THCA Launches Statewide Radio Ad Urging Legislature to Fund Texas Seniors' Nursing Home Care at Level HHSC Says Needed

"So Far, Texas Legislature's Budget Doesn't Come Close"

AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following on the heels of a new Baselice & Associates poll finding strong, across-the-board support among all voters to "fully fund Medicaid for low income seniors in nursing homes at the levels the state itself says is needed to meet the cost of providing this care," the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) launched a new statewide radio campaign urging the Texas Legislature to do so.

"So far, the Texas Legislature has not come close to adequately addressing this important budget priority," said Tim Graves, President of THCA. Graves pointed out the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) estimates Medicaid spending in the 2014-2015 Biennium will require an additional $925 million ($372 million in GR funding) just to meet today's cost of caring for the nearly 60,000 Medicaid-dependent elderly and disabled Texans living in nursing homes.

This unfairly forces facilities themselves to pick up the tab for nearly $1 billion as facilities struggle with a worsening budget squeeze – including new $51 billion Medicare cuts now in effect as a result of the federal "sequester," and $58 million state Medicaid cuts in 2011. 

The new poll, conducted for THCA, finds that 78% of Texans support funding Medicaid nursing home care at the level state officials say is needed, and that 72% of Republicans, 82% of Independents and 83% of Democrats concur.

"State government should do what itself says is necessary and adjust for the first time since 1999 the Medicaid funding required to preserve and protect quality care for Texas' most vulnerable seniors," he concluded. "We will press this message locally and confident legislators will ensure the well being of their oldest, most vulnerable constituents is the priority it deserves to be."

The text of the statewide 60 sec radio spot is as follows:

This is a special alert from Austin about severe Medicaid and Medicare cuts jeopardizing Texas seniors' nursing home care.

State health officials estimate nearly a billion dollars is needed over the next two years to protect the quality nursing home care our oldest, neediest seniors rely on.

But so far, the Texas Legislature's proposed budget doesn't come close.

That means facilities – already hit by deep Medicaid and Medicare cuts -- are forced to shoulder a billion dollar burden — threatening quality, jobs, even closures.

That's an additional billion state health officials say Texas should pay to ensure our parents and grandparents maintain the quality of life they've earned.

It's just common sense and the right thing to do: seniors' nursing home care should be funded at the level state officials say is needed.

To learn more about this key seniors' issue, and to take action, please visit www.txhca.org

This legislative advertising paid for by the Texas Health Care Association, P.O. Box 4554, Austin, TX

SOURCE Texas Health Care Association