AHCA letter to Representives on HCR & Medicaid Funds for Nursing Homes...how you can send a copy

[Amerigo Vespucci]

I've been taking a daily 2-mile "stress walk" that leads me past the entrance to the Mission Rehabilitation & Subacute Center on Winchester in Santa Clara. They have a sign out front, "S.O.S., Save Our Seniors," on the subject of Medicare cuts.

I decided today that I would stop in, find out what specifically they are trying to accomplish, and that I would post the results here.

I spoke with Kathleen Glass, Administrator at the Center. I told her about Democratic Underground and said that I would post a thread on this subject, and would mail her the link...so she's reading what you're reading. Let's please welcome her as our guest. If you have comments or concerns for someone who is active at the heart of this issue, this would be the place to express them.

We discussed the "hot button issue" nature of healthcare reform, and that there are some who would strongly disagree with her stance on this issue and others who would strongly disagree. She's well aware of that...such is the nature of spirited discourse.

That said, Ms. Glass provided me with a link on the American Health Care Association's Website, in the Advocacy section, where you can generate a letter to send to your local elected officials by simply entering your zip code. Depending upon your local district, you may be asked to fill in your complete nine-digit zip:

http://www.capwiz.com/ahca/issues/alert/?alertid=14557691

This is what you will see after clicking the above link:

Contact House Democrats Today!

Ask Your Representative to Protect Supplemental Medicaid Funding

With negotiations underway on a final health care reform package, it is critical that you ask your Democrat Representative TODAY to support the supplemental Medicaid funding for nursing homes included in the House bill. The goal of this outreach is to ask House Democrats to contact their leadership and request that this provision be included in the final package. Please click here to take action now.

This is the letter that was generated from my zip code. The text in the body of the letter is fully editable if you wish:

Representative Michael M. Honda (D-CA 15th)

Subject: Please Support Supplemental Medicaid Funding for Nursing Homes

While I support health care reform, I am concerned about the impact the legislation will have on Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and their vulnerable patients, most of whom are seniors. Today I ask for your help on supporting appropriate Medicaid and Medicare funding.

Second, I ask for your help in ensuring that the House Medicaid provision, section 1745 which establishes the Medicaid Nursing Facility Supplemental Payment Program (NFSPP), that would provide access to $6 billion in funds for Medicaid nursing facility services over the next four years, be included in the final bill. It is critically important that you communicate your support for section 1745 of the House bill to Leadership as soon as possible.

Studies have shown that Medicaid underfunds the cost of skilled nursing care nationally by an estimated $4.76 billion or $14.17 per beneficiary, per day in 2009. It is important to note, that 67 percent of patients annually rely on Medicaid to pay for their care, stable Medicaid funding is crucial to ensure continued access to necessary 24-hour care.

As negotiations with the House and Senate move forward, it is important to remember that SNFs care for 1.5 million Americans each day, and employ 1.7 million people across the country. The House recognized this and has attempted to deliver relief to those who provide care for this venerable population. For these efforts I thank you, and ask that you continue to express your support for the inclusion of section 1745 in the final bill.

Finally, please ensure that the final agreement includes no more Medicare cuts beyond the $15.6 billion contemplated by the Senate.

I urge you to express your support to House Leadership to ensure that nursing homes have the appropriate resource to help continue providing the best care possible to our nation's seniors and disabled. I appreciate your consideration of my views, and I look forward to receiving your response.

The following letter from Ms. Glass was printed in the San Jose Mercury News, September 5, 2009 (no link, this was scanned from a printed copy she gave me):

Don't sacrifice care for seniors

The nation's nursing home industry supports health care reform. Unfortunately, the Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R.3200), flagrantly abandons the principal of fairness by proposing massive cuts in care for some of America's most vulnerable citizens, our seniors.

The Obama administration imposed $12 billion in cuts to Medicare funding for nursing homes. We took the high road and considered this our "contribution". Now they want more, $32 billion more. If the additional proposed cut is passed it will impact the resources needed to provide quality care to our seniors. According to the American Health Care Association 3.2 million seniors call skilled nursing facilities their home, and a staggering 80 percent of patients in nursing homes rely on Medicare or Medicaid to pay for their care. The impact to California seniors will be $176 million in the first year and $3.8 billion over 10 years. We urge people with loved ones in skilled nursing facilities to contact their representatives and fervently urge them to vote "NO" on the bill in its current form. We support Health Care Reform but not at the sacrifice to quality care for our seniors.

Kathleen Glass-Administrator

Mission Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

IF the AHCA is addressing an issue that you agree with, please consider sending a copy of the letter to your local Representative.

Thank you,

A.V.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. KICK for the nightshift...