U.S. Seniors' Current, Future Well-Being Jeopardized By Over A Half Billion Dollars In Medicare Cuts

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Caregivers / Homecare;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 29 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Responding to the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to slash seniors' Medicare funding by more than $500 million, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) urged House Democrats to revise the so-called CHAMP Act - in a way to avoid dramatic and negative consequences to the current and future care needs of America's most vulnerable seniors. AHCA explained that skilled nursing care is disproportionately targeted with the Medicare Part A cuts contained within this bill, and urged Congress to remove the damaging cuts that jeopardize the stability of funding for nursing home care.

"The effort by the House leadership and the Ways and Means Committee to cut Medicare-funded long term care disregards the current and future care needs of America's most vulnerable seniors," stated Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA.

Yarwood challenged the assertion made in a news release issued by the House Ways and Means Committee that the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 - the CHAMP Act - "provides for the health care needs from the 'Greatest Generation' to the next generation."

"The claim that the 'Greatest Generation' is somehow helped by the CHAMP Act is erroneous," the AHCA President and CEO continued. "When Medicare funding for skilled nursing services is stable, quality of care and services improves. When Medicare funding is inconsistent and unstable, our nation's long term care infrastructure deteriorates - to the detriment of the 'Greatest Generation' as well as future retirees."

Yarwood said care costs are rising in the long term care sector just like they are elsewhere in the economy, and said the hundreds of millions dollars in Medicare cuts may jeopardize the long term care profession's successful, ongoing drive to improve quality care standards. "Given the dramatic cost increases we face in key areas including labor, energy, liability and capital, the House leadership's plan to cut Medicare by more than $500 million is illogical - especially as these cost increases stem from factors largely beyond providers' control."

AHCA supports the passage of a Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) bill, which meets the needs of our nation's children. Yet doing so with Medicare provider cuts is a choice that Congress does not have to make.

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.

http://www.ahca.org

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