Leaders at the nation’s two biggest long-term care provider groups were recently honored for their lobbying efforts.
The Hill released its annual “Top Lobbyists” list for 2019 last week. Mark Parkinson, American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living president and CEO, and Joe Franco, LeadingAge vice president of grassroots, were named to this year’s list.
“I end up getting credited with the award, but I only received it because of the broad and deep political activity of our members,” Parkinson told McKnight’s. “That activity, combined with the quality results they are achieving in their buildings, has allowed me access to the political leaders who will decide our future.”
“I’m honored to be our spokesperson, but it’s our members who do the work,” he added.
LeadingAge is proud of Franco’s “efforts on a variety of important issues, from ensuring a quality nursing home workforce and discussion of solutions for long term care financing, to securing funding of affordable housing for older adults, is recognized,” Ruth Katz, LeadingAge’s senior vice president of policy and advocacy, told McKnight’s.
Franco’s responsibilities include strengthening the organization’s grassroots efforts and recruiting and training members to support its advocacy agenda.
“Advocacy on behalf of our members and those they serve is crucial to our mission,” Katz added.
Also notable among the list of more than 200 recognized lobbyists in the “Associations” category is Greg Crist, who now represents AdvaMed, a medical device trade association. Crist was senior vice president of public affairs for the American Health Care Association for a handful of years before leaving for AdvaMed in late 2016.
