LeadingAge PA commends General Assembly for critical investments in long-term care to assist in addressing ongoing pandemic needs

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (June 26, 2021) - LeadingAge PA, an association representing more than 370 providers of services for seniors, today issued the following statement from president and CEO Adam Marles on the 2021-22 spending plan approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly:

"The pandemic is far from over for long-term care facilities, which remain in daily battle with a virus that disproportionately targets our oldest citizens. Unfortunately, the Wolf administration proposed flat funding of Medicaid at the worst possible time, as long-term care faced a once-in-a-century pandemic. We're thankful to legislative leaders and all lawmakers who fought to provide $282 million in funding to assist nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and personal care homes. This desperately needed funding will help pay for personal protective equipment (PPE), ongoing testing, and other pandemic-related costs. This has to be just the first step. Funding deficits after years of stagnant Medicaid funding remain an ongoing threat to quality senior care in Pennsylvania. This year alone, several facilities have closed or have been sold by their high-quality organizations to out-of-state corporations, including Charles Morris Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh; St. Mary's East in Erie; Westminster Village in Allentown; Twining Village in Berks County; and the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life, Abramson Senior Care campus, in Montgomery County."

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About LeadingAge PA:

LeadingAge PA is a trade association representing more than 380 quality senior housing, health care, and community services across the commonwealth. These providers serve more than 75,000 older Pennsylvanians and employ over 50,000 dedicated caregivers on a daily basis. Services our members offer include Life Plan Communities/Continuing Care Retirement Communities, skilled nursing communities, assisted living residences, personal care homes, and affordable senior housing. LeadingAge PA advocates on behalf of our members at the state and local levels to influence positive change and affect a healthy vision for the delivery of quality, affordable, and ethical care for Pennsylvania's seniors. For more information about LeadingAge PA and our envisioned future of senior services, visit www.leadingagepa.org. 

La Torre Communications for LeadingAge PA
David La Torre
david@latorrecommunications.com