Coalition urges Assembly Budget Subcommittee to take similar action to protect California’s most vulnerable patients
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Support Skilled Nursing Patients, a statewide coalition representing caregivers, patient advocates and California’s 1,000+ Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), applauds the California Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services for rejecting Governor Newsom’s proposed cuts to skilled nursing funding in the May Revise Budget.
Specifically, the coalition thanks Senate Budget Subcommittee Chair Senator Caroline Menjivar and members of the subcommittee for recognizing the urgent need to restore Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (WQIP) funding that supports patient care, workforce recruitment and retention, and quality improvement programs serving more than 445,000 medically fragile Californians each year.
“At a time when caregivers and patients are already facing workforce shortages, rising healthcare demands and looming federal cuts, the Senate Budget Subcommittee recognized that California cannot afford to turn its back on our most vulnerable patients and their caregivers,” said Cassie Dunham, CEO & President of the California Association of Health Facilities. “We are grateful to Chair Menjivar and the subcommittee members for standing up for vulnerable patients and recognizing the critical role skilled nursing facilities play in California’s healthcare system.”
The coalition is now calling on the Assembly Budget Subcommittee to take similar action and support the restoration of WQIP funding in the final state budget.
“Caregivers are the backbone of skilled nursing care and they need the support to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Kristin Mauzac, SEIU 2015 Union Leader and Certified Nursing Assistant. “Restoring WQIP funding is essential to recruiting, retaining and supporting the workforce that skilled nursing patients rely on every day.”
In July 2025, a state budget cut to WQIP funds led to a $300 million reduction, slashing critical resources that support high-quality care and workforce investments to support hundreds of thousands of skilled nursing patients. This comes as the healthcare sector faces Medicaid cuts from the Trump Administration and the upcoming negotiation of a new Medi-Cal reimbursement methodology for SNFs.
In a significant show of support for California’s skilled nursing patients, lawmakers recently issued a letter urging budget leaders to restore the Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (WQIP) in the State Budget.
“Skilled nursing care is a critical part of California’s healthcare system and we can’t fail these patients or their caregivers,” said Assemblymember Lisa Calderon. “We must restore critical funding for medically vulnerable skilled nursing patients who deserve better.”
The coalition also issued its own letter in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revise Budget proposal, warning that failure to restore critical funding threatens access to care, workforce stability and quality programs serving more than 445,000 medically fragile Californians.
Caption: SEIU 2015 joined the Support Skilled Nursing Patients coalition at a May 7, 2026 press conference at the California State Capitol to call for urgent action to protect patient care.
As lawmakers continue budget negotiations ahead of the June 15 constitutional deadline, caregivers, providers and patient advocates say restoring WQIP funding remains essential to protecting access to skilled nursing care for California’s most vulnerable patients and their families.
ABOUT US: California’s more than 1,000 Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are the backbone of California’s long-term care system, providing essential 24-hour medical care to over 445,000 of California’s most vulnerable patients – seniors, individuals with disabilities and those recovering from serious illness or injury. Supporting Skilled Nursing Patients is a coalition advocating for fair funding for Skilled Nursing Facility patients and continued access to high-quality medical care.