WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) today welcome more than 500 long term and post-acute care professionals at its annual Congressional Briefing event to take the profession’s legislative priorities to Capitol Hill. Advocates will hear from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8), Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5), and political analyst, commentator, and best-selling author Chris Stirewalt.
“It is crucial that we share our story with members of Congress, so it is amazing to see so many of our members here in D.C. this week to do exactly that,” said AHCA/NCAL President & CEO Mark Parkinson. “It is our job to help them understand the challenges we face, such as the ongoing workforce crisis, and the solutions we need to protect seniors’ access to care. By working together, we can help improve the lives of our residents and staff.”
AHCA/NCAL members will meet with hundreds of members of Congress and their staff to share their local experiences and discuss several important topics, including:
- The Biden Administration’s impending federal staffing mandate for nursing homes, despite a historic labor crisis providers face as they struggle to recruit and retain caregivers;
- More supportive solutions to addressing workforce shortages, such as The Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act (H.R. 468) and The Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 3227/S. 1749);
- Transitioning out of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and resuming typical protocols for care logistics (data reporting, funding, etc.); and
- Medicaid unwinding and the critical safety net that Medicaid provides for vulnerable seniors and individuals with disabilities who need long term care as well as the need to fully fund the program.
“This week, we need to convey what we go through on a daily basis to policymakers,” said AHCA Board Chair Phil Fogg. “We must share the meaningful and vital work we do in providing quality care to millions of Americans, the hurdles in place that make caring for our residents more difficult, and the need for policymakers to invest in our seniors and their caregivers.”
Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award
During the event, AHCA/NCAL will also recognize the 2023 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award recipients Leticia Caballero and Norman Rokeach:
- Leticia Caballero is the Director of Government Relations for HMG Healthcare. She has more than 25 years of experience with state and federal advocacy and policy. Her experience includes serving in senior roles within the Texas House of Representatives, a private lobbying firm, and serving as the Director of Governmental Affairs with the Texas Health Care Association (THCA). Caballero serves as the chair of THCA’s Advocacy Committee focusing on long term care and health policy. She further served as the Texas Regional Federal Political Director for AHCA/NCAL in Washington, D.C.
- Norman Rokeach is the president and founder of Marquis Limited and Principal/Partner of Tryko Partners’ Healthcare Division. Nearly 25 years ago, he began his career in health care as a facility administrator, and later became Regional Director of Operations at Global Health. Rokeach served as Chief Executive Officer of Marquis Health when it was founded in January 2011. He is a leader to more than 7,000 dedicated individuals, operating 54 facilities, in seven states, whose combined daily efforts continuously maintain the legacy of excellence that Marquis is recognized for. Since January 2021, Rokeach has also served on AHCA’s Board of Governors.
The Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award is bestowed to AHCA/NCAL members who have worked directly to educate members of Congress about the needs of long term and post-acute care patients and to advance quality care. The award recognizes long term care professionals who possess the same compassion for – and commitment to – the country’s elderly and individuals with disabilities that exemplified the work of former president and CEO of Illinois-based Heritage Enterprises, Joe Warner.
Congressional Briefing runs through Tuesday, June 6 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.