Lawmakers trying to save nursing homes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - There's now a greater call to save more local nursing homes from closing.

State lawmakers joined Kaleida and Catholic Health as well as the save the Waterfront Center Coalition. They introduced new legislation calling for increased medicaid reimbursements, claiming that without it more nursing homes like the Waterfront Center are in jeopardy of shutting down.

Mark Schroeder of the NYS Assembly said, "Last November, Governor proposed in his budget reduction, a $92 million cut to nursing homes. The western New York delegation stood up and said, 'No.' If that would have went through, essentially all of the nursing homes in Buffalo would be closed."

Lawmakers say over the past several years that eight local nursing homes have shut down, resulting in job losses and the relocation of patients.