As President Obama prepares for the annual State of the Union address to Congress and the nation tomorrow, the long term and post-acute care profession wants its work to be a priority issue moving forward, noting progress being made in providing high-quality care for the elderly and frail and people with disabilities is under threat from cuts to Medicare and Medicaid spending.

For the second straight year, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released its own assessment of the LTPAC sector to coincide with the annual presidential report of the nation’s standing. The AHCA/NCAL report offers positive news on the steps being taken by providers to fulfill the mission of giving high-quality care, but warns future advances are not a certainty without adequate reimbursement.

“Our profession has made great strides, yet we are struggling to meet growing demand in the light of diminishing federal and state funding,” said Gov. Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer of AHCA/NCAL.

“We have improved in quality. Many of our facilities are hiring doctors and reducing hospital readmissions. We have improved in delivering a variety of health care options for seniors. That significant progress could all be put at risk if policymakers continue to avoid serious discussions centering on how we are reimbursed.”
 
The “State of Long Term and Post-Acute Care” details developments in the sector, ranging from improvement in quality measures, consistency with culture change, and the hiring of more doctors in facilities. In line with health care reform efforts, the goals of reducing hospital readmissions and improving patient and staff satisfaction are at the forefront.

AHCA/NCAL said LTPAC employs some 3.1 million Americans and contributes $529 billion in economic activity, adding another important reason for consistent and adequate reimbursement.

The state of LTPAC series features an interactive component that allows thousands of AHCA/NCAL member facilities to give voice to their thoughts on what the president should address in his speech. Members can do this by going online via Twitter using the #ltcstate handle or by posting a comment on the AHCA/NCAL Facebook wall. AHCA/NCAL also urged the public to share comments on YouTube by uploading a video clip and tagging it with the keyword “ltcstate.”