Advocates in Action — We Need You!
– Raul Espinosa, Jr., THCA Region 3 Chair
The long term care industry is met with tremendous challenges daily. Beyond providing for the residents’ wellbeing, we face the additional responsibility of educating and helping the families understand how a nursing facility operates on a daily basis.
These daily challenges are further complicated by managed care organizations and limited funding for Medicaid residents. The great State of Texas is ranked 2nd lowest in the nation for reimbursements for Medicaid residents. When this is explained to family members, they are often shocked to learn that Texas ranks so low. Managed care organizations often restrict the benefits that they allow for their members, which further decreases operating revenue.
Wages for our nurse aides and other departmental staff are often below wages for fast food restaurants, making it difficult to hire and retain quality staff. Capital Improvements for long term care facilities are not even budgeted, we are budgeted only to maintain the facilities and keep them operational.
At the current time, there is new legislation, The Nursing Facility Reinvestment Allowance (NFRA), which if passed; will be a solution for Long Term Care Facilities in the State of Texas. This will provide much needed funding and relief for the long term care. It is vital that we as Health Care providers continue to contact our State Legislators and request that they support NFRA. The additional funding from the passage of the NFRA will make a significant impact on our ability to care for our elderly residents. Please click on the below links for Instructions and Sample Letters.
Three Step ADMINISTRATOR Instructions
Sample Letters from STAFF
Sample Letters from RESIDENT FAMILY MEMBERS
Sample Letters from VENDORS
Mark Your Calendar with these upcoming Region Meetings:
THCA Region 3 (San Antonio and surrounding): May 25th, 5:30 PM, San Antonio, TX
Members in this region generally meet the fourth Thursday of each month, however with the infamous “Fiesta San Antonio” celebrations held in April and with many facilities hosting their own “Fiesta” events for their residents, they will not meet this month. Meeting notices with RSVP information will be disseminated next month. If you are not currently receiving meeting notices for this region and would like to, please e-mail your request to THCA Region 3 Chair, Raul Espinosa, Jr. at: respinosa@swltc.com
Region 3 Chair: Raul Espinosa, Jr. respinosa@swltc.com
THCA Region 4 (Northeast Texas & surrounding): April 18th, 11:00 AM, Longview, TX
Meeting specifics with RSVP info will be distributed to those currently on the Region 4 meeting distribution list. Confirm you’re on the current distribution for this group by emailing your name, company or facility, and your current company e-mail address to Julie Wyatt at jwyatt@swltc.com
Region 4 Chair: Julie Wyatt, jwyatt@swltc.com
THCA Regions 8 & 9 (Dallas/Ft. Worth & surrounding): May 4, 2017, 11:00 AM, Arlington, TX
Meeting specifics with RSVP info will be distributed to those currently on the Regions 8&9 meeting distribution list. Confirm you’re on the current distribution for this group by emailing our meeting coordinator, Toni Felts at toni.felts@schryvermedical.com. Be sure to include your name, company or facility and your current company e-mail address to ensure you continue/begin to receive meeting notice & reminders.
Region 8 Chair: Jodi Scarbro jodi.scarbro@healthmarkgroup.com
Region 9 Chair: Jim Culp james.culp@genesishcc.com
Questions? Contact your Region Chair or THCA staff Gina Muniz at gmuniz@txhca.org.