"Today, California took off a giant step toward a brighter future for the【S1】______frail e

"Today, California took off a giant step toward a brighter future for the 【S1】______

frail elderly patients who receive care in skilled nursing of facilities," 【S2】______

said Jim Gomez, President and CEO of the California Association of

Health Facilities. "At a time when legislators, regulators, residents and

families are rightfully demanding for the best care possible, California 【S3】______

now has a funding system which will actually pay for the cost of 【S4】______

providing care and take into consideration the level of care which each 【S5】______

patient needs," continued Gomez.

"Governor Schwarzenegger's support of AB 1629 (Frommer-D, Glendale)

is consistent with the expectation when he laid out last January. He 【S6】______

said that in this current environment of record state budget deficits,

where it would be necessary to develop creative solutions and 【S7】______

leverage additional federal policies. Though clearly we have 【S8】______

accomplished that," said Paul Tunnell, Chairman of the Association.

In signing AB 1629, Governor Schwarzenegger said, "The quality

assurance fee when authorized in this legislation will provide funds 【S9】______

that would be otherwise unavailable in these times of fiscal constraint,

thus enabling the State to provide with a much needed increase in 【S10】______

Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to skilled nursing facilities. Higher

rates, combined with the facility-specific rate of methodology specified in 【S11】______

the bill, which will result in better wages for nursing home 【S12】______

employees, compensation for structural improvements and better

quality of care for the residents. "

【S1】______