The Sippican Healthcare Center welcomed Sen. Marc Pacheco (D) for a legislative breakfast on Tuesday morning. Joining Pacheco was Regional District Director Louis Loura and Tara Gregorio from Massachusetts Senior Care Association.

After Loura visited the center for its 25 year anniversary in June, he and Sippican Healthcare Center administrator Karen Wadlow put the breakfast together.

“We invited town administrators and area politicians,” Wadlow said. “It’s nice for the community, and it’s nice for the residents.”

After eating breakfast, Pacheco took to the floor to thank the healthcare professionals and share his desires for the healthcare system.

“We want everyone to have healthcare, especially for the vulnerable, but the problem is how we will pay for it,” he said. “We need the finances to keep up the quality of care. I want to make sure finances are in place so you can have the resources you need available to you.”

He also expressed his appreciation for Marion and offered his help should the Sippican Healthcare Center ever need it.

“There are very few issues I have to deal with in Marion,” he said. “The Board of Selectmen here are very proactive. They don’t ask for state help very often…I just wanted to say I’m here, we’re here to try and be helpful if there’s something we can work together on.”

Gregorio was the morning’s special guest speaker. She also emphasized the importance of finances in the healthcare system.

“There are tremendous challenges facing healthcare centers,” she said. “Half of facilities are operating in the red.”

However, she added that starting in October, more money will be given to Medicaid, to help pay for nursing home residents’ care.

“The recession put challenges on budgets, but for the first time in eight years we have been able to increase Medicaid rates…This money will go directly to fund wages.”

The breakfast was attended by residents as well as the center’s staff.