*You are encouraged to share this information with your peers and colleagues throughout the industry as you deem appropriate.*
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Summary:
- The Senate is expected to consider the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan as early as tomorrow. The legislative language is still undergoing revision and may also be amended on the floor tomorrow night.
- Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has offered a $35 billion Health Care Heroes Sustainability Fund amendment, recognizing the need for additional provider relief; senior living operators would be eligible for these funds. We are working with other senators on additional potential amendments.
- Argentum has been engaging in advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry, coordinating lobbyist messaging, pushing grassroots letters and calls, working with our State Partners, and holding dozens of meetings with key lawmakers and their staff.
- We are confident that our message is being heard and will continue to work with the administration on directing provider relief to senior living operators, either if instructed through this package, or through the use of existing funds.
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Later today, the Senate will vote on the motion to proceed for consideration of the American Rescue Plan, President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. As you know, late last week we saw resources for long-term care eliminated from the package through a manager’s amendment, despite the industry’s ongoing pleas. Shortly after, the House passed the relief bill and it was sent on to the Senate for deliberation this week. During this time, however, we’ve been using all possible resources to conduct Senate outreach, seeking support for an amendment for additional relief for long-term care.
We are pleased that Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has drafted and offered a Health Care Heroes Sustainability Fund amendment, which would create a new $35 billion provider fund for COVID-related expenses and losses. This amendment is a recognition of our efforts to educate lawmakers on the ongoing needs of senior living providers, many of whom are still struggling from slow and inadequate reimbursements and relief to date, and we applaud Senator Manchin for fighting to include this much-needed relief for health care providers, including long-term care providers, in the American Rescue Act.
Senator Manchin’s amendment may either be incorporated into the broader package or may be offered during tomorrow’s floor debate where all amendments to the package will be considered in a “vote-a-rama.” Due to the high cost and necessary shifting of funds from other priorities, it is less likely to be incorporated into the base package that is being managed by Democratic leaders. As such, in addition to Manchin’s amendment, we are also working with several other Senate offices for alternative amendments if Manchin’s is not incorporated, including Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who may potentially advance an amendment that will specifically include assisted living providers as qualified recipients on the Provider Relief Fund.
Thank you for all of your outreach and engagement with lawmakers on this issue. Collectively we continue to work to educate lawmakers on the critical needs of senior living operators, coordinating the messaging of the industry’s lobbyists through regular strategy calls and providing advocacy materials, holding several Congressional staff briefings and hundreds of meetings while offering draft amendment language (attached) for additional provider relief funds that would specify assisted living as an eligible entity through statute.
Our efforts were amplified last week by hundreds of Argentum Advocates members taking part in our virtual Public Policy Institute, where Sens. Manchin and Collins also spoke, underscoring the need for relief for senior living communities and committing to helping operators receive that relief.
Our efforts have also been helped by thousands of messages sent as part of our “Standing with Seniors” grassroots advocacy campaign. Lawmakers from across the country have been hearing directly from senior living residents and their family members, along with frontline workers and senior care advocates, as messages have underscored that, “The American Rescue Plan Doesn't Rescue America's Seniors!” The letters stress that “under the current relief bill—nearly $2 trillion in all—not a single dollar goes to keeping my loved one safe.” Additionally, Argentum contracted with the grassroots firm Bedrock Advocacy for earned media in key states and to place hundreds of constituent calls to key Senate offices daily urging relief for senior living communities. Thousands of constituent calls have already been received by key leadership offices and we encourage you and your teams to keep up the efforts!
Our efforts are continuing today and through the final vote of the package, expected as early as tomorrow or Friday. It’s important to note that negotiations on the bill are not final, and the language thus far will continue to undergo revision throughout today, and potentially be amended during tomorrow’s floor consideration. We are confident that our message is getting through, not only to key Senate offices for this vote, but more broadly to all lawmakers who are understanding the urgency of our asks, the need for additional provider relief, and for that relief to be targeted toward senior living operators.
James R. Balda
President & CEO
ARGENTUM | Expanding Senior Living
1650 King Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314
D: 703.562.1190 | C: 703.209.2601
