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Texas Nursing Homes Use Loophole To Get Extra $69 Million In Federal Money

A special state program aimed at attracting additional federal money for government-owned nursing homes will bring an extra $69 million to Texas facilities this year, with more to come next year.

But owners of for-profit homes have found a way to also get federal dollars intended for only those nursing homes funded by local tax revenue. The for-profits need only partner with hospital districts to get the additional federal Medicaid money.

State officials say the program's rules are flawed and need to change.

The Dallas Morning News reports  the nursing homes don't even need to be within a district's boundaries.

State officials watched as more than 300 privately owned nursing homes in the past year alone became holdings of public hospital districts and hospital authorities.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.