Budget cuts impacting Medicare and Medicaid will leave Texas nursing home providers no choice but to scale back on staffing among other changes, the communities say.

Nursing homes in Texas say state and federal funding cuts to are presenting a “dangerous strain” on their ability to care for older, more medically complex patients.

In a survey of 100 nursing homes representing 10% of the state’s nursing home population, the Texas Health Care Association found more than 65% have made staff changes, more than 72% have reduced staff hours, wages and benefits, and 60% have canceled or postponed facility improvements already in response to Medicare and Medicaid cuts.