Ask Congress to Stop Proposals that Further Cut Nursing Home Care

FHCA joins the American Health Care Association in its support of health care reform. Yet, proposals in Congress would cut Medicare funding for residents in nursing homes nationwide by more than $32 billion. These cuts add to $12 billion in cuts imposed when the Administration finalized a rule affecting nursing home care on July 31, 2009. Together, cuts of this magnitude are simply unsustainable.

Since labor represents 70% of nursing home operating costs, we worry that such deep cuts would affect jobs - forcing layoffs, lowering salaries, or reducing benefits - and ultimately, hurting residents' quality of care. Congress must stop proposals that further cut nursing home care and reconsider how the existing $12 bllion in cuts, combinded with the state Medicaid funding shortfall that will occur when federal stimulus dollars run out, will negatively impact seniors' care.

FHCA, together with the American Health Care Association, are calling on Congress to ensure that total funding for nursing home care remains adequate to preserve quality care for America's seniors and protects caregiver jobs. Please join us in this advocacy campaign by clicking on this link for resource materials you can use to better educate Congress about these cuts as we campaign to Save our Seniors today.

How You Can Help:

• Call or e-mail your U.S. Senator and Representative today!
• Attend a Town Hall Meeting or set up a meeting in your local district with your U.S. Senator, Representative or a member of their staff.
• Invite your U.S. Senator or Representative into your facility.