AQNHC: Tavenner Confirmation at CMS Beneficial to Nation's Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Patients

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In urging strong bipartisan support for confirming Acting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner when she appears before the Senate Finance Committee tomorrow, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (AQNHC) said Tavenner would be highly beneficial for the nation's skilled nursing facility (SNF) patients due to her strong understanding of the inter-relationship between Medicare and Medicaid in the delivery of long term and post acute care.

"Marilyn Tavenner is a very highly qualified CMS nominee whose expertise, professional background, temperament and proven ability to work with both sides of the aisle has already been recognized, and we urge the Senate Finance Committee to support her confirmation on a strong bipartisan basis," stated Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care.

Continued Rosenbloom: "Among the U.S. SNF sector's most significant ongoing challenges is to ensure Congress and the Administration better understand the deepening, dangerous interrelationship between Medicare and Medicaid in the delivery of long term and post-acute care – and Marilyn Tavenner understands as well as anyone how stable Medicare funding helps facilities and staff weather declining state Medicaid rates." The Alliance leader also noted Tavenner developed invaluable experience working with SNF providers while serving as Virginia Health Secretary.

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 – at the same time 40 states have either cut or frozen state Medicaid rates -- Rosenbloom concluded: "SNFs are a key part of the solution to Medicare cost containment, and 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."

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SOURCE The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care