PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-417-5382

Seven Texas long term care facilities win national award

Despite challenges Texas nursing homes recognized for improving quality of

 

(AUSTIN) — Seven Texas nursing homes earned national honors today for improving their quality of care, joining just 166 nursing homes in the nation to earn the 2018 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award from the American Health Care Association.

The long term care facilities are:

• Cross Timbers Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Flower Mound
• Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin
• Ridgecrest Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Forney
• The Plaza at Mirador in Corpus Christi
• The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth
• Village Creek Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Lumberton
• Terrell Healthcare Center in Terrell

The 2018 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes providers across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care in long term and post-acute care.

“The staff and administrators at these seven Texas nursing homes should be very proud of this achievement,” said Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “Despite the funding challenges the industry faces, your good work is making life better for so many people.”

Based on the core values and criteria of the nationally recognized Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, the Association’s Quality Award program challenges member providers to achieve performance excellence through three progressive levels—Bronze, Silver and Gold. Members at the Silver award level develop and demonstrate effective approaches that help improve performance and quality outcomes.

This year’s Silver recipients can now advance in developing approaches that meet the criteria required for the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. On May 31, the Association announced the honorees of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award. A full list of Silver and Bronze recipients is available on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award website here. Gold award recipients will be announced later this summer.

The program is sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: First Quality, NRC Health, and Team TSI Corporation. The awards will be presented to recipients during AHCA/NCAL’s 69th Annual Convention & Expo in San Diego, California, October 7-10, 2018.

 

 

# # #

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 nonprofit 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

 

Conctact: Jim Suydam, 512-417-5382

 

Statement from Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association, regarding WFAA Investigates coverage of QIPP and Dallas County nursing homes

WFAA’s News 8 Investigates Omits Key Facts

“Texas nursing homes receiving supplemental Medicaid funding through the state’s Quality Incentive Payment Program (QIPP) have improved across all four key metrics measured by the program.

That important fact seems to have been missed — or omitted — in WFAA News 8 Investigates’ recent story regarding little improvement in Dallas area nursing homes.

Contrary to what the story suggests, the investment of additional federal money into long term care through the QIPP program has demonstrated improvements in the lives of frail and elderly Texans.

We can see this clearly by looking at the four quality metrics the QIPP payments are incentivized to improve: falls, pressure ulcers, residents on antipsychotic medications and residents requiring physical restraints.

In just the first six months of QIPP, nursing homes participating realized improvements across all four of those key quality measures. Overall, nursing homes receiving QIPP-enhanced reimbursements are now performing better than established benchmark national averages in all four measures.

• By the end of the second quarter, the average Texas QIPP participant metric score had a 33 percent relative improvement from the program’s baseline.
• The number of high-risk, long stay residents with pressure ulcers dropped 12 percent.
• Residents on antipsychotic medication declined by 25 percent.
• Residents suffering major injuries from falls decreased by 12 percent

A full 80 percent of nursing homes participating in QIPP met the state’s goal of improving by 10 percent from their baseline, or by having a quality measure score better than the national average benchmark.

None of these facts, generated from state data available to the reporters, were included in their story on QIPP.

Instead of reporting on the improvements made in the four QIPP quality metrics, the story reported on a supposed relationship between the QIPP program and the federal 5-Star ratings calculations, whose basic formulations were just changed in 2017, most notably in inspection results and staffing calculations.

That comparison is either disingenuous or uninformed.
The federal five star rating system draws from a variety of data sources including state health inspections of facilities, CMS’ Payroll-Based Journal System, the federal Minimum Data Set national data base, and Medicare claims data.

QIPP’s improvements and payments are based upon four publicly reported measures. These four measures are a part of 16 5-star quality metrics, which are included in the over 20 data points used to calculate the federal five-star rating system.

Even if a facility experiences improvement in the metrics the are linked to QIPP, it may not show improvement in its star rating unless there is a preponderance of improvement in the areas on which the star ratings are based.

Of note, in April 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revised how it determines the staffing composite score. As a result, several facilities experienced a drop in their star rating despite providing the same level of care prior to the change. In addition, because of the new inspection process implemented by CMS in November 2017, the findings from the new inspections won’t be used to calculate each nursing home’s star rating. According to the CMS website, “ratings will be calculated using results from surveys that occurred before November 28, 2017. Therefore, the ratings may not reflect the most recent assessment of compliance and quality that exists in a given facility.

These changes in the 5-star calculations result in fundamentally different calculations than the old measures and comparisons between the two are not meaningful.

It is important that the efforts to improve the quality of long term care in Texas continue to expand and it is recognized there is still much work to be done and I appreciate WFAA’s recent interest in seeing continued improvement. I hope, however, they will see that there is a bigger story here: Texas nursing homes are chronically underfunded by one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the nation.

While there are successes associated with QIPP, it falls well short of addressing the challenges that Texas nursing homes face due to the program’s limited funding and limits on participation.”

###

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 nonprofit 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.

###

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-542-9955

35 Texas long term care facilities win national award

THCA member operators improve quality of care despite chronic state underfunding

 

(AUSTIN) — Thirty-five Texas nursing homes earned national honors today for improving their quality of care — despite a statewide staffing crisis that’s left facility managers scrambling to staff shifts.

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living awarded the 2018 Bronze – Commitment to Quality award to nursing homes that achieved the first of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. This program, which began in 1996, honors long term and post-acute care providers across the nation. A total of 521 bronze awards were awarded nationwide.

“Texas should be proud. Despite one of the lowest state reimbursement rates in the nation and a staffing crisis that has managers scrambling to cover shifts every day, Texas nursing homes are making valiant efforts to improve,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “Texas brought home more awards than California. We were second only to Florida. This is proof that long term care staff in Texas are worth our investment.”

The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which is the foundation of the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance goals.

The award program has three levels: bronze, silver and gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with fundamental performance elements such as vision and mission statements and key strengths and challenges. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. Trained examiners review each application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. A full list of the recipients is available on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards website here.

AHCA/NCAL will announce the 2018 Silver — Achievement in Quality and Gold — Excellence in Quality award recipients in the coming months. The National Quality Award Program is sponsored by AHCA/NCAL associate business members: First Quality, NRC Health and Team TSI Corporation. Recipient organizations will be honored during AHCA/NCAL’s 69th Annual Convention and Exposition, October 7-10, 2018, in San Diego, Calif.

A complete list of this year’s Texas recipients of the 2018 Bronze — Commitment to Quality award is below.

Sunrise Assisted Living of Cinco Ranch                                            Katy

The Pavilion at Creekwood                                                               Mansfield

Plaza at Edgemere                                                                            Dallas

Sunrise Senior Living of Frisco                                                          Frisco

Sunrise Senior Living                                                                         Fort Worth

Windsor Mission Oaks                                                                       San Antonio

Hays Nursing and Rehab Center                                                       San Marcos

Maverick Nursing and Rehabilitation                                                  Eagle Pass

Villa Haven Health and Rehabilitation Center                                    Breckenridge

Duncanville Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center                                Duncanville

Pleasant Valley Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center                          Garland

The Plaza at Lubbock                                                                          Lubbock

Port Lavaca Nursing and Rehabilitation Center                                 Port Lavaca

Country Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center                       Corsicana

Park Manor of Humble                                                                        Humble

Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center                                     Brenham

Pearsall Nursing and Rehabilitation                                                  Pearsall

Mira Vista Court                                                                                 Fort Worth

The Harrison at Heritage                                                                   Fort Worth

Settlers Ridge Care Center                                                               Celina

San Remo                                                                                         Richardson

The Manor at Seagoville                                                                   Seagoville

Windsor Quail Valley                                                                         Missouri City

Silsbee Convalescent Center                                                            Silsbee

Windsor Gardens                                                                              Lancaster

The Broadmoor at Creekside Park                                                   The Woodlands

Laurel Court                                                                                       Alvin

Iowa Park Healthcare Center                                                            Iowa Park

Creekside Terrace Rehabilitation                                                      Belton

Pathways Memory Care at Villa Toscana                                         Houston

Stevens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Hallettsville               Hallettsville

Baybrooke Village Care and Rehab Center                                      McKinney

Towers Nursing Home                                                                      Smithville

WOB Facility Management, LLC, dba Will-O-Bell                            Bartlett

Woodville Health and Rehabilitation Center                                     Woodville

# # #

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 nonprofit 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

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-542-9955

Texas Health Care Association PAC endorses Cody Harris for House District 8

Skilled nursing providers backing candidates who will stand up for Texas seniors

 

(AUSTIN, TEXAS) — The political action committee representing skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across Texas today announced their endorsement of Cody Harris in the GOP runoff for Texas House District 8.

“Decisions made in Austin help determine the quality of long term care across the state,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “The Texas Health Care Association PAC stands behind candidates who have indicated their willingness to stand up for senior Texans, and we are putting our support behind Cody Harris for House District 8.”

House District 8 is being vacated by retiring Texas House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook, R-Corsicana.

The long term care industry employs more than 110,000 Texans, paying more than $4 billion in direct wages every year.

“Families with a loved one in a long term care facility should know that Cody Harris will be looking out for them in Austin,” Warren said. “THCAPAC works hard to make sure that’s the case.”

 

# # #

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 nonprofit 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

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-542-9955

Texas Health Care Association PAC endorses Reggie Smith for House District 62

Skilled nursing providers backing candidates who will stand up for Texas seniors

 

(AUSTIN, TEXAS) — The political action committee representing skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across Texas today announced their endorsement of Reggie Smith in the May 22 GOP runoff election for state House District 62.

“Decisions made in Austin help determine the quality of long term care across the state,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “The Texas Health Care Association PAC stands behind candidates who have indicated their willingness to stand up for senior Texans, and we are putting our support behind Reggie Smith for House District 62.”

House District 62 has been vacated by former state Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman.

The long term care industry employs more than 110,000 Texans, paying more than $4 billion in direct wages every year.

“Families with a loved one in a long term care facility should know that Reggie Smith will be looking out for them in Austin,” Warren said. “THCAPAC works hard to make sure that’s the case.”

 

# # #

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 nonprofit 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

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-542-9955

Texas Health Care Association PAC endorses Ben Leman for House District 13

Skilled nursing providers backing candidates who will stand up for Texas seniors

 

(AUSTIN, TEXAS) — The political action committee representing skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across Texas today announced their endorsement of former Grimes County Judge Ben Leman in the May 5 special election and May 22 Republican primary runoff for Texas House District 13.

“Decisions made in Austin help determine the quality of long term care across the state,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “The Texas Health Care Association PAC stands behind candidates who have indicated their willingness to stand up for senior Texans, and we are putting our support behind Ben Leman for House District 13.”

Gov. Greg Abbott called the May 5 special election to fill the unfinished term of former state Rep. Leighton Schubert, R-Caldwell.

The long term care industry employs more than 110,000 Texans, paying more than $4 billion in direct wages every year.

“Families with a loved one in a long term care facility should know that Ben Leman will be looking out for them in Austin,” Warren said. “THCAPAC works hard to make sure that’s the case.”

# # #

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 nonprofit 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

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-542-9955

Texas Health Care Association PAC endorses Steve Allison for House District 121

Skilled nursing providers backing candidates who will stand up for Texas seniors

 

(AUSTIN, TEXAS) — The political action committee representing skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across Texas today announced their endorsement of Steve Allison in the May 22 GOP runoff election for Texas House District 121.

“Decisions made in Austin help determine the quality of long term care across the state,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “The Texas Health Care Association PAC stands behind candidates who have indicated their willingness to stand up for senior Texans, and we are putting our support behind Steve Allison for House District 121.”

House District 121 is being vacated by retiring House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.

The long term care industry employs more than 110,000 Texans, paying more than $4 billion in direct wages every year.

“Families with a loved one in a long term care facility should know that Steve Allison will be looking out for them in Austin,” Warren said. “THCAPAC works hard to make sure that’s the case.”

# # #

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 nonprofit 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

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-417-5382

Workforce crisis impacting quality of long term care in Texas

Low Medicaid reimbursements contribute to costly turnover among caregivers

(AUSTIN, Texas) — A workforce crisis is rocking the long term care industry in Texas, dragging down quality ratings and endangering the lives of the most vulnerable seniors in the state.

The Texas Health Care Association today released a report detailing how significant challenges with recruitment and retention of direct care staffing, resulting from demanding work requirements and low Medicaid reimbursement rates in Texas making it difficult to compete in the labor market. These factors, and others, are leaving long term care facility operators scrambling to fill shifts while working on improving the quality of care.

Texas nursing homes are challenged with one of the lowest nursing home Medicaid reimbursement rates in the nation. With approximately two-thirds of the over 90,000 thousand Texas nursing home residents having care paid for by Medicaid, nursing homes don’t have the ability to shift costs to other payers or have access to other major sources of revenue. The result is a negative impact on recruitment and retention of direct care staff. And in a booming economy like Texas, alternative employment opportunities result in significant turnover rates as seen in Texas in recent years.

A survey conducted by the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies (TCNWS) showed only 8 percent of the nursing home respondents believed to have an adequate supply of nursing personnel. TCNWS labeled the hiring of more RNs for nursing homes as an “imperative.”
High turnover rates lead negatively impacts direct care hours and can lead to negative outcomes. The resulting impact on quality of care as inexperienced staff constantly replace experienced caregivers. Nursing home providers are forced to spend millions each year in overtime wages and agency staffing to fill empty shifts.

According to CMS Nursing Home Compare, Texas has one of the lowest overall staff ratings for nursing homes. A further analysis of state’s average staffing ratings reveals a correlation with a state’s overall quality rating, under the CMS 5 star rating system.

“This data simply proves what anyone involved in long term care already knows — staffing is the key to delivering the kind of long term care you would want for your own family,” said Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “The more consistent and dedicated the staff is, the more they understand and are able to effectively respond to each individual’s care needs. Having the necessary resources to compete in a highly competitive workforce that is already in short supply is critical to meet the needs of all individuals relying on the nursing home community in Texas.”

# # #

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 nonprofit and for-profit skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 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 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.

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-417-5382

 Texas Health Care Association Supports National Initiative to Advance Quality Care

Goals build on statewide quality improvements

(AUSTIN) — Today, the Texas Health Care Association announced its support of the next phase of a nationwide, multi-year initiative to further improve quality care in long term and post-acute care centers and communities. Led by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the Quality Initiative challenges both skilled nursing and assisted living providers to meet measurable targets in four areas by March, 2021. The Initiative builds on national and local progress achieved in quality improvements over the last six years.

“All across Texas, long term and post-acute care providers have embraced improving quality and we’re proud of their significant achievements,” said Kevin Warren, THCA president and CEO. “Providers must continue to overcome daily staffing, funding and regulatory challenges so they can achieve even greater successes in improving the lives of the patients, residents and families they serve. We are honored to be a part of this very important quality effort.”

The three-year goals for skilled nursing centers are aligned with top priorities for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and federal mandates that link financial outcomes to quality performance. They are:

• Safely reduce long-stay and short-stay hospitalizations by improving 10 percent—or maintain a rate of 10 percent or less;
• Improve functional outcomes (self-care and mobility) by 15 percent;
• Improve long-stay and short-stay satisfaction by 10 percent—or achieve a rate of 90 percent or greater; and
• Safely reduce the off-label use of antipsychotics by 10 percent—or maintain a rate of 8 percent or less in long- stay residents, and maintain a rate of 1 percent or less in short-stay residents.

“The Quality Initiative is built on the hard work and progress long term and post-acute care providers deliver each and every day,” said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “The goals and priorities we have established will continue to guide and challenge providers to achieve even greater success for the patients, residents and families they serve.”

Since the launch of the Quality Initiative in 2012, Texas skilled nursing facilities have achieved 17 consecutive quarters of improvement and a 42 percent reduction in the prevalence of anti-psychotic use for long stay residents.

To monitor progress among skilled nursing centers nationwide, AHCA will use CMS measures to track progress on antipsychotic usage, and measures endorsed by the independent rating organization National Quality Forum (NQF) to track progress on re-hospitalizations, functional outcomes and customer satisfaction. The assisted living goals will use measures developed by AHCA/NCAL.

 

About the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative

The Quality Initiative is an effort that builds upon existing work of the long term and post-acute care profession in advancing quality care by setting specific, measurable targets to further improve quality of care in America’s skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities. For more information, please visit qualityinitiative.ahcancal.org.

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 nonprofit and for-profit skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 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 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.

###

Texas Health Care Association ● 1108 Lavaca Street, Ste. 500, Austin, TX 78701 ● (512) 458-1257

“The mission of the Texas Health Care Association is to unite, represent, and support professionals who strive to improve the delivery, quality, and integrity of long term healthcare services.”

Contact: Jim Suydam, 512-417-5382

Long term care wins as false attacks fall flat with voters

Texans re-elect incumbents attacked for vote to improve long term care

(AUSTIN, Texas) — Efforts to mislead voters about a quality-based funding bill vote during the 2017 state legislative session fell flat on Tuesday night as voters overwhelmingly re-elected legislators who had been targets of the deceptive attacks. Accused of allowing a “granny tax,” those targeted had supported a measure during the session to provide funding to improve nursing home care in the state.
“Incumbents targeted with the ‘granny tax’ attack hit back with real facts about a bill based on a solid policy,” said Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association.

Letters and political fliers mailed to Republican primary voters in recent weeks claimed a bipartisan effort in 2017 to improve nursing homes across the state by returning federal tax dollars to Texas would have somehow resulted in a tax paid by grandmothers. In fact, the legislation specifically prohibited passing along any costs to nursing home residents.

“Nearly every family in Texas will face the need for long term care for a loved one, someday,” Warren said. “Texans are a lot smarter than the false attacks and deception disguised as truth this primary season. Texans support personal responsibility and accountability and reject those who would try to deceive them about something as important as the care of their loved ones.”

“The results of this election are clear, when it comes to long term care in Texas,” Warren said. “Texans support finding ways to improve quality in our nursing homes without raising taxes and we expect our legislature to bring forth real pragmatic solutions to better the lives of those they represent.”

 

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 nonprofit 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.

###