Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Become an Advocate for Long Term Care

Sign Up for FHCA's Lobby Wednesdays 2013

Legislators are in Tallahassee this week for their first round of committee meetings in anticipation of the 2013 legislative session, which begins March 5, 2013. Once again, FHCA is looking for long term care advocates to help bring our messages to the Capitol about the importance of preserving Medicaid funding to ensure continued delivery of high-quality care for Florida's most frail elders. FHCA members can do their part by signing up to participate in the Association's Lobby Wednesdays. This important grassroots initiative is your opportunity to connect with lawmakers in the State Capitol during session and stand up for your profession, your staff and your residents.

A limited number of dates are available for Lobby Wednesdays 2013, which begin March 7 (Thursday) and will run through April 17. Consider signing up yourself, your company or your FHCA district; bring your front line caregivers, family members and residents; and help us exceed last year's Lobby Wednesday participation of more than 500 long term care advocates. FHCA has once again selected the Aloft Hotel in downtown Tallahassee for convenient access to the Association headquarters and the Capitol, and as a member benefit, the Association will reimburse members' room night for the prior evening. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the Lobby Wednesday experience, please take time to watch our video and learn more about how you can get involved today.



For more information, including dates and online registration, click here.

Monday, December 3, 2012

New National Poll Finds Americans Don’t Want a Fiscal Cliff Deal that Cuts Nursing Homes

84% believe skilled nursing faces a ‘crisis’ due to cuts
87% believe sequester should not move forward  

A new survey released today by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) found that Americans overwhelmingly oppose budget cuts such as sequestration to fund any fiscal cliff grand bargain. Further, a plurality of registered voters surveyed (46 percent) said not only should the government not impose further cuts, but that lawmakers should provide additional funds to care for the aging baby boomer generation.

“When it comes to skilled nursing centers and the care millions of Americans receive every year, the people have spoken - fiscal cliff negotiations should not include further cuts to seniors," said Governor Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA. “We hope lawmakers heed these views that are important to their constituents. In fact, more, not less, funding should be the goal of policymakers as boomers continue to age. "

Conducted by New York-based polling house Opinion Access, the national survey of 806 registered voters (+/-3.4%) was fielded November 16-19. When given options on the least acceptable ways to cut the national deficit, a plurality of respondents (37 percent) said “cutting Medicare payments to nursing homes.”

When respondents were asked if a statement indicating inadequate funding to skilled nursing could increase financial hardships to the point where some facilities could close, 61 percent said they would be more likely to support increased funding for care.

View the summary and full poll on the AHCA website.