History

NCCNHR History At-A-Glance

1975 | 1978 | 1981 | 1983 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |

1975 

• The Coalition is formed when various citizen groups and ombudsman programs, convened by the National Gray Panthers' LTC Action Project, gather in Washington, D.C., in June. Prior to attending a conference sponsored by the American Health Care Association, the groups meet to become acquainted and to develop recommendations to present at the conference in a united consumer voice.
  
• The Coalition holds its first press conference, attended by Dr. Arthur Flemming, Commissioner on Aging.

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1978 

• The Coalition issues its first paper, The Plight of the Nurse Aide in America's Nursing Homes. A preliminary report on nursing home costs issues also is released. Both are circulated widely to health care professionals, state and national organizations, state government agencies, and nursing homes.
  
• During the Coalition's second annual meeting, reaction and comments are issued on proposed changes federal nursing home rules. Also that day, Rep. Claude Pepper, chair of the House Select Committee on Aging, addresses the Coalition.
  
• The Coalition receives a three-year grant from Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) to recruit, train, and place 40 volunteers in 13 project sites, strengthening local and state member groups toward a stronger national network.

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1981

• The Coalition's Information Clearinghouse expands to include board and care issues. The Clearinghouse thrives thanks to a grant from the Administration on Aging. Today, it receives major support from the American Association of Retired Persons.
  
• The Coalition conducts a national survey on Medicaid discrimination, issuing a report on the scope of the problem and avenues for resolution. A Citizens' Action Guide to Reimbursement Issues also is published, introducing consumers to reimbursement principles and strategies for promoting quality through the reimbursement system.

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1983

• The Coalition issues, with 43 national organizations and individuals, A Consumer Statement of Principles for the Nursing Home Regulatory System, following the 1982 release of proposed federal regulations that threatened to severely weaken nursing home monitoring.
  
• Responding to the Coalition's statement and congressional directives, the Institute of Medicine launches a study of nursing home regulations. IOM study committee members invite the Coalition to several briefings and work sessions, and commission two Coalition papers on resident and consumer participation.

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1985

• The Coalition publishes A Consumer Perspective on Quality Care: The Residents' Point of View. For this seminal report, the Coalition convened small groups of residents in 15 states, who described their vision of quality nursing home care.
  
• A Consumer Perspective is released during a National Symposium on Quality Care in Clearwater Beach, Fla. Seventeen of the participating residents join researchers, educators, advocates, practitioners and public officials to respond to residents' views and chart ways to achieve quality care

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1986

• In response to the IOM report, Improving the Quality of Care in Nursing Homes, Elma Holder launches the Campaign for Quality Care (CBC), bringing together national groups representing various health professions, workers, providers, and consumers, to develop consensus positions to recommend to Congress in a forum hosted by Sen. John Heinz. Some 10 years later, CBC continues to meet monthly to find common ground on a range of long-term care issues.
  
• The Coalition begins publishing the Quality Care Advocate

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1987

• The Coalition presents the Campaign for Quality Care's views to Congress during a session hosted by Sen. David Pryor, who helped craft landmark nursing home reforms. The Coalition steers a national movement for passage of the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act, comprised of amendments in the federal budget bill, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87). Congressional sponsors Sen. George Mitchell and Reps. John Dingell, Pete Stark, and Henry Waxman hold hearings, where national organizations testify in support of the Campaign's consensus positions.
  
• With bipartisan support, Congress passes the Nursing Home Reform Act on Dec. 22. Elma Holder and Barbara Frank call it "a tremendous victory for residents and for all those groups who worked so hard for so long."

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