New Ad Campaign in Arizona Urges "Care Not Cuts"

 – Long term, post-acute care sector launches fall media effort to help preserve, protect, defend seniors' access to quality skilled nursing and rehabilitative care in Arizona –

PHOENIX, Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The long term and post-acute care profession is uniting to launch a nationwide informational campaign, "Care Not Cuts," and is running its first ad in the state of Arizona beginning today.  As Congress begins to examine ways to reduce the federal deficit, the American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (Alliance) have partnered with the state affiliate, the Arizona Health Care Association (AHCA) to ensure federal lawmakers understand the vital need to preserve, protect and defend U.S. seniors' access to quality skilled nursing and rehabilitative care.

"Already coping with billions of dollars in reductions from health care reform, federal regulations and a State Medicaid crisis, our facilities are feeling the impact," said Kathleen Collins Pagels, Executive Director of AHCA. "This campaign raises awareness among Arizona's Congressional delegation that we cannot sustain any more cuts, and who better to deliver this message than the dedicated caregivers who serve our seniors every single day?"

Continuing through September 7, the first TV spot of the multi-month campaign, "Nurses," features frontline caregivers. The text of the spot is as follows:

I work as a rehabilitation nurse.  I love what I do.

In the last five years, nursing homes have absorbed billions in Medicare and Medicaid cuts.

Even so, we've maintained high quality care.  

Now, there's talk of more, deeper cuts.  I understand the need for sacrifice.

We've given our fair share, and more.

But as a nurse who cares for her patients, I can tell you another round of deep cuts that target nursing homes simply goes too far.

In Arizona, other caregivers are sharing similar concerns about the impact additional cuts would have on the residents they care for each day.

"Working in a nursing home is not just a job; it's a calling," said Barbara Harrison, LPN, of Choice Rehab Care in Sun City West. "It's so rewarding to interact with my residents and make certain I'm helping them enjoy a good quality of life every day. However, I am deeply concerned that additional cuts to nursing homes may make it difficult for me to do this job that I love. These residents become like family, and I want to help protect and care for them."

Collins Pagels said the informational campaign will proceed throughout the remainder of 2011 to draw attention to the fact local nursing homes and assisted living facilities are a critical part of the health care continuum, offering high-quality patient care and rehabilitation in a cost-effective manner. Long term and post-acute care facilities serve as a cornerstone of local communities' employment base – reliably providing more than 10,500 jobs in Arizona.

To view "Nurses," please visit www.carenotcuts.org.

About the Arizona Health Care Association
The Arizona Health Care Association (AHCA) is a professional association of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and businesses representing the long term care profession. AHCA member facilities care for more than 10,000 of Arizona's elderly citizens. AHCA strives to enhance the ability of its member facilities to provide outstanding quality and compassionate care to meet the ever-changing health care needs of Arizona's elderly and disabled citizens.

SOURCE Arizona Health Care Association