Seniors Deserve Continued Access to Quality Care

By Michael E. McRae
President & CEO, St. Ann’s Community
October 2019

What is it that our residents enjoy about life at St. Ann’s Community?

It could be the high-quality health care they receive from our expert medical team. It could be the personal attention they get from the dedicated staff members who are by their side every day. Or maybe it’s the overall spirit of kindness and compassion that pervades every aspect of daily life at St. Ann’s.

In fact, it’s a combination of all of those and more. That’s why we are Greater Rochester’s leading provider of senior health care and housing, serving more than 3,000 seniors each year.

For 1 in 5 Americans, access to high-quality long-term care like that provided by St. Ann’s depends on Medicaid insurance coverage. Jointly funded by the state and federal government, Medicaid is a critical source of coverage for people who need nursing home care but can’t afford it. It is often the only means by which they can get the long-term care they need.

Recently, that access has come under threat. The New York State Department of Health is seeking approval from the federal government of a plan that would cut $246 million from Medicaid funding statewide. Virtually every nursing home in the state and more than 100,000 nursing home residents are at risk. This legislation will cut $2.3 million dollars from St. Ann’s budget. A cut of this proportion will directly impact the services we provide to our elders. None of us wants to see this happen. That’s why it’s important to let our state officials know we oppose this cut and the threat it poses to seniors’ access to high-quality nursing home care.

If you would like to find out more about this issue or want to voice your opinion to your state legislator, click here and use the form at the bottom of the page. By speaking in a unified voice to our state officials, we can ensure that the seniors of today and tomorrow can access the care they deserve.