the facility are Montana Medicaid recipients while the remainder are on Medicare or pay through a private insurer.

According to Immanuel Lutheran Communities CEO Jason Cronk, it costs the nonprofit organization $350 per day to operate, but the state reimbursement rate is only $212 per day. The current rate increased only $1 from $211 in fiscal year 2021, the same year that wages increased by 20% and inflation spiked operating costs.

Read the full story from The Flathead Beacon here.