Re-nomination of Tavenner to Lead CMS Praised by Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care

Tenure as Virginia Health Secretary Underscores Her Understanding of Medicare-Medicaid Interrelationship in Delivery of High Quality Long Term and Post Acute Care

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (AQNHC) today praised the Obama Administration's intent to re-nominate Marilyn Tavenner as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance, noted she developed invaluable experience working with skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers while serving as Virginia Health Secretary in addition to gaining critical knowledge of the interrelationship between Medicare and Medicaid in the delivery of high quality long term and post acute care.

"Marilyn Tavenner is an outstanding choice to lead CMS because of her well deserved reputation as a smart, competent administrator, and because she has a strong working knowledge of how Medicare and Medicaid funding adequacy are both integral to the ongoing ability of SNFs to provide high quality long term and post acute care to U.S. seniors," stated Rosenbloom. "We are pleased Senators Orrin Hatch and Chuck Grassley have both said a confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee is warranted, and that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has specifically endorsed her for this key post." 

The Alliance leader said it is critical to have a CMS Administrator who understands SNFs already play a key role in the post-acute care continuum, and poised to play a still greater role if the Administration, Congress and providers work collaboratively to better rationalize and improve the nation's Medicare post-acute payment system.

Noting the U.S. SNF sector faces $65.6 billion in cumulative Medicare funding reductions over the next ten years due to budget and regulatory changes put in place since 2009, Rosenbloom stated: "SNFs are a key part of the solution to Medicare cost containment. Further weakening America's second largest health facility employer with more Medicare cuts is counterproductive, illogical, and hurtful to the sector's ability to continue providing high quality long term and post acute care to America's growing population of seniors." 
 

SOURCE Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care

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