AHCA/Alliance Detail Components of Long Term Care Economic Recovery,...( Proposal Focuses on State Medicaid Pa...),Health

Proposal Focuses on State Medicaid Payment Accountability, LTC Sector Access to Capital, HIT, Workforce

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Emphasizing both the need and opportunity to collaborate with President Obama and Congress to continue improving nursing home care quality, create new jobs, and bolster the U.S. economy, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care today detailed a long term care economic recovery and jobs plan that focuses on state Medicaid payment accountability, boosting the long term care sector's access to capital, broadening adoption of Health Information Technology (HIT), and strengthening the sector's workforce.

"Our message to President Obama and Congress is America's long term care sector contributes significantly to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and plays a vital role in America's economic health," explained Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA. Citing a 2008 Lewin Group study, the AHCA leader said long term care accounts for 1.1 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -- $144.3 billion annually. "Every dollar invested in the long term care sector supports approximately five dollars of additional economic activity, and has a substantial economic impact in nearly every community across the country."

Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance, said, "The post-acute/long term care sector is well-positioned to employ more than 100,000 currently vacant positions in nursing facilities, and countless more throughout the remainder of the sector. We also offer the unique opportunity to create as many as 100,000 construction jobs within 60-180 days for 'shovel ready' construction projects -- and can help lay the groundwork for a better care delivery system that improves quality, provides seniors more opportunity to receive care and services in modern settings, and that better controls health car
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