JHF’s Full Court Press for Senior Residential Living Achieves Success in Advocating for Pennsylvania’s Nursing Homes

The Jewish Healthcare Foundation's (JHF's) Senior Residential Living Full Court Press Team has succeeded in influencing Pennsylvania's budget dedicated to long-term care. In July, the Pennsylvania Legislature and Governor Tom Wolf agreed to infuse funding to hire and train more staff at the Commonwealth's nursing facilities.

The agreement represents $515 million new dollars that will be distributed to nursing homes and long-term care facilities, including a roughly 20% increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates, the first substantial increase in nearly a decade.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ravaged the nursing home industry in Pennsylvania and across the country, JHF formed the Full Court Press for Senior Residential Living to advance policy and practical solutions. JHF also funded the creation and dissemination of the acclaimed documentary What COVID-19 Exposed in Long-Term Care and a study from Leading Age UMASS, What Is Happening to Pennsylvania's Nursing Homes?, which highlighted the financial struggle and challenges faced by Pennsylvania's nursing homes. Using those items, JHF joined with advocates and our partners in the PA Health Funders Collaborative to advance proposals for additional funding and change in the Commonwealth.

The Full Court Press was intended to be a temporary vehicle to gather and share best practice strategies. While JHF will be sunsetting the Full Court Press team, we will continue to work to advance positive models for Senior Residential Living, using our existing bodies to do so, including the Health Careers Futures Board.