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 today following passage of the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (
S. 610) in the U.S. Senate.
The statement is attributable to Clif Porter, senior vice president of government relations at AHCA/NCAL.
“We thank Members of Senate for prioritizing America’s seniors and passing this important legislation. As the pandemic rages on and long term care providers grapple with a severe economic crisis, this bill will help protect beneficiary access to essential healthcare services by temporarily reducing or delaying Medicare payment cuts scheduled for 2022. This interim relief is appreciated, and we are eager to work with Members of both houses to enact permanent solutions in the new year.
“But there is still immediate work to be done to protect access to care. The Build Back Better Act includes two unfunded staffing mandates that will cost nursing homes billions of dollars per year, and without financial support from Congress, these mandates will force thousands of nursing homes to further limit the number of residents they serve. We encourage Members of the Senate to remove these provisions, so that our nation’s seniors can continue receiving the highest quality of care.”