Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Health Care Council of Illinois and the Illinois Health Care Association have announced they will merge and operate under the Health Care Council of Illinois name. HCCI is a non-profit representing 370 licensed skilled nursing facilities while the IHCA is also a non-profit and represents 450 licensed and certified long term care centers and programs throughout the state.

Jonathan Aaron, Co-President of the HCCI Board of Directors, said “Forming one association will allow us to most effectively advocate for those living and working in nursing home and assisted living communities.”

HCCI will become the Illinois affiliate of the American Health Care Association after the merger. The Illinois Center for Assisted Living, under HCCI, will continue as the Illinois affiliate of the National Center for Assisted Living.

“We’re excited to see that two associations, each great on its own, have decided to come together to create an even stronger voice for long term and post-acute care in Illinois,” said Mark Parkinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of AHCA/NCAL, which represents more than 14,000 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers, and homes for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities across the country. “HCCI shares our values and is aligned with our mission of improving lives by delivering solutions for quality care. We are proud to have them join us, and we will work together to advance the skilled nursing and assisted living care options available for seniors in Illinois as well as the dedicated caregivers who support them each day. We look forward to what’s to come in this new chapter of long-term care in Illinois.”

Matt Pickering will continue to serve as the Executive Director of HCCI and Ron Nunziato will continue as the Senior Director of Policy & Regulatory Affairs. HCCI and IHCA have approved a memorandum of understanding to merge, subject to due diligence and finalization of details.