LeadingAge members, your staff and the people you serve have tremendous influence on federal policy! Here’s a round-up of key advocacy opportunities:     

Preserving Payment Rates for Home Health. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cuts to Medicare home health reimbursement payments threaten access to home health care for older adults. Tell Congress to support the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 to ensure no further cuts are made while a new payment methodology is explored.

Protecting Affordable Senior Housing. LeadingAge has focused advocacy efforts to fight deep cuts to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding in fiscal year 2024 by the House Committee on Appropriations. The cuts would reduce and severely limit HUD programs that serve older adults in need. Tell your members of Congress to protect and expand housing for older adults.

Staffing Mandates. CMS is proposing a rule for national minimum staffing levels for nursing homes–during a workforce crisis in aging services that requires real solutions to develop strong recruitment pipelines, not an unrealistic mandate. Join LeadingAge in telling CMS to Get Real on Ratios and oppose staffing minimums without proper financing and workforce investment.

Inviting Congress in Your Neighborhood. Congress is breaking for summer recess and now is the time to invite your members of Congress to visit your community. Open your doors and help give members of Congress a glimpse of what aging services providers deliver—and what challenges they are currently facing. LeadingAge developed a step-by-step guide and other resources to support Congress in Your Neighborhood. Complete a short Congressional Visit Survey after the visit and get a chance at a free registration to the 2023 LeadingAge Annual Meeting in Chicago. Sign up for more information and updates.

Stay informed on important federal policy news throughout the week at What’s New on LeadingAge.org and visit our advocacy action center to get involved.