Nevada Health Care Association encourages members to Take Action Now with rally, attend Quality First Educational Series May 17

Rally to raise awareness of proposed Medicaid budget cuts; educational series to promote higher quality of care in Nevada’s skilled nursing profession

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada Health Care Association, a statewide organization that represents the long-term care industry, will lead a Take Action Now rally Tuesday, May 17, to raise awareness about the cuts to Medicaid that are proposed as part of the plan to balance the state budget. The rally will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the Nevada Legislative building – located in Carson City at 401 S. Carson Street.

NVHCA is encouraging all of Nevada’s skilled nursing and long-term care facility employees – as well as the public – to take part in the rally.

People taking part in the rally will gather at the Carson City Plaza Hotel & Conference Center – located in Carson City at 801 South Carson Street – where NVHCA will host the next workshop in their bimonthly Quality First Educational Series.

The Quality First Educational Series is divided into two sessions – a morning session taking place at the Plaza from 8 a.m. to noon (registration at 7:30 a.m.) and an afternoon session taking place from 1-5 p.m. (registration at 12:30 p.m.).

Those attending the morning session of the Quality First Educational Series will take part in the Take Action Now rally at the Legislative building in the afternoon, and those attending the afternoon session will rally in the morning.

The nonprofit organization’s Take Action Now Campaign encourages all Nevadans to contact their legislators in opposition of the proposed cuts, which would be crippling to the state’s skilled nursing and long-term care facilities.

The Quality First Educational Series was created to facilitate a better quality of care in Nevada’s skilled nursing and long-term care profession. Attendees must only attend one of the two available sessions. Lunch is provided for those who attend the workshop. Attendees will receive continuing education units. Cost to attend is $100. There is no additional cost for those traveling to Carson City from Southern Nevada. The bus from Southern Nevada will leave at 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 16. To register, e-mail registration@nvhca.org.

According to Nevada Health Care Association’s estimations, approximately five facilities in Nevada would need to immediately close due to financial constraints as these facilities rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements for the services they provide to patients.

Nevada Health Care Association leaders as well as administrators and health care professionals working in skilled nursing or long-term care facilities throughout Nevada will take part in the rally.

The Nevada Health Care Association is a non-profit organization of long term care facilities and associate members, together representing nearly 50 non-profit and for-profit assisted living, nursing facility, and sub-acute care providers that care for over 6,000 elderly and disabled individuals statewide and employ more than 8,000 Nevadans.

For more information regarding Nevada Health Care Association, call 800-307-0942 or visit www.nvhca.org. For more information about the Take Action Now Campaign, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Ar48JUk8w.