PHCA Congratulates Secretary Miller and Secretary Levine on Their Confirmations

HARRISBURG — W. Russell McDaid, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) congratulates Teresa Miller, who was confirmed today to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Dr. Rachel Levine, MD, who was confirmed today to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH).

“We look forward to working with Secretary Miller and Secretary Levine on the many funding, regulatory and policy issues that affect Pennsylvania’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.

“These are extremely challenging times for Pennsylvania seniors and those who provide their care, and their experience and expertise will position them well to work with providers to address the challenges currently facing the sector.

“Both Secretaries have demonstrated a commitment to the creation of a strong and stable long-term care delivery system during their tenure as Acting Secretaries. We look forward to working with the Wolf Administration under their leadership to ensure that older Pennsylvanians and persons living with disabilities continue to live in the safest, most appropriate and cost-effective setting possible.

“Pennsylvania’s population is aging rapidly and the demand for long-term care services is growing, especially among residents and patients who have higher acuity levels, more complex medical needs and chronic health conditions that require around-the-clock care.

“As a state, we need to ensure that those who need long-term care receive quality services in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting at each stage of their life, honoring a person’s preference to remain at home when possible.  We also need to ensure that when a person is in need of around-the-clock skilled care and services provided in a skilled nursing facility, that regulatory requirements and reimbursement levels are aligned to provide the quality care that vulnerable Pennsylvanians need and have earned.

“PHCA remains committed to working with the administration and legislature to ensure our sickest, frailest elderly residents continue to receive the quality care and services they need.”