WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released the following statement in reaction to President Biden’s State of the Union address.
The statement is attributable to Beth Martino, senior vice president of public affairs at AHCA/NCAL.
“We appreciate President Biden recognizing the importance of America’s nursing homes in tonight’s State of the Union. Transforming the long term care system requires a collective effort and an investment in our nation’s seniors and their caregivers.
“Calls for increased government scrutiny, regulations, and fines do not recognize the nature of COVID-19 and how public health officials failed to prioritize nursing homes for resources before and during the pandemic. Private equity firms only own a small percentage of nursing homes, and in fact, deals are overwhelmingly focused on other aspects of the health care system. The real issue is that Medicaid has chronically underfunded nursing homes for years, leaving facilities on the brink of closure. More will close soon if they don’t receive proper government support coming out of this pandemic.
“AHCA has already put forth
meaningful solutions to transform our nation’s nursing homes, and we stand ready to work with policymakers to make these proposals a reality.”
Read an initial statement from AHCA/NCAL President & CEO Mark Parkinson regarding the Biden Administration’s nursing home reform plan
here.