CEO of Pa. senior care association resigns

The leader of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association is resigning, citing challenges in the senior care sector that could be better answered by new leadership.

W. Russell McDaid took the helm as president and CEO of the advocacy organization in 2016. The Pennsylvania Health Care Association, or PHCA, represents over 420 senior care facilities in the state and has dealt with an increasingly difficult senior care environment due to stagnating reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities  and increasing premiums for workers’ compensation insurance.

McDaid’s resignation is effective Feb. 8. He said in a statement on Friday that PHCA is in need of a new leader as the senior-care sector continues to face challenges.

"After a discussion with Board leadership and careful consideration of the challenges facing this sector and the strategies that will be necessary to ensure the success of PHCA and its membership moving forward, I believe it to be in the best interest of the Association and its membership to seek new leadership at this critical time for our sector," McDaid said in a statement.

McDaid joined the association in 2013 as COO and executive vice president. PHCA board chairman R. Sean Buckman said in a statement that the organization will be looking for a new leader.

"We wish (McDaid) the best in his future endeavors as the PHCA Board of Directors seeks new leadership to aggressively tackle the challenges ahead and pave a new path for this sector," Buckman said.

Association representatives declined to comment on what qualities it will seek in its next leader.