We know you depend on LeadingAge’s national advocacy to fight for what you and your fellow members need most to tackle the incredible challenges you face day-to-day. We address the ever-changing policies, laws, regulations, and guidance that deeply impact aging services—raising the collective voices of our membership on issues that matter most to your communities. We listen to your perspective and advice, and take what we hear to members of Congress and our partners in the federal government to spur action.

As our president and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said in response to the 2023 State of the Union Address, “We look forward to continuing to partner with the Biden Administration and Congress as we work to build a stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable aging services system that meets the needs and challenges of the post-COVID world.”

Policy Hot Topics

Far from comprehensive, the list below is a snapshot of our most recent to-dos and goals on critical issues.

• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) NSPIRE Demonstration: HUD recently changed the terms of participating in NSPIRE mid-demonstration, and LeadingAge is encouraging members to understand what the changes might mean to them and weigh their ability to opt out of the demonstration by March 1.

• Get Real On Ratios Campaign: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is poised to mandate federal staffing ratios in nursing homes as part of the Biden Administration’s nursing home care initiative. In response, LeadingAge swiftly proposed a new common sense framework and perspective for federal legislation.

• Guest Workers and Immigration Workforce Solutions: There are more jobs than job seekers in the U.S. and LeadingAge is urging Congress to reintroduce several measures to open new pathways for legal immigration, such as establishing an aging services guest worker program and expanding the number of refugees who can enter the U.S. LeadingAge’s immigration proposals are spelled out in the IMAGINE paper, and we are now reconvening groups and exploring ways to deliver members options during the ongoing workforce crisis.

• Hospice Reform and Improvements: LeadingAge responded to a congressional request with forward-thinking ideas on how to best reform and improve hospice benefit to improve access and care for beneficiaries and work more seamlessly for providers.

• Medicare Advantage: LeadingAge post-acute providers face many challenges in working with Medicare Advantage plans. LeadingAge has jumped into action to submit comments to CMS on the proposed MA regulation and we encourage members to self-submit with a tip sheet for preparing comments for the February 13 deadline. Watch for our recommendations for MA reform later this month.
• Better Care Better Jobs for Home-Based Care Services: The Better Care Better Jobs Act’s vital provisions would enhance funding for Medicaid home and community-based services, lead to better pay and benefits for caregivers, expand eligibility and access to community-based services, enhance the quality of life for families, and help create middle-class jobs. LeadingAge asks members to urge Congress to cosponsor this bill in support of our caregivers and workforce.