THCA Releases Short Video to Educate Legislators About Enormous Dangers of Proposed Medicaid Cuts to TX Nursing Homes for Seniors, Jobs

Video of Real Patients, Family Members, Caregivers Discusses Concerns About Proposed Cuts

AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Health Care Association today released a video to educate Texas lawmakers and public about the value of nursing homes for Texas seniors, taxpayers and jobs, and the potential consequences should the legislature pass drastic proposed funding cuts. The video, aptly titled "Save Texas Nursing Homes," features patients, caregivers, physicians and family members in an effort to sound the alarm, but also tell the true story about the value of nursing home care in Texas.

The video warns that the originally proposed 33 percent reduction, or $1.4 billion, to Medicaid-funded nursing and rehab care would cause rampant facility closures, lead to widespread displacement of fragile nursing home residents, and send skilled frontline health care workers to unemployment lines in local communities. The video depicts Texas' U.S. ranking as 49th in Medicaid funding for seniors and the disabled, then begs the question, "Can we afford to be 50th?"

According to real patients, family members, caregivers and a doctor featured the answer is "no."

"This video sheds light on the reality that additional cuts to Medicaid will force facilities to across the state to close their doors – leaving our frail, elderly and disabled with nowhere to go and our valued caregivers jobless," said Tim Graves, President of THCA.

In the video, Michael Romain, M.D., explains the unintended long-term consequences if proposed cuts to nursing home care occur. "While these cuts may save money on the front end, on the back end, people will get sicker and it will overrun the hospital with acutely ill people, who will also have fewer options outside of the hospital setting, which is a far greater cost to Texas."

As Texans age, many across the state struggle with the inability to care for loved ones at home. One such individual, the husband of a local nursing home patient, relays his own story. In it, he explains that when his wife fell and was injured, he realized she needed 24-hour care, which he was unable to provide.

The threat to caregiver jobs across the state is also very real, as a nursing assistant explains in the video. Cuts will affect people's lives because "we have lots of employees getting their hours cut or who are pretty much being laid off."

"Save Texas Nursing Homes" was originally shared with members of the nursing home community throughout Texas, but the video is now being used as an online educational tool. View the video at: http://www.savetxseniorcare.com/.

Founded in 1950, the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) is the largest long term care association in Texas. THCA represents a broad spectrum of long-term care providers and professionals offering long term, rehabilitative and specialized health care services. Member facilities, owned by both for-profit and non-profit entities, include nursing facilities, specialized rehabilitation facilities, and assisted living facilities. Follow us on twitter: @TXHCA.

SOURCE Texas Health Care Association