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Leading the Way in Long-Term Care
Building a better future for seniors, families, and providers across the Commonwealth.
WHO WE ARE
Virginians Advocating for Seniors (VAFS) represents more than half of the Commonwealth’s nursing homes that care for older Virginians with complex medical, behavioral health, and long-term care needs.
VAFS believes that policymakers should pair strong accountability with more flexibility and predictability, creating a system that allows facilities to invest in people, stabilize operations, and keep access available for those who need care close to home.
THE VAFS POLICY AGENDA
We work with state leaders, regulators, residents, families, caregivers, advocates, and community partners to promote solutions that focus on residents and foster dignity, access, accountability, and high-quality care.
Stable and Adequate Medicaid Funding
Virginia’s reimbursement system should recognize the real cost of caring for high-acuity residents, rely on a predictable, evidence-based methodology, include annual inflation adjustments, and provide a thoughtful approach to behavioral health services.
Quality Payment Programs that Reward Better Care
Standing up for nursing home operators, staff, and caregivers with education, resources, and a strong, united voice.
Workforce Policies Grounded in Reality
Staffing policy should account for labor shortages, diverse care teams, retention incentives, and reduced reliance on agency staffing.
Consistent, Collaborative Oversight
Surveys should incentivize quality improvements, promote education and training for facility staff, and reduce arbitrary oversight. Eligibility determinations, managed care audits, and regulatory oversight should be transparent, consistent, and oriented toward timely access and sustained quality improvement.
NEWS
