Today is day 92 of the 105-day legislative session. With less than two weeks remaining, focus is on reconciling the House and Senate operating budget proposals that will drive state spending from July 1, 2023-June 30, 2025, and on finalizing legislative budget proposals that continue to move through the legislative process.
The Senate and House budgets both make a significant investment in skilled nursing, assisted living, and enhanced services Medicaid funding. We’ve previously provided this budget comparison.
In summary:
- Skilled Nursing Facilities: The Senate budget has the best option for Medicaid rates and rate methodology. We’d like to see this proposal adopted, with added policy language from the House budget related to wage equity funding.
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Assisted Living and Enhanced Services Facilities: The House budget has the best option in terms of funding and policy language for both settings. Here are WHCA’s priorities in each budget.
I have communicated with legislative budget writers and legislative leaders about these priorities and will continue to reach out as opportunities arise. Jeff Gombosky is on the hill every day communicating about WHCA priorities for the operating budget, and our government relations team is working directly with our members to ensure that all legislators understand these priorities.
What can you do?
We are asking our members to engage in focused advocacy that includes direct calls to legislator offices, personal email messages, and engaging other community members in supporting funding for our most vulnerable populations relying on Medicaid care and services.
Special thanks to leaders at Caring Places Management, Senior Services of America, Avamere, Life Care Services of America, and Caldera for organizing teams for a quick legislative update and briefing. Please email Eric Negomir if you’d like to schedule time with your team THIS WEEK.
Thanks to those of you who have made it a priority to call and email your legislators. If you haven’t yet weighed in on budget priorities, please do so today using these links to our online messaging system:
Thank you for your support. We understand this is a critical time for our sector, and we appreciate a strong commitment to advance these priorities.
Policy Round-Up
Here’s the latest report on policy bills we are working on this session.
Where do we go from here?
Our work does not stop with the end of the legislative session. We know there will be growing demand for quality care and services that will not be met at home or in the hospital, and we appreciate your partnership in this work. We are already at work on our plan to continue to shine a light on your important work. I hope to see you at the WHCA Annual Convention, May 22-24, in Tacoma. We will have much to report on our legislative and policy efforts.
