AHCA/NCAL Commends US Senate For Expanding SCHIP, USA

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 24 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT


Reacting to the Senate Finance Committee's 17-4 vote in favor of expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) was pleased that the Senate chose to pay for this important program primarily by increasing the federal cigarette tax rather than cutting critical Medicare and Medicaid funding for care of frail, elderly, and disabled Americans.

"We commend Senate Finance Committee leadership-Chair Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT)-who authored the expansion of the nation's SCHIP program. We also applaud the members of both parties who voted to raise tobacco taxes in order to forego potential cuts to key seniors' health programs," said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Bruce Yarwood. "America's children and seniors represent some of our nation's most vulnerable citizens. We simply could not imagine the alternative of possibly cutting Medicare funding for frail, elderly, and disabled Americans. We now urge the full Senate and ultimately the U.S. House of Representatives and the President to follow the Committee's wise course of action."

"As we move toward a Senate vote and then to the House of Representatives, AHCA/NCAL will continue to make the strong case that stable Medicare and Medicaid funding for long term care is critical to the quality of care and quality of life that America's seniors need and deserve," Yarwood concluded.

The American Health Care Association represents 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.

American Health Care Association.

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