Leaders from Argentum, the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living and LeadingAge have been named to The Hill’s “Top Lobbyists 2021” list, published Wednesday.
“In one of the busiest years on record for the D.C. influence world, these are the people who wielded their connections and knowledge most effectively for their clients,” The Hill said in the announcement, adding that the list consists of “people who stand out for delivering results for their clients in the halls of Congress and the administration.”
The list includes a total of 442 representatives from corporations, associations and grassroots organizations as well as “hired guns.”
The 133-member list of association executives includes:
- James Balda, president and CEO of Argentum
- Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL
- Linda Couch, vice president of housing policy for LeadingAge
- Joe Franco, vice president of grassroots for LeadingAge
To advocate for members during the pandemic, Argentum pivoted from a state focus to a federal one. Balda credited his appearance on the list to Argentum members’ grassroots efforts with Congress and the White House, “which effectively helped save the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) intended to aid healthcare providers suffering COVID-related losses.” He also mentioned the association’s current “Don’t Leave Us Behind…Again” campaign, which urges the Biden administration and Congress to target PRF funds to the senior living industry.
“Argentum members and all stakeholders in the assisted living profession marked 2021 as a crucial pivot point for our work given the financial and workforce crises our caregivers face,” Balda said. “Making The Hill’s top lobbyist list is a reflection of the hard work Argentum staff and our member providers put in and continue to put in as this pandemic is not over, nor is our fight for adequate financial relief and support.”
Parkinson has appeared on the list since 2013. AHCA/NCAL pointed to his advocacy efforts during the pandemic, “one of the most significant challenges LTC has ever faced,” his work to ensure that long-term care facilities were given top priority when COVID-19 vaccines became available, and his working for the release of $25 billion in provider relief funding, including for assisted living providers.
Through her role at LeadingAge, Couch, among other duties, works closely with leaders in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal agencies and also examines federally assisted elderly housing policies. Franco, among other duties, builds LeadingAge’s grassroots capacity; recruits, trains and mobilizes the organization’s members; and crafts messages meant to motivate people to take action.
See The Hill’s entire list here.
