Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Sixteen U.S. senators Thursday signed their names on aletter calling for the elimination of $24 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cutsfrom President Bush’s fiscal year 2009 budget.

The letter, which was addressed to Senate BudgetCommittee Chair Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-NH), comesone day after 76 members of the House of Representatives voiced similaropposition to the proposed budget cuts.

The FY 2009 budget blueprint aims to significantly cutfunding for skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes over the next fiveyears. The letter points out that the proposed cuts are “especiallyegregious” in light of the growing senior population and alreadydrastically under-funded Medicaid system.

Leaders of the American Health Care Association andAlliance for Quality Nursing Home Care issued statements thanking the senatorsfor their efforts in defeating the budget proposal.