WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) welcomes nearly 650 long term and post-acute care professionals to its annual Congressional Briefing, a pivotal two-day event that offers attendees a unique opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers and advocate for policies that support the profession. As part of the event, attendees will hear from Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Representative Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Representative Greg Murphy (NC-03), and Punchbowl News Co-Founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer.
“As policymakers consider the future of long term and post-acute care, it is important that they hear directly from leaders in the profession,” said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Clif Porter. “By sharing stories directly with members of Congress, we are able to more accurately and passionately communicate how decisions made in Washington impact residents, families, caregivers, and communities across the country. We give life to complex policy issues like Medicare Advantage, observation stays, and caregiver shortages, and we offer solutions to protect this care that millions rely on.”
Long term and post-acute care advocates will be encouraging lawmakers to support and advance bipartisan and bicameral legislation:
- The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 (S. 4384/H.R. 8375), which represents a significant step towards ensuring that Medicare Advantage delivers on its promise to America’s seniors by addressing issues such as prior authorizations, delayed payments, and clawbacks.
- The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (S. 4641/H.R. 3954), which ensures that time spent under “observation status” in a hospital counts toward satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing care services under Medicare.
- The Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (S.4467/H.R. 7096), which expands the training of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) by allowing nursing facilities to resume their in-house CNA training programs that were suspended once quality standards are met.
“Engaging with members of Congress is one of the most important ways we can support our residents and staff,” said NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea. “While our members each bring a unique local perspective, we all come to Capitol Hill to advocate for high-quality care and a strong workforce to meet the increasing demand for assisted living and long term care.”
During the event, AHCA/NCAL will also recognize the 2026 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award recipients: Barry Carr, chairman and co-founder of Ignite Medical Resorts, and Randi Carr, chief of staff of Ignite Medical Resorts. Named in honor of the late Joe Warner, the former president and CEO of Illinois-based Heritage Enterprises and a tireless champion for long term and post-acute care, the award is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing quality care and patient-centered policies at the local, state, or national level.
Barry Carr co-founded Ignite in 2017 with the belief that serious rehabilitation and an exceptional resident experience are not mutually exclusive. Before Ignite, he spent years growing NuCare Services from roughly 1,000 to nearly 5,000 beds. Randi Carr serves as Ignite's chief of staff, and both bring a commitment to advocacy, engaging regularly with state and federal policymakers on behalf of their residents and patients. The Carrs met at the University of Michigan and are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year.
AHCA/NCAL’s Congressional Briefing runs through Tuesday, June 9, in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit
AHCA/NCAL’s website.