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Message:	Dear Governor Rendell, I am writing to ask that you work with the Members of the General Assembly to assure that adequate dollars are included in the 2008/2009 state budget for Medical Assistance nursing home residents. I understand that difficult budget choices were made, and that priorities were established. But the detrimental effects of your proposed budget -- with no increase for already-underfunded Medical Assistance nursing home residents -- are very real on the residents, on those who care for them, and on the families who rely on nursing homes to be a safe harbor for elderly loved ones. Every person should be able to age in the setting that is most appropriate for them at each point in their life, so the expansion of home and community-based care is good for Pennsylvania -- but not at the expense of nursing home residents. Our commonwealth is not well served if we build a strong home health system, but fail to adequately support assisted living and skilled nursing care facilities when home care can no longer meet the needs of the patient in a safe or cost effective manner. Given that nursing home residents are the sickest of the elderly, they should have "first dibs" on limited state resources. They should be at the front of the line when it comes to dividing up limited resources. Most of the elderly in nursing homes are part of the Greatest Generation. We can not neglect these Pennsylvanians who have given so much for our country and our state. Please, Governor: Let's reset the priorities and not abandon the needs of those who need help the most.