For Immediate Release                                                                                                               Contact: Rebecca Reid
January 28, 2016                                                                                                                                          410-212-3843

 

Texas Health Care Association PAC Lends Endorsements Ahead of Primaries in 2016 Election Year to State Legislators Supportive of Smart, Effective Long Term Care Policy

 

Skilled Nursing Providers Unite to Support Incumbent Legislators in Both Chambers

(Austin, TX) – The political action committee of the Texas Health Care Association (THCA), representing nearly 500 nursing home providers across the state, today announced its endorsement of ten incumbent state legislators well ahead of their March 1st primary elections, lending considerable political support from one of the state’s largest healthcare sectors.

“Long term care providers in the state of Texas have a vitally important role in caring for an ever increasing aging population with complex health conditions while facing ongoing challenges in securing a stable workforce,” said Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the THCA. “THCA member providers appreciate the legislative expertise and foundational knowledge these incumbent legislators bring to the health policy debate and we proudly endorse their re-elections to the state legislature.”

The state legislators endorsed by the THCAPAC in their upcoming primaries are:

Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-19, San Antonio
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.  D-27, Brownsville
Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-20, McAllen
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-121, San Antonio
Rep. Travis Clardy, R-11, Nacogdoches
Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-59, Gatesville
Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-113, Sunnyvale
Rep. Jason Villalba, R-114, Dallas
Rep. Sarah Davis, R-134, West University Place
Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-147, Houston

Warren noted that In Texas, Medicaid pays for the care of more than two-thirds of Texas’ nursing home residents and the state Medicaid rate is among the lowest nationally.  The impact of providing care to a patient population largely dependent on both state and federal funding from the Medicaid and Medicare programs is a lack of flexibility most businesses need to compete with market demand for wages that will attract and retain quality employees. According to the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, the long term care industry in Texas employs over 169,000 direct employees, with approximately 56% being direct care staff. Nationally, more than one million additional direct-care workers will be needed by 2018.

“The majority of long term care providers in Texas strive to provide the latest long term care strategies that promote quality of life and positive health outcomes for our elderly,” said Warren. “We need strong leadership in our state legislature that recognizes the value of advancing policy that aids long term care providers in delivering compassionate, high quality care now and into the future as baby boomers enter the skilled nursing care setting. THCAPAC strongly endorses the candidacies of these sitting state legislators and applauds their proven leadership.”

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About THCA
Founded in 1950, the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) is the largest long-term care association in Texas. THCA’s membership is comprised of several hundred licensed non-profit and for-profit skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), specialized rehabilitation facilities and assisted living facilities in Texas. These facilities provide comprehensive, around-the-clock nursing care for chronically ill or short-term residents of all ages, along with rehabilitative and specialized medical programs. THCA also represents more than 190 long-term care businesses that provide products and services to the state’s approximately 2,850 nursing homes and assisted living facilities. To learn more, visit http://txhca.org/ or connect with THCA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.