Virginia Health Care Association

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 8 or if state budget cuts are ordered. Addressing Medicaid underfunding is also necessary for efforts to address healthcare workforce shortages. Without boosting Medicaid rates, facilities cannot provide competitive wages and benefits that keep caregivers in the sector. Next, Virginia needs a concerted effort to create as many CNAs and LPNs as it can. Long term care facilities want to serve as clinical training sites and to hire these caregivers. Facilities are also willing to partner with other provider types to support the nursing workforce. All have a vested interest in finding ways to build the workforce to ensure care is coordinated for patients. Virginia is making strides but must keep the momentum going to ensure there is a robust network of stable, high-quality long term care providers across the state. This is especially urgent as the oldest Baby Boomers are only a few years away from needing LTC. They need the assurance that they can access the care they need and deserve.