Contact: Diane Barrett
212-259-0741 (office)
347-901-0220
dbarrett@cclcny.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Brooklyn Borough President's Office, 1199 SEIU, CCLC and the Long Term Care Community Speak Out Against the State's Proposed Reimbursement System

Date: Friday, March 19

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Location: 209 Joralemon Street, steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall

The Continuing Care Leadership Coalition (CCLC), an association of more than 100 not-for-profit and publicly-sponsored organizations committed to the delivery of quality nursing home care, home care, and related long term care services for older and disabled citizens, in collaboration with 1199 SEIU, is asking the New York State Legislature to suspend the regional pricing system that is to begin on April 1, 2010. If implemented, "regional pricing," could lead to a loss of $4 million in payment reductions for Brooklyn nursing homes. Affected providers strongly oppose the implementation of this new payment system, as they fear it will gravely threaten access to care-and quality of care-for senior and disabled Brooklyn residents.

"Simply put, nursing homes are not one size fits all. Regional pricing does not account for important differences in facilities and how they staff. It punishes facilities that invest the most in staffing and quality," said Scott Amrhein, President of CCLC.

"Continuous budget cuts have left nursing homes struggling to maintain quality care for their elderly and disabled patients," said George Gresham, President of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. "If enacted, the redistribution of funding will disproportionately hit non-profit providers in underserved communities. The result would be more layoffs of vital healthcare workers and a reduction in services for the patients they serve. Families with loved ones in nursing homes deserve better."

"Regional pricing will undermine the quality of care in hundreds of nursing homes across New York State," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "The regional pricing system ignores legitimate cost differences among facilities, and as a result, not-for-profit nursing homes in Brooklyn-which play a vital role as drivers of long term care quality and innovation-will lose over $4 million. This will have a devastating impact on Brooklynites who are chronically ill, disabled and elderly. Furthermore, the communities which rely on these facilities for business and jobs will be gravely impacted. Instead of promoting safety, quality and adequate staffing, the regional pricing system will encourage a 'race to the bottom'-driving providers to dramatically cut costs and under-invest in the people and programs needed to deliver quality care."

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Diane J. Barrett
Director of Government Relations
Continuing Care Leadership Coalition (CCLC)
Office: 212-259-0741
Fax: 212-258-5331
Email: dbarrett@cclcny.org