As Sebelius, Lew and Geithner Hit Capitol Hill Today, New Ad Reinforces Importance of America's Skilled Nursing and Rehab Facilities to U.S. Jobs, Economic Activity

Skilled Nursing Sector, Nation's 2nd Largest Health Facility Employer, Employs 1.7 Million and Generates Over $200 Billion Annually in Economic Activity

NY, CA, OH, TX, FL, PA Top List as Local Employers

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Jacob Lew and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visit Capitol Hill to brief key House and Senate budget panels on the Administration's FY 2012 fiscal blueprint, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care today began running a new ad (available at www.aqnhc.org) urging lawmakers to keep in mind that America's skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities employ 1.7 million Americans, generate over $200 billion annually in national economic activity, and that FY 2012 Medicare funding stability is essential to sustaining the sector's role as the nation's second largest health facility employer.

"Medicare funding adequacy in the final FY 2012 budget is not just central to our sector's ability to sustain seniors' access to quality care, but it is also fundamental to creating more good local jobs and a stronger economic recovery," said Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance. "Medicare is more than just a key national health program; it serves as a cornerstone of rural, suburban and urban economic vitality."  The ad will run in DC policy-focused publications this week and rotate into state capitols throughout February.

A new 50 state study related to the ad finds that in New York State, the skilled nursing sector generates $21.35 billion in annual economic activity, and employs 141,151 New Yorkers; in California, the sector generates $17.86 billion in economic activity and employs 117,090 Californians; in Ohio, the sector generates $13.13 billion in economic activity and employs 106,356 Ohioans; in Texas, the sector generates $12.73 billion in economic activity and employs 98,700 Texans; in Florida, the sector generates $11.63 billion in economic activity and employs 95,007 Floridians; in Pennsylvania the sector generates $11.76 billion in economic activity and employs 82,737 Pennsylvanians. Data from all 50 states is available at www.aqnhc.org.

SOURCE Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care