Minnesota, National Long Term Care Advocates: Pending Bush Medicare Cut Hurts State's Rur...(detrimental to this vulnerablepopulation...),Health

The Coalition to Protect Senior Care consists of the American Association for Long Term Care Nursing (AALTCN); the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA); the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC); the National Rural Health Association (NRHA); the American Association of Nurse Executives (AANEX); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); the American Society of Health Care Administration Executives (ASHCAE); ASHCAE state affiliate members representing Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas and Utah; the American Health Care Association (AHCA); the American Health Quality Association (AHQA); the National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL); the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA); the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care; the Coalition of Women in Long Term Care (COWL); and the Senior Clinician Group.

Susan Feeney, Vice-President of Public Affairs for the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in Washington, D.C. - which released the national rural study earlier this week - said rural communities in many states like Minnesota have higher than average numbers of elderly citizens, and noted that beyond serving the growing complex care needs of elderly Minnesotans, rural facilities are a major local employer, and a significant part of the local economy.

"As the policy being changed by the Bush Administration is currently helping rural facilities successfully serve higher acuity patients - at a lower cost than other settings - it is especially curious this regulatory policy change is being pursued," Feeney stated. "Front line caregivers throughout Minnesota, and across America, make a key difference in patient care - and the Bush Administration's plan now set to go forward presents a cl
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