Medicare Advantage (MA), access to Medicare coverage, and strengthening the workforce. These are the three subjects some 650 long-term and post-acute care professionals will be focusing their attention on during the annual American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Congressional Briefing running through June 9.   

During the gathering, attendees will hear from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Reps. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), and members of the DC media.

“As policymakers consider the future of long-term and post-acute care, it is important that they hear directly from leaders in the profession,” said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Clif Porter. “By sharing stories directly with members of Congress, we are able to more accurately and passionately communicate how decisions made in Washington impact residents, families, caregivers, and communities across the country. We give life to complex policy issues like Medicare Advantage, observation stays, and caregiver shortages, and we offer solutions to protect this care that millions rely on.”

The three major subjects are tied to legislation supported by the trade group and its members. Touted as bipartisan and bicameral legislation, AHCA/NCAL listed the specific bills associated with each:

• The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 (S. 4384/H.R. 8375), which AHCA/NCAL said “represents a significant step toward ensuring that MA delivers on its promise to America’s seniors by addressing issues such as prior authorizations, delayed payments, and clawbacks.”

  
  

• The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (S. 4641/H.R. 3954), which ensures that time spent under “observation status” in a hospital counts toward satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing care services under Medicare.

  
  

• The Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (S.4467/H.R. 7096), which expands the training of CNAs by allowing nursing facilities to resume their in-house CNA training programs that were suspended once quality standards are met.

  
  

AHCA/NCAL will also recognize the 2026 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award recipients: Barry Carr, chairman and co-founder of Ignite Medical Resorts, and Randi Carr, chief of staff of Ignite Medical Resorts.

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