Washington, D.C. – The American Health Care Association (AHCA), a prominent voice for the long-term care sector, officially released its comprehensive 2025 policy priorities on March 4, 2025. Titled “The Better Way,” this strategic blueprint outlines critical challenges facing nursing homes and assisted living communities nationwide and proposes actionable solutions aimed at policymakers within the Trump Administration and Congress.
The association’s agenda underscores the urgent need to address escalating pressures on the sector, particularly concerning the ability to provide care amidst a growing elderly population and persistent workforce shortages. AHCA emphasizes that its proposals are designed to safeguard access to essential care services for millions of Americans while proactively preparing the healthcare system for the demographic shifts ahead.
AHCA’s 2025 platform is built upon four key pillars, each addressing a distinct facet of the long-term care landscape:
Strengthening the Long Term Care Workforce
The shortage of qualified caregivers remains perhaps the most critical hurdle for the sector. AHCA’s “The Better Way” puts forth a multi-pronged strategy to build a robust pipeline of dedicated professionals. Recognizing that the issue begins at the educational level, the association proposes addressing nursing school faculty shortages to increase the capacity for training future nurses. Furthermore, they advocate for streamlining pathways for international caregivers to supplement the domestic workforce, acknowledging the global nature of healthcare staffing challenges.
To attract and retain talent, AHCA calls for significant financial incentives, including recruitment and retention initiatives such as student loan forgiveness tax credits, affordable housing solutions, and childcare incentives for healthcare workers. The blueprint also seeks increased subsidies, grants, and scholarships to support training and career development opportunities within the sector. A particularly contentious proposal within this pillar is the call for the repeal of the federal staffing mandate, which AHCA argues is unfunded and impractical without a larger available workforce.
Protecting Medicaid
Medicaid serves as the primary payer for long-term care services in the United States, funding care for a significant portion of nursing home residents. AHCA’s priorities staunchly advocate for protecting the vital program from potential cuts. More critically, the association urges Congress and the Administration to require that federal Medicaid rates equal the true cost of care provided. They also propose that these rates be regularly updated to accurately reflect the evolving costs of labor, supplies, and services, ensuring providers can deliver high-quality care without financial strain.
Reaffirming the Promise of Medicare Advantage
While the original summary provided less detail on this point, AHCA’s inclusion of Reaffirming the Promise of Medicare Advantage signals their intent to ensure this program adequately supports beneficiaries requiring long-term care services. This likely involves advocating for appropriate payment structures and coverage policies within Medicare Advantage plans that facilitate access to necessary care, aligning the program’s design with the needs of the elderly population it serves.
Rationalizing the Regulatory Environment
The regulatory landscape governing long-term care facilities is complex and often cited as burdensome. AHCA proposes reforms aimed at making regulations more effective and less punitive. Specific recommendations include updating the Five-Star Rating System to ensure it accurately reflects quality and outcomes, rather than solely focusing on survey deficiencies. They also support expanding risk-based surveys, which would concentrate regulatory oversight on facilities demonstrating higher risk, allowing high-performing providers to focus resources on resident care rather than excessive compliance burdens.
Additionally, AHCA seeks improved access to the Civil Monetary Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP), allowing providers greater ability to utilize penalty funds for quality improvement initiatives. Finally, they call for strengthening the Special Focus Facility Program (SFFP), which targets poor-performing nursing homes, ensuring that regulatory actions are focused on genuinely problematic facilities while avoiding unnecessary penalties on compliant providers.
In conjunction with the release, Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA, issued a statement highlighting the philosophy behind “The Better Way.” Porter emphasized that these are proactive solutions designed to address long-standing issues plaguing the sector. “These priorities are rooted in putting residents and caregivers first,” Porter stated. “They reflect our commitment to ensuring that quality is at the core of every solution we propose, enabling our members to provide the best possible care to those they serve.”
The release of these priorities sets the stage for lobbying efforts throughout 2025, as AHCA seeks to influence legislative and administrative actions on Capitol Hill and within relevant federal agencies. The success of these proposals could significantly shape the future accessibility, affordability, and quality of long-term care for millions of Americans.
