U.S. Seniors' current, future well-being jeopardized by over a half billion dollars in Medicare cuts... Nursing facilities are disproportionately targeted in CHAMP Act Medicare Part A cuts   

WASHINGTON, July 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Responding to the effort

in the U.S. House of Representatives to slash seniors' Medicare funding by

more than $500 million, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) today

urged House Democrats to revise the so-called CHAMP Act -- in a way to

avoid dramatic and negative consequences to the current and future care

needs of America's most vulnerable seniors. 

AHCA explained that skilled nursing care is disproportionately targeted 

with the Medicare Part A cuts contained within this bill, and urged Congress

 to remove the damaging cuts that jeopardize the stability of funding for

 nursing home care.

"The effort by the House leadership and the Ways and Means Committee to

cut Medicare-funded long-term care disregards the current and future care

needs of America's most vulnerable seniors," stated Bruce Yarwood,

President and CEO of AHCA.

Yarwood challenged the assertion made in a news release issued today by

the House Ways and Means Committee that the Children's Health and Medicare

Protection Act of 2007 -- the CHAMP Act -- "provides for the health care

needs from the 'Greatest Generation' to the next generation."

"The claim that the 'Greatest Generation' is somehow helped by the

CHAMP Act is erroneous," the AHCA President and CEO continued. "When

Medicare funding for skilled nursing services is stable, quality of care

and services improves. When Medicare funding is inconsistent and unstable,

our nation's long term care infrastructure deteriorates -- to the detriment

of the 'Greatest Generation' as well as future retirees."

Yarwood said care costs are rising in the long-term care sector just

like they are elsewhere in the economy, and said the hundreds of millions

dollars in Medicare cuts may jeopardize the long-term care profession's

successful, ongoing drive to improve quality care standards. "Given the

dramatic cost increases we face in key areas including labor, energy,

liability and capital, the House leadership's plan to cut Medicare by more

than $500 million is illogical -- especially as these cost increases stem

from factors largely beyond providers' control."

AHCA supports the passage of a Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)

bill, which meets the needs of our nation's children. Yet doing so with

Medicare provider cuts is a choice that Congress does not have to make.