Celebrating a Year of Progress in PA Aging Services
As we wrap up another extraordinary year, we want to take a moment to recognize the significant accomplishments we've made in supporting our aging services provider members in Pennsylvania. Our goal is not only to highlight LeadingAge PA’s key accomplishments and celebrate important milestones but also to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our members and stakeholders whose contributions made these achievements possible.
Policy Advancements and Budget Success
This year, we were proud to play an instrumental role in securing critical policy advancements for Pennsylvania's aging services sector. The 2024-2025 Pennsylvania State Budget featured significant increases in funding for our sector. Notably, there was a 7.04% rise in Medicaid rates for nursing homes and an 8.48% increase for Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) providers. Additionally, $21 million was allocated for Medical Assistance Day-One Incentive payments to qualifying nonpublic nursing facilities. The budget also raised the transfer cap from Realty Transfer Tax revenue to the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) from $60 million to $100 million over four years to fund affordable housing. We also received flexibility from the Department of Health regarding the calculation and enforcement of staffing ratios in nursing homes in January 2024, and we submitted a formal request for additional flexibilities in October.
Advocacy and Engagement
Our advocacy efforts were at the forefront of our work this year. We engaged in several collaborative efforts, including a state Lobby Day, where we connected members to over 70 legislative offices and were joined by legislative champions from the House and Senate who support LeadingAge PA priorities during a public press conference. Additionally, we held six legislative breakfasts that provided a platform for discussing our priorities in the presence of elected officials. We also provided 12 call-to-action alerts via VoterVoice, leading to more than 1,000 messages from our members to their lawmakers.
This collaborative work resulted in several legislative successes. Notably, the allowance of nurse aides working in nursing homes to pursue medication aide certification and the requirement that the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) hold annual meetings with nursing homes. We also worked with legislators to introduce a bill aimed at addressing delays in medical assistance (MA) applications and payments.
Events and Education Opportunities
The events we held in 2024 were memorable. The Annual Conference attracted 1,174 participants and awarded a total of 2,606 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Meanwhile, the Fall Finance Conference saw 136 attendees and offered 680 CEUs. Additionally, we conducted 26 webinars covering a range of relevant topics, which collectively provided 600 CEUs.
Strengthening Leadership and Workforce Development
We are particularly proud of the growth and advancements achieved within our leadership programs this year. We marked the graduation of the Fellows in Leadership Class of 2023 and expanded the Alumni Council to 252 members. Our virtual Governance Training program successfully drew 111 participants from 11 member communities, along with their Boards of Directors. Additionally, the newly launched Executive Women’s Retreat created valuable connections among women in executive roles and addressed the unique challenges they face.
The LeadingAge PA Foundation awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships and grants for professional development and internships, and through the revived Career Growth Partners, we established three new educational partnerships across the state. The Careers to Love PA initiative also had a tremendous year, successfully directing 3,340 job seekers to our members' career pages—a 60% increase over 2023.
Gratitude
Reflecting on 2024, we thank our members, partners, and stakeholders for their dedication and collaboration. Together, we have built a stronger foundation for the future of aging services in Pennsylvania.
Let’s carry this momentum into 2025!
Review all of LeadingAge PA’s 2024 Accomplishments here!