public policy and grassroots advocacy very day, AAHSA strives to bring our members’ needs to decisionmakers in Washington, D.C. We work hard to help make things better as well as keep them from getting worse. That means advocating to their legislators, helping them develop the public policies that minimize burdensome regulations, reducing red tape and offering incentives in response to the quality care and services they provide. In 2008, AAHSA: E l Persuaded CMS to reconsider a proposed change in the calculation of Medicare payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) that would have cut SNF payments by $770 million. l Ensured a full 3.4 percent Medicare payment update for SNFs in 2009. This update will raise facility payments by $780 million. l Defeated a proposed freeze in Medicare payments to home health care providers, who will receive the full 2.9 percent payment update in 2009. l Secured full inflation adjustments in payments to hospices and prevented cuts to special needs plans and PACE sites. l Succeeded in getting language included in the major political party platforms addressing long-term care financing and services. l Gained joint endorsement of our long-term care financing reform principles by coalitions representing seniors and persons with disabilities. l Achieved Senate introduction and House passage of AAHSA’s housing bill, which would solve numerous issues that providers face in preserving affordable senior housing communities. | t