Long Term Care Sector Supports and Is Well-Positioned to Advance Health Care Reform, Bolster Economi...( MedPAC Recommendations Worsening Stat...),Health

MedPAC Recommendations, Worsening State Budget Crisis Threaten Seniors' Access to Quality Care, LTC Jobs Base

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Commenting on the legislative year ahead as well as the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) initial comments today that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) should not receive a market basket cost of living update for FY 2010, the nation's leading long term care advocacy organizations today said the sector supports and is well-positioned to help President-elect Obama and the incoming 111th Congress advance broad-based health care reforms, in addition to serving as a cornerstone in the effort to bolster the new Administration's economic stimulus initiatives.

Regarding the MedPAC recommendation, the leaders of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care warned strongly that failure to adequately fund Medicare -- coupled with looming threats to Medicaid funding due to the national recession and worsening state budget crisis -- threatens seniors' continued access to quality care, jeopardizes the very jobs that are a critical factor in ensuring quality of care, and undermines the overall capacity of the long term care system itself as demographic trends portend greater utilization.

"While we recognize that all Americans will be called upon to sacrifice and support our national priorities, we must be careful not to jeopardize a sector that cares for many low and moderate-income seniors, and is a source of job creation given the current 100,000 employee vacancies in the long term care sector -- especially in direct care giving positions," stated Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA.

Yarwood pointed to a recent Lewin & Associates analysis which highlights the fact that every dollar invested in a long term care facility supports approximately five dollars of additio
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