Contact: Vikki Ortiz, Director of Communications
vortiz@aarp.org; (312) 956-4117
Monika Wnuk, Deputy Director of State Communications
mwnuk@aarp.org (312)-458-3611
Statement from AARP Illinois State Director Philippe Largent on the passage of the nursing home rate reform bill:
“AARP Illinois commends the Illinois General Assembly for passing the Nursing Home Fee Reform Bill, providing nursing home residents with the high-quality care they have demanded and they deserve.
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic claimed the lives of thousands of long-term care residents and staff, many facilities were struggling with dismal infection control, dangerous understaffing, and a poor quality of care for our state’s most vulnerable population.
The reform is a step forward in providing safe, high-quality and equitable care to residents. This bill invests in and retains quality frontline staff who provide critical care to residents of Illinois Medicaid nursing homes. The measure also calls for greater transparency in the ownership and income of nursing homes.
On behalf of our 1.7 million members and all seniors across the state, AARP Illinois congratulates Illinois Director of Health Care and Family Services, Theresa Eagleson, and her team, Senator Ann Gillespie, and Representative Anna Moeller for their passion and commitment to helping Illinois nursing home residents. age with dignity and respect.
We now look forward to working with Governor Pritzker to quickly sign this bill into law and continue the conversation about how Illinois can continue to disrupt long-term care. »
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