THCA Applauds Legislature for Addressing Long-Term Care Facilities in Base Budgets
January 27, 2023
AUSTIN – Last week, the Senate and House filed the base budget bills for the 2024-2025 biennium. The Texas Health Care Association (THCA) applauds the Legislature for including the long-term care profession as part of both SB 1 and HB 1.
“We thank both chambers for recognizing the need to strengthen the long-term care profession during the 88th legislative session,” said Kevin Warren, President and CEO of THCA. “I am grateful for the strong leadership of Senate Finance Chair Joan Huffman and House Appropriations Chair Greg Bonnen. We are encouraged to see the Legislature acknowledge the ongoing challenges and support needed in long-term care facilities across Texas.”
The base budget also allocates $46.8M to the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program and $7M to the Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Program.
“Creating a pipeline to address the nursing shortage crisis in Texas is critical to the health of the long-term care profession and directly impacts the quality of care provided. I am grateful to leadership for including funding of these crucial programs in the base budgets and look forward to continuing to find opportunities for student loan repayment that will encourage nurses to see long-term care as a long-term profession,” concluded Warren.
###
About THCA
Founded in 1950, the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) is the largest long-term care association in Texas. THCA’s membership is comprised of several hundred licensed nonprofit and for-profit skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), specialized rehabilitation facilities and assisted living facilities in Texas.
Copyright © 2023 Texas Health Care Association. All rights reserved.