WASHINGTON – As part of Long-Term Care Awareness Week, Long Term Care Caucus co-chairs Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Vice-Chair Tom Allen (D-ME) today introduced H.R. 4082, the bipartisan Long-Term Care Quality and Modernization Act.  This legislation will improve the quality of long-term care by modernizing payment policies, strengthening the workforce and investing in the infrastructure of our nation’s long term care facilities, commonly known as nursing homes.

“North Dakota has an aging population, and many of our seniors will rely on long-term care in the years to come.  It is critical that our long-term care facilities are able to meet the needs of North Dakota’s growing senior population,” said Congressman Pomeroy.  “Our nation’s long term-care facilities are facing a looming crisis with workforce shortages, aging infrastructure and outdated technology.  The Long-Term Care Quality and Modernization Act addresses their most critical needs and helps long-term care providers continue to deliver high-quality care.”

“Long term care for our parents or grandparents is an emotional, expensive and in many cases, inevitable challenge where tough decisions have to be made,” said Congresswoman Capito. “To help with these difficulties, this bill will create a quality care advisory commission, modernize Medicare, reinvest in nurses and expand access to telehealth services to strengthen our nation's increasingly important long-term care infrastructure.”

“All across the nation there have been significant improvements in the quality and accessibility of long term care options.  Our bill bolsters this progress, promotes further investment to upgrade aging skilled nursing facilities, modernizes the payment system and encourages a stable, well-trained long term care workforce.   It provides a comprehensive strategy that combines public and private resources to address the challenge that the coming influx of aging baby boomers poses to our health care system,” Congressman Allen said.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that approximately 40 percent of all individuals who reach 65 years of age will require long term care at some point during their lives.  In the year 2010 the oldest of the 77 million baby boomers will reach 65.  The Long Term Care Quality & Modernization Act of 2007 will make the necessary improvements needed help meet the long-term care demands of this generation and fulfill the needs of those currently relying on the care provided by long-term care facilities nationwide.

The Long Term Care Quality & Modernization Act of 2007 aims to enhance long term care by encouraging policy changes that will promote quality of care in the nation’s long term care settings, and modernize payment and other systems to keep pace with advances in medicine and medical technology.  This legislation has the support of the American Health Care Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, American Association for Long Term Care Nursing, American Physical Therapy Association, American Telemedicine Association, American Ambulance Association, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society and U.S. Oncology.

Representatives Pomeroy, Capito and Allen head the Long Term Care Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress dedicated to advancing long term care priorities in health care policy with the goal of improving the access and affordability of long-term care for all Americans.

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