A contingent of WHCA/WiCAL members and staff were in Washington, DC this week to meet with members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation and to attend an event featuring Wisconsin state legislative leaders and WI members of Congress.

Attending from WHCA/WiCAL were:

• Steve Kuranz, Oak Ridge Care Center (WHCA Board President)
• David Mills, North Shore Healthcare
• Jennifer Augustine, Carriage Healthcare Companies
  • Carriage operates Wellington Place at Biron and Wellington Place at Whiting in the 3^rd CD.
• Rick Abrams, CEO, Wisconsin Health Care Association
• Jim Stoa, Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Wisconsin Health Care Association

WHCA/WiCAL members and staff met with:

• Staff of Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-7)
• Staff of Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-6)
• Staff of Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4)
• Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-3)

During these meetings, WHCA/WiCAL expressed our ongoing concerns with the proposed minimum staffing rule. We also discussed several workforce solutions that would actually have a positive practical impact on LTC workforce challenges:

• Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (HR 6205)
• Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Care Act (HR 3227)
• Train More Nurses Act (HR 6122)
• Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act (HR 7513)

WHCA/WiCAL also discussed ways in which providers are committed to finding innovative solutions to advance quality of care/services, and mentioned the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Program. Additionally, we asked members to consider joining the Congressional 21^st Century LTC Caucus.

Lastly, WHCA/WiCAL shared providers’ initial reaction to the SNF PPS proposed rule, including:

• Our support of CMS’s acknowledgment of the need to address increased costs,
• Our concern that the increase would not begin to address increased costs associated with the minimum staffing rule, and
• Our concern with the additional punitive enforcement/remedy measures included in the proposal.

Please direct any questions to VP of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Jim Stoa