U.S. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin speaks to reporters as he arrives at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Credit: MANDEL NGAN / contributor / Getty Images)
With Democrats’ plans to vote on the $2 trillion Build Back Better social spending bill derailed by a surprise “no vote” announcement from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), the senior living and care industry remains hopeful of what 2022 might bring.
Dealing what the AP called a “death blow” to the historic spending package, Manchin announced Sunday he would not support President Biden’s social spending and climate change bill. The news saw the promise of investments in the aging services workforce, affordable senior housing, and home- and community-based services slipping away.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated that a vote still will go forward in early 2022, albeit on a revised version of the House-passed bill.
Argentum President and CEO James Balda said he remains resolved in the fight for relief for senior living communities “in any and all legislative avenues on Capitol Hill.”
“As this pandemic intensified once again, our work to protect the most vulnerable of our population continues, and we will not allow Congress and the Biden administration to leave them behind again,” Balda told McKnight’s Senior Living. “The end of 2021 is not the end of our campaign to get equitable COVID relief, sustainable funding and adequate workforce programming for our caregivers.”
American Seniors Housing President David Schless said that ASHA similarly will continue to work to ensure that the legislation — whatever form it takes — includes a provision that includes assisted living in the HCBS program expansions. He told McKnight’s Senior Living that he also would like to see language allowing senior living providers to benefit from the various workforce training grant programs included in the package.
“A delay in action can create opportunities to fashion more favorable language in these programs to assure the broadest level of participation by stakeholders,” Schless said. “Additionally, we remain laser-focused on the need to secure additional federal resources to help the senior living industry cover COVID-related expenses and losses since the outbreak of the pandemic.
“We know that not all funding has been expended, and given the continued need, we will seek support for getting the remaining money out as soon as possible,” he added.
Don’t stop, Sloan urges
LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan called on Congress to provide relief for older adults and their families, saying “nothing should disrupt Congress from delivering this much-needed help.”
“Build Back Better contains historic investments in home- and community-based services, affordable housing for low-income older adults, as well as much-needed measures to address the aging services sector’s severe workforce challenges,” Sloan said. “Too many older adults are struggling to access the essential services they need; Americans overwhelmingly support the increased investments in aging services contained in Build Back Better.”
‘Sigh of relief’ for nursing homes
American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living President and CEO Mark Parkonson said the situation is a “sigh of relief” for skilled nursing providers due to unfunded and unrealistic staffing mandates and Medicaid reductions. But he added “there were promising grants to grow our workforce and opportunities to expand Medicaid’s home- and community-based services, including in assisted living.”
“But, ultimately, the package falls short of what is needed to help us address the current crisis and systemic challenges in long-term care,” Parkinson told McKnight’s Senior Living, adding that he hopes lawmakers invest in policies that will protect access to quality long-term care. “Whether through Build Back Better or other legislation, it is critical that Congress prioritize our most vulnerable as we grapple with another expected COVID surge due to omicron, as well as our ongoing labor and economic crisis.”
The long-term care industry earlier this month issued an “urgent appeal” to Congress to adopt those priorities without weakening its commitments and dollars to the industry.
The Build Back Better Act drew a variety of responses from industry leaders when it passed the House of Representatives in November. But all agreed on the need to work with lawmakers to ensure that the final version of the bill did more to help the industry.
