Senator Bill Cassidy’s office was recently presented with an award at a Morgan City healthcare facility for supporting legislation that’s important to those who provide long-term care for seniors. Lee Turner, the Southwest Regional Director in the Office of Senator Bill Cassidy, represented Cassidy in receiving the award from ADVION representatives at Legacy Nursing & Rehabilitation in Morgan City.
According to its website, ADVION is a consortium of companies that provide care and services to the long term, post-acute and senior care markets working to effect healthcare policy and advocating for high quality, cost effective care.
Each year, ADVION presents the Congressional Leadership Award to a member of Congress who supports long term care issues that are of importance to ADVION members and patient care. For 2025, ADVION presented the award to Cassidy.
Peggy Gourgues with ADVION said Senator Cassidy has championed legislation that is important to its membership including the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, the CONNECT for Health Act of 2023, and the Joint Resolution to Repeal the Minimum Nurse Staffing Rule. She added that Medicare Advantage plans’ prior authorization requirements continue to pose challenges for rehab therapy and other long term care providers. Gourgues said, “During the pandemic, rehab providers were granted the ability to utilize telehealth services, which became and has remained an essential tool to ensure patients can maintain access to care. Additionally, CMS’ devastating nurse staffing rule would impose a significant, unfunded mandate on nursing facilities already struggling to meet workforce requirements. Senator Cassidy’s continued support of these key issues is integral to our patients being able to continue receiving the benefits of rehab therapy and other ancillary care services. Finally, the opportunity this year to work to make meaningful reforms to the Physician Fee schedule is significant to our members.”
Persons in attendance at the award presentation were:
Lee Turner, Southwest Regional Director, Office of Senator Bill Cassidy
William Daigre, Legacy Nursing Facility and Administrator
Peggy Gourgues, COO, Reliant Rehab, Board member of ADVION
Rebecca Tyree, Regional Director of Operations, Reliant Rehab
Cynthia Morton, CEO, ADVION
Kim Zornes, Regional Vice President, Reliant Rehab