Modern Healthcare selected American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) President and CEO Clifton Porter II as one of the “The 100 Most Influential People” in healthcare for 2025.

The honor tops off a successful first year at the helm of AHCA/NCAL for Porter, who has celebrated along with his association members a string of victories, most notably the elimination of a nursing home staffing mandate originating with the Biden Administration.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by Modern Healthcare alongside so many passionate, successful health care professionals who are working to improve the lives of people across the world,” said Porter. “This award reflects the incredible work of our entire team, long term care providers across the country, and, of course, the millions of caregivers who do this work every day. Their commitment to delivering high-quality care and improving the lives of residents is a constant source of inspiration for me, and together, we will continue to make significant progress.”

Porter discusses the staffing mandate and other long-term sector priorities during a revealing talk on the “Let’s Talk” podcast on Park Place Live, which is led by Porter’s former boss, Mark Parkinson. Access “Let’s Talk” featuring Porter at https://tinyurl.com/rwcwc4en.

Under Porter’s leadership, the association welcomed new state affiliates to expand its membership to all 50 states and Washington, D.C., for the first time in more than a generation, and leading to record membership. Porter also led AHCA/NCAL through critical federal budget reconciliation negotiations, ultimately persuading lawmakers to carve out nursing homes and intermediate care facilities from reductions to Medicaid provider taxes—the only healthcare sector to achieve such protections, AHCA/NCAL said.

Also, under Porter’s leadership, AHCA/NCAL released a series of alternative policy solutions aimed at strengthening the long-term care workforce under the initiative Caregivers for Tomorrow.  And, earlier this year, Porter and AHCA/NCAL launched The Better Way, an agenda to improve nursing homes and prepare for the aging population.​

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.

​