WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chairman of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, Stephen L. Guillard, has been named by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to serve on the new 15 member, congressionally mandated Commission on Long Term Care. Guillard, the retired Chief Operating Officer (COO) of HCR ManorCare, the nation's largest operator of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), is a key, longtime leader in helping drive ongoing quality improvement in the nation's nursing homes.

"I am honored to serve on this new Commission as we seek to develop new, creative approaches to ensure that quality care and services are available to meet the total needs of our elderly while eliminating the significant systemic problems in our financing and payment systems," stated Guillard. "Data-driven quality improvement and the funding adequacy necessary to sustain it will continue to be one of my most important priorities for our sector, and for the Commission."  

Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance -- a coalition of 10 leading post-acute and long term care organizations providing Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) care in approximately 1,400 facilities, in 44 states nationwide – applauded Speaker Boehner and the congressional leadership for appointing a wide range of members to advise the Commission.

"Wide diversity and varying perspective are the required prerequisites to ensuring the Commission examines the right problems, and puts forward the right ideas to help address the monumental challenges facing America's retirement system," Rosenbloom stated.

"In naming Stephen Guillard and the other outstanding Commissioners, congressional leaders have done an excellent job to ensure lawmakers receive the expert policy guidance required to help ensure more and more U.S. seniors can continue to go home after receiving the type of high quality rehabilitative care that can only be found in a skilled nursing facility," the Alliance leader concluded.

Contact: Ellen Almond
(703) 548-0019

1350 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 459-6313 
(202) 459-6308 FAX
www.aqnhc.org

SOURCE Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care