The long-term care community lost a stalwart last weekend, when Michael R. Walker, founder of vast Genesis HealthCare, died from a battle with frontotemporal dementia and complications from the coronavirus. 

“I am overcome with sadness as we lost a true leader and pioneer in the skilled nursing industry,” George V. Hager Jr., chief executive officer of Genesis, said in a statement. “Mike was not only a friend, but a mentor and true visionary for our industry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.”

Walker, who was born in 1948, founded Kennett Square-based Genesis in 1985. He served as chairman and CEO from 1985 to 2002. The company began as Genesis Health Ventures in an office at 148 W. State St. in Kennett Square.

“Over the next 13 years, Genesis grew from a small portfolio of nine skilled nursing centers, into a two billion dollar publicly traded company with 40,000 employees nationwide through the acquisition of nursing homes, rehabilitation therapy, diagnostic testing, respiratory therapy, and pharmacy,” according to his obituary. Today, the publicly traded company is located nearby in a building named after Walker.

Larry Lane, former vice president of government relations for Genesis, also called Walker a visionary. He credited Walker with developing the Genesis ElderCare model, “an integrated delivery of post-acute care services making nursing homes an integral part of the communities where they were located and combining physicians, pharmacy, rehabilitation and medical support services,” Lane said.

Leading the Alliance

One of Walker’s enduring legacies was stepping in to lead the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care following the enactment of the onerous Balanced Budget Act of 1997, according to Lane. The law reduced aggregate Medicare outlays for skilled nursing services by more than 25%, making the transition to the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system problematic. At that time, the American Health Care Association, the largest U.S. nursing home association, was also in need of direction following the resignation of Paul Willging, Lane recounted.

“Mike did not hesitate; he quickly assumed the reins,” Lane recalled. “With the sector in economic turmoil and AHCA virtually rudderless without a CEO, the Alliance emerged as the powerhouse for the nursing home sector. Decisions were quickly made to hire outside lobbying support (Haley Barbour), invest in data collection and analysis (Muse & Associates), and secure professional public relations assistance (“the Mad Russian”).”

The result of Walker’s work was the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999, which included amendments to add resources to SNFs for higher-acuity Resource Utilization Group categories and to delay BBA-97 requirements for consolidated billing for most Medicare Part B ancillary services. His efforts so impressed the incoming AHCA CEO, Charles “Chip” Roadman, that the two organizations agreed to a “joint command” for advocacy, with both men exercising control of joint resources, Lane explained.

“This coordination of resources was successful in securing a second relief package, the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000,” Lane said. “This enactment provided additional funding for nursing; the additional funding provided sufficient support for the sector to transition to SNF PPS.” 

Alliance for Long Term Care Pharmacy

A few years later, Walker helped to organize the Alliance for Long Term Care Pharmacy, which was involved in the drafting of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement Act of 2003. In October 2012, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care merged back into the American Health Care Association.

Besides his lobbying activities, Walker served on the Board of Trustees for Franklin and Marshall College, was a member of the board for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and served as a Vestry member at the Episcopal Church of the Advent.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Schaeffer Walker; his son, Forrest Sean Walker (Wendy); his daughter, Cortney Walker Rohr (Alex); four grandchildren, Whitney Schaeffer Walker, Carolyn Grace Walker, William Alex Rohr and Charles Walker Rohr; and by his siblings, William Kirk Walker Jr., Patrick Charles Walker and Kelly Anne Bartholf; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Genesis Employee Foundation, 101 E. State Street, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348.