Skilled Nursing Patients and Caregivers Urge State Leaders to Advance a Long-Term Funding Solution
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Support Skilled Nursing Patients, a statewide coalition representing caregivers, patient advocates and California’s 1,000+ Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), is urging Governor Newsom and state lawmakers to prioritize workforce and quality care funding as discussions continue on a near term budget solution to support vulnerable skilled nursing facility patients and the caregivers they depend on.
Despite a groundswell of support from caregivers, patient advocates, facilities and state legislators, legislative leaders failed to restore funding for the Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (WQIP) in the Legislative Budget Plan, which supports patient care, workforce recruitment and retention, and quality improvement programs serving more than 445,000 medically fragile Californians each year. While disappointed, the coalition welcomed the Legislature’s commitment to continue working with the Administration on a SNF funding solution in the next two months that protects access to care and strengthens California’s skilled nursing workforce prior to the end of Legislative Session.
“While we are disappointed that the Legislature’s June 15 budget agreement does not restore critical workforce and quality funding, we appreciate lawmakers’ recognition that this issue requires continued engagement with the Administration to develop a budget solution during the 2026 Legislative Session,” Cassie Dunham, CEO & President of the California Association of Health Facilities. “As discussions continue on finalizing the budget agreement, state leaders must prioritize sustainable funding to protect access to care for California’s most vulnerable patients and support the workforce that cares for them.”
Caption: Support Skilled Nursing Patients coalition press conference at the California State Capitol on May 7, 2026.
“California’s most vulnerable patients deserve better,” said Kristin Mauzac, SEIU 2015 Union Leader and Certified Nursing Assistant. “Without adequate funding, it becomes harder to recruit and retain skilled nursing caregivers, putting access to care at risk.”
Years of chronic underfunding by the state have placed significant strain on California’s skilled nursing facilities, threatening access to care for nearly half a million patients, including seniors, people with disabilities and individuals recovering from a stroke, surgery or serious injury.
The need for action is urgent as California prepares to renew its Medi-Cal long-term care reimbursement system. The coalition is calling on state leaders to seize this opportunity to establish a sustainable funding framework that supports quality care, workforce stability, and access for patients who rely on skilled nursing facilities.
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.