"The Senior Care Resource Network"
(In case you missed this last week.)
As Senate Approaches Vote on Federal Medicaid Relief (FMAP), Long Term Care Leaders Release New National Poll Finding Voters Strongly Favor Relief Bill Passage, Oppose More |
Washington, DC – At a Capitol Hill briefing today the American Health Care Association (AHCA) released a new national survey from The Mellman Group (D) (1000 LVs,
5/13-17, +/- 3.1%) finding Americans, by significant margins, strongly support
passage of federal Medicaid relief and vehemently oppose any additional state
Medicaid cuts. The new survey findings further punctuate the impact of Medicaid
cuts enacted in state capitols across the nation on elderly and disabled
constituents – and the threat of more to come as Governors face ongoing budget
crises.
Pollster Mark Mellman presented the poll’s findings on Medicaid issues as well as the extent to which
voters oppose additional federal Medicare cuts, the implications to lawmakers
in supporting additional funding cuts, and other issues related to funding U.S.
seniors’ long term care today, and in the years ahead.
Voters were found to oppose cuts to nursing facility care on both the national
and state levels. Approximately three-quarters of likely voters oppose cuts to
Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes by their state legislators, even
if cuts were used to offset growing state budget deficits. Only a small
fraction of voters – 15% – actually favored state Medicaid cuts to nursing
facility care.
In regard to federal assistance for state Medicaid funding, the survey found that voters oppose
cutting funding to nursing homes so strongly that 62% of voters favored
additional federal funding for Medicaid.Results found that voters support the
use of federal funding to prevent additional cuts at the state level.
The results of the poll also found that voters, in addition to opposing cuts to funding in nursing home
care, claim they will vote against elected officials who support additional
cuts. In fact, voters say they are more likely to vote against a state legislator
who supports Medicaid cuts to nursing homes by a margin of 64% to 11%, with 45%
indicating they are much more likely to oppose the candidate.
In releasing this new data, Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA warned, “It is urgent and abundantly
clear that Congress must immediately pass the extension of emergency Medicaid
relief. Adequate state Medicaid funding is directly linked with high quality
care and local caregiver job stability. Every day Congress waits, seniors’ care
is placed in growing jeopardy, facility staffing stability is being
compromised, and good, local health jobs are being put at risk. Seniors deserve
help, Governors are desperate for relief, and voters are demanding action.”
Added Yarwood, “AHCA and our state affiliates intend to hold Congress accountable. Aggressive advocacy
efforts both nationally and locally are now underway to ensure the extension of
emergency Medicaid relief is passed in an expeditious manner. America’s seniors
can no longer wait for Congress to act.”
As the nation’s largest association of long term and post-acute care providers, the American Health
Care Association (AHCA) advocates for quality care and services for frail,
elderly and disabled Americans. Compassionate and caring employees provide essential
care to one million individuals in our 11,000 not-for-profit and proprietary
member facilities.
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