Hundreds of long-term care leaders convened on Capitol Hill Thursday. Their goal was to ask lawmakers for continued funding and support.

“Our message to Congress is that the long term care sector’s funding stability is central to sustaining the care quality improvements we are working together to achieve,” said Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association. The group, which represents more than 10,000 mostly for-profits, held its 25th congressional gathering this week.

Operators also urged lawmakers to work to improve the current survey and certification process and encourage further investment in healthcare-related technology They stressed the need to address long-term care workforce shortages and modernize Medicare and Medicaid payment policies.