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New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging

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Legacdy Doc ID# 14401501

NEWS RELEASE

For Release:  IMMEDIATE  January 11, 2005	Contact: Daniel Curran, NYAHSA (518) 449-2707, ext. 124
	Contact: Robert Murphy, NYSHFA (518) 462-4800

  “Overhaul Nursing Home Reimbursement System Now!”
Long Term Care Reps Tell Senate HCRA Panel

(ALBANY, NY) – New York must overhaul its nursing home reimbursement system now before more nursing homes close in New York state, said representatives of New York’s two leading long term care provider associations.

In joint testimony presented today during a hearing on reauthorization of New York’s Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) conducted by the New York state Senate’s Health and Insurance Committees, representatives of the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) and the New York State Health Facilities Association (NYSHFA) called for immediate action.

“New Yorkers’ access to long term care is in serious jeopardy,” said Carl S. Young, president of NYAHSA.  “Since January 2003, Medicaid under-payments have caused the closure of 13 nursing homes and 70 percent of those left receive payments below the actual cost of providing care. Nearly everyone agrees that New York’s Medicaid system, based on over 20-year-old costs and outdated formulas, must be reformed.”

"Recognizing the inadequacy of the existing nursing home Medicaid reimbursement system, all statewide nursing home associations joined together in February of 2004 to propose a comprehensive overhaul of the system," stated Robert Murphy, executive vice-president of governmental affairs for NYSHFA.  "Until policy makers, advocates, payors and health care providers take a hard look at necessary fundamental changes to the system, New Yorkers and their families who deserve good care will continue to experience access problems in pursuit of needed services.  The joint association Task Force is expected to release its recommendations in the very near future."

Copies of the hearing testimony are available from www.nyahsa.org.

Founded in 1961, the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging is the only statewide organization representing the entire continuum of not-for-profit, mission-driven and public continuing care, including nursing homes, senior housing, adult care facilities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living providers, and community service providers.  NYAHSA’s more than 650 members serve an estimated 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages annually.

The New York State Health Facilities Association (NYSHFA) is a statewide membership organization of approximately 250 licensed nursing facilities. The membership includes individual and multi-facility operations of proprietary, voluntary and government sponsorship. NYSHFA members, who care for nearly 45,000 New Yorkers, are dedicated to the highest standards of care and to the quality of life of their residents.