'Today, California took off a giant step toward a brighter future for the 【S1】______ frail elderly patients who receive care in skilled nursing of facilities,' 【S2】______ said Jim Gomez, President and CEO of the California Association of Health Facilities. 'At a time when legislators, regulators, residents and families are rightfully demanding for the best care possible, California 【S3】______ now has a funding system which will actually pay for the cost of 【S4】______ providing care and take into consideration the level of care which each 【S5】______ patient needs,' continued Gomez. 'Governor Schwarzenegger's support of AB 1629 (Frommer-D, Glendale) is consistent with the expectation when he laid out last January. He 【S6】______ said that in this current environment of record state budget deficits, where it would be necessary to develop creative solutions and 【S7】______ leverage additional federal policies. Though clearly we have 【S8】______ accomplished that,' said Paul Tunnell, Chairman of the Association. In signing AB 1629, Governor Schwarzenegger said, 'The quality assurance fee when authorized in this legislation will provide funds 【S9】______ that would be otherwise unavailable in these times of fiscal constraint, thus enabling the State to provide with a much needed increase in 【S10】______ Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to skilled nursing facilities. Higher rates, combined with the facility-specific rate of methodology specified in 【S11】______ the bill, which will result in better wages for nursing home 【S12】______ employees, compensation for structural improvements and better quality of care for the residents. ' 【S1】______