Haverhill-based Sarah’s Place Adult Day Health Center is facing a potential shortfall in state Medicaid reimbursements.
In a letter to caregivers and supporters, Executive Director Amy Anwyl told WHAV she received notice from the state that beginning next Jan. 1, Medicaid reimbursement rates could fall by as much as 34%. She said, currently, the state has two levels of care for its adult day health clients—basic and complex. Sarah’s Place receives $99.42 a day for basic clients and $136.72 for complex clients. Going forward, clients will be assigned to one of four levels. Under the new system, the agency will receive $65.66 a day for those on the lowest level and $136.72 a day for those on the highest level. The private pay rate is $150 a day.
“In many ways we feel this payment restructuring doesn’t make any sense because programs like Sarah’s Place save the state money in the long run by helping to keep frail elders at home,” she told WHAV. “When people leave Sarah’s Place, 90% end up in nursing homes which is much more expensive. We have always believed Sarah’s Place is the antidote for that.”
Medicaid is a combination of federal and state dollars.
Anwyl said she and her staff are responding to the news by making sure their documentation captures the full extent of each client’s needs so that the agency can recoup the highest allowable level of reimbursement.
Beyond that, she is also planning more fundraisers and writing more grant applications.
Anwyl said routinely some 90 frail elders and those with disabilities from the Greater Haverhill area are enrolled in Sarah’s Place at one of its two locations. The average age of a Sarah’s Place attendee is 81. Most clients do not come daily which means daily attendance runs around 60, she said. The program, which runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes breakfast and lunch, exercise classes, activities, speakers, entertainers and health and wellness checkups. Cooking classes are offered once a week. Clients often make the desserts which are served at lunch.
“No two days are the same,” Anwyl said. “We are always trying to expand our offerings.”
Anwyl is planning Sarah’s Place’s 25th Annual Golf Tournament, taking place next month.
Awards will be given for the man and woman with the longest drive and the ball closest to the pin. The winning team will be recognized as well as the most honest team. Sponsorships range from $1,500 for the front 9, $1,000 to sponsor the hot dog cart and $250 to sponsor a tee. Anwyl is also gathering donated gift baskets to raffle.
The 25th Annual Golf Tournament takes place Friday, Sept. 18, starting at 8 a.m., at Bradford Country Club, 201 Chadwick Road, Haverhill. Individual cost is $150 and a foursome is $600 and may be purchased online.
She has also booked a music bingo night Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Bradford Country Club. And she said one bit of good news is that she just received word the Cumming Foundation has nominated Sarah’s Place for one of its $50,000 Make a Difference grants.
“We have always been underfunded,” Anwyl said. “I am very proud of my staff with what we are able to accomplish on a very modest budget.”