Washington, DC – The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) today applauded the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for holding a hearing which recognizes a consumer’s right to choice in regard to their long term care needs and for highlighting this important issue for the 2008 presidential election.
“In long term care, consumer choice is imperative – particularly preferences regarding whether care and services are provided within one’s home, community, or a long term care facility,” stated Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA. “We firmly back efforts in which care is available in the most appropriate, least restrictive setting for an individual’s needs and preferences. Therefore, we wish to ensure that critical funding will not be diverted from optional Medicaid programs and that choice is not limited for individuals with profound and severe mental retardation, who may require a higher level of specialized care.”
AHCA/NCAL have worked to promote a national long term care system which ensures that our nation’s most vulnerable populations– persons with disabilities and the frail elderly – have access to appropriate care according to their medical needs and their preferences. In mid-2002, AHCA/NCAL partnered with organizations including the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, ANCOR and the Voice of the Retarded to publicly call for a national system that breaks down barriers to community placement and guarantees quality supports and services. Further, in 2006, AHCA/NCAL set forth guiding principles for comprehensive Medicaid reform which specifically stated that, “long term supports and services must meet consumers’ and families’ needs and be responsive to their preferences.”
Yarwood also commented on the importance of the upcoming presidential elections on this key public policy health matter: “While presidential candidates of both parties are discussing increasing access to health care in a broad sense, it is also essential to go beyond that - and hear far more about how they would work with Congress and state governments to protect, defend and strengthen Medicaid’s long term care benefit.”
“We applaud ensuring choice in long term care and appreciate that it is recognized in The Community Choice Act, however we have specific concerns with the legislation. We believe that in order to protect the care and preferences of all Americans, we must partner to develop solutions that protect funding for all Medicaid programs, ensures choice of a broad range of settings including nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities, and does not inappropriately limit State options.” Yarwood concluded by stating that, “We have the same goal in mind and must work together so that all individuals receive the best care in the most appropriate setting.”
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) represent nearly 11,000 non-profit and proprietary facilities dedicated to continuous improvement in the delivery of professional and compassionate care provided daily by millions of caring employees to 1.5 million of our nation's frail, elderly and disabled citizens who live in nursing facilities, assisted living residences, subacute centers and homes for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. For more information, please visit www.ahca.org or www.ncal.org.