Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care announced this morning that Alan Rosenbloom will serve as its first president. Rosenbloom most recently has served as the president of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association for five years.

This morning’s announcement is perhaps the strongest indication yet that there will be no turning back for the alliance. It had declared in August that its members would be withdrawing support from the American Health Care Association. The 15 members of the alliance are primarily national nursing home chains.

Since the Alliance’s August rumblings, the AHCA has undertaken a major reorganization at the top. First, President and CEO Hal Daub resigned after just 13 months on the job, and then the association streamlined its governing committees. The latter move included naming the heads of three Alliance companies to AHCA’s new Board of Governors. Correspondingly, at least one of those corporate chiefs has said his company would not join the Alliance withdrawal.

An Alliance spokesman said, however, the group’s wish to form a separate, distinct lobbying group with its own president and infrastructure was unchanged.

An attorney by training, Rosenbloom has a wide background in long-term care and healthcare matters.  He will lead the Washington-based Alliance’s advocacy efforts and oversee operations.

“We are very excited to have someone of Alan’s stature joining the Alliance,” said Alliance chairman Keith Weikel. “He is an expert on the issues affecting health care in general and skilled nursing providers in particular. Given Alan’s success in Pennsylvania and prior Washington experience, we are confident his leadership will be a tremendous asset to the Alliance as we move forward in establishing an office in Washington, D.C.”

Rosenbloom was once the interim president of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, where he had also held a number of other positions. Previously, the Massachusetts native was a partner at two Philadelphia law firms, where he specialized in healthcare.

“With so many important federal issues facing skilled nursing providers, this position is a great opportunity,” Rosenbloom said. “In recent years, the Alliance has played a crucial role in driving substantial quality improvement for skilled nursing providers. I am confident we will accelerate this trend.”