The presidential debates have included a variety of important social issues, but few have been argued as much as healthcare. On Monday, before the last presidential debate, LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix made it clear whom he thought long-term care providers need to vote for. [1]
“The race is very much paying attention to our issues,” Minnix said to a media gathering at his group’s annual meeting Monday at the Denver Convention Center. “Obama’s agenda is continuing forward with the Affordable Care Act. Our organization supports the ACA. The early signs are it is making a difference” with things such as community–based care, housing services and PACE programs.
A Romney presidency “would mean more dramatic [funding] cuts downstream,” Minnix added. “Most nursing homes are not reimbursed adequately now. What [the Republican platform has] put out we can’t fathom.What we’ve seen so far of the numbers, [their] things are worse. The ACA might not be perfect, but we’ve seen some things we like.”
Regardless of who is elected president in November, Long-term care funding won’t be sufficient going forward. Minnix emphasized: “You can’t throw enough money at the current system to make it work. We believe our only way out is innovation. We support that.”
[1] Nursing home chief: An Obama victory would be better. McKnight’s Long Term Care News. Web. 1- 23 2012.
