From the start, we were told the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic would continue far into the future. We are seeing evidence of that in many areas, including supply chain issues that have contributed to global inflation.

But each day, it seems, we learn of other areas where the pandemic has caused harm.

According to a Mississippi Today report, the pandemic has played a contributing role to a decline in the availability of adult day care centers. According to the report about 30 percent of the state’s 126 adult day care centers closed during the height of the pandemic and never reopened.

Most of these day care facilities serve poor and elderly who rely on Medicaid. It’s a godsend for these people and their caregivers. For the elderly, the daycare provided allows them to remain in their homes. For their caregivers, having a place where their loved one can be attended to during the day allows them to work or attend to other duties.

The pandemic did not create the crisis facing adult daycare centers, but it certainly exacerbated it.

The problem with this system is that reimbursement rates have stagnated while costs have continued to rise, meaning only those who bring in a high number of participants can break even. Currently, adult daycares receive a maximum reimbursement of $60 per person each day from Medicaid. They can only bill for up to four hours of care, though they’re required to be open for eight.

The bulk of those overhead costs come from staffing, which includes a family nurse practitioner and social worker, along with seven other required positions. Under quality assurance standards set by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, each facility must maintain a minimum staff-to-participant ratio of one-to-six, or one-to-four in a facility that serves a high percentage of people who are severely impaired.

Every year since 2015, the state legislature has considered raising the compensation to $125 per person. Each time, the legislation has either died in committee or in conference when the Senate and House were unable to reach a compromise.

Failing to raise the compensation is short-sided.

Even at $125 per day, adult daycare centers are a bargain, far cheaper than nursing home costs or, in some cases, lengthy hospital stays.

For those who benefit from these services and those who care for them, increasing the compensation means happier, healthier lives.

We encourage our legislative delegation to support raising the compensation.

It’s the compassionate thing to do.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.