Emergency Preparedness requires a Communications Plan

A problematic area in emergency planning is the Communications plan.  Accurate communications with stakeholders, especially the media, contributes to a successful resolution of the emergency and may lead to a positive evaluation by the community.  Download the AHCA/NCAL Communications Plan.

United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

Last month, and according to a Dec. 19, 2014, email from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, the Committee released a bi-partisan report detailing the most common types of fraud reported to the committee over the last year through its Fraud Hotline.  Since seniors are often prime targets for fraudsters, the U.S. Special Committee on Aging made protecting older Americans from fraudulent and deceptive practices a top priority last Congress.  If you or a loved one have been the victim of fraud, you may wish to contact the Committee at 1-855-303-9470 or visit the Committee’s Fraud Hotline website.

The Department of Labor Home Care Final Rule and Litigation Update

The Department of Labor’s Home Care Final Rule, which was released on Sept. 17, 2013, extends the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime protections to most of the nation’s workers who provide home care assistance to elderly people and people with illnesses, injuries or disabilities.  According to the DOL’s website, the Department issued the Home Care Final Rule to extend minimum wage and overtime protections to almost 2 million home care workers effective Jan. 1, 2015. 

However, on December 22, 2014, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon issued an opinion and order in Home Care Association of America v. Weil, Civil Action No. 14-967 (D.D.C.), vacating the third party regulation amended by the Home Care Final Rule.  On January 14, 2015, Judge Leon issued an opinion and order vacating the Final Rule’s revised definition of companionship services.  Noted on DOL’s website, the Department strongly disagrees with both orders, and they are considering all of their legal options.  More details on this matter can also be found in this disabilityscoop article.  

NFP Grassroots Advocacy

Steven Chies, AHCA’s NFP Council Chair, encourages AHCA’s NFP providers to participate in our grassroots advocacy efforts in 2015.  AHCA would like to help you get facility tours and in-district meetings set up over future recess days.  Please provide your name, facility address, and email address and we will craft the invite and send it to you to send to the Congressional office.  The four brief steps for a successful facility tour visit can be found here.  Please feel free to contact Matthew Smyth and Dana Halvorson who can help you with all of the logistics. 

NFPs Engaging in the Political Process

For more information on how NFPs can engage in the political process, please review this webinar and handout from Wiley Rein, LLP.  Both documents will give members of 501(c) 3 tax exempt organizations an overview of what they can and cannot do in regards to lobbying and political activity.  For issue briefs, talking points and more, visit AHCA’s advocacy page. 

U.S. Congressional Calendars

As you are planning your visits with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C., or in your district, the Congressional calendars will be of assistance to you. The U.S. House of Representatives calendar for the 114^th Congress, first session, can be found here. The U.S. Senate schedule for the new Congress can be found here. The dates in black reference the times the U.S. Senate is in session.  The red dates represent when the U.S. Senate is in recess.  

Social Media Strategies

Communicators and advocates from across the sector host a webinar every 3rd Thursday of each month at 3pm Eastern to coordinate social media strategy and share ideas. From beginners to seasoned social media gurus, we welcome anyone willing to learn more about these important platforms of information sharing. They’re becoming crucial in our campaigns on and off Capitol Hill. Be sure to also visit our Facebook page. Email AHCA’s Manager of Grassroots and Member Advocacy, Michael Cowden, to become involved today!

AHCA/NCAL Advocacy App

If you haven’t already heard about it, then we wanted to alert you to a great app that allows you to keep abreast of AHCA advocacy efforts.  Among other things, it provides important talking points, issue briefs and features that allow you to take action.  It will be useful not only to you, but serves as a great way for providers to weigh in.  You can get the app by clicking on the appropriate black box below.

 

Download our advocacy app!

   

7th Annual AHCA/NCAL Quality Symposium

The AHCA/NCAL 7th Annual Quality Symposium: It's Time to Roar, will be held in Austin, Texas, February 23-25, 2015.  The Symposium builds on a tradition of providing high level, extremely targeted quality improvement programming.  The quality call to action has grown from a persistent chorus of voices to an industry-wide roar.  Be sure your voice is among those contributing to the roar that drives change, and progress, and outcomes.  Register now for the premier quality education and networking event in the long term and post-acute care.  Earn up to 15.5 CEUs for administrators. Nurse hours are also available.  Click here to learn more.  

Stay on Track with the NCAL Spring Conference

Give yourself the opportunity to expand professionally by attending the 2015 NCAL Spring Conference, March 9-11, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida!  With the theme Thriving in a New Health Care Environment, the NCAL Spring Conference features two distinct tracks (Tools and Strategies) that each bring focused and tangible information to participants.  Earn up to 10.5 CEUs from the latest from experts in the assisted living profession, and network with your peers from across the country. 

2014-2015 Flu Season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) webpage on the 2014-2015 influenza season has several materials and resources you might find helpful, including (among others):

• A Toolkit for Long-Term Care Employers:  Increasing Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Personnel in Long-term Care Settings 
• Early Estimates of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, January 2015
• Protection from Flu Vaccination Reduced this Season
• Are You at High Risk for Serious Illness from Flu?
• CDC Health Update Regarding Treatment of Patients with Influenza with Antiviral Medications
• CDC-Info on Demand – Reminder Sheets for Flu Shots

Articles and Resources of Interest

• AHCA’s LTC Stats (Oscar Data) – AHCA website
  
• Health Tip: Taking Care of Someone With Flu – healthfinder.gov
  
•  Health Tip: Shopping for a Walking Shoe – healthfinder.gov
  
•  Health Tip: Take Back Strain Out of Work – healthfinder.gov
  
•  Glaucoma: Silent Cause of Vision Loss – Veterans Health Administration
  
•  Veterans: A Great Source For Senior Living – Provider
  
•  IRA Charitable Rollover – Independent Sector
  
•  2015 White House Conference on Aging Website
  
•  Regional Forums to Provide Input and Ideas for the 2015 White House Conference on Aging

Agency Corner

• HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2015

• New Medicaid.gov Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Homepage

• The Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Workforce Funding Opportunity: Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program

• The Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Workforce National Center for Health Workforce Analysis:  The Future of the Nursing Workforce: National- and State-Level Projections, 2012-2025

Webinars of Interest

• Stay informed and tune in to AHCA/NCAL-hosted pre-recorded and live webinars on a number of topics, including the Affordable Care Act, impacting the long term care profession.
 
• AHCA/NCAL Webinar on February 4, 2015, at 2pm ET:  Emerging Nutrition Issues Webinar Series – Part I: The 2014 NPUAP/EPUAP/PPPIA Guidelines for Nutrition in Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers – Registration details can be found here.

• CMS Survey and Certification Group – Archived Webinars

I Need You

According to Dr. Bryan K. Williams, “It takes a special person to serve others, and it takes an extra special person to serve in healthcare.  Healthcare professionals are, in fact, special people. Besides skills, they have the responsibility and privilege to literally improve the life of someone else.  Those who fully embrace that responsibility serve with their hearts, and it’s a beautiful sight to see.  They let love pervade everything they do and say with their patients.”  The full blog version of the “I Need You” article can be found here. 

Dr. Williams is a consultant, trainer, and author, who focuses on the areas of service excellence and organizational effectiveness.  He has spoken at numerous AHCA/NCAL events, and his passion is to serve others so they may better serve the world.  Here is a link where you can see some of Dr. Williams’ book recommendations on service, leadership and personal development.

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

The National Association of Sates United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds monthly calls concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability the first Thursday of every month at 3pm EST.  One of the past calls focused on resources for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers.  Information about future calls, and audio recording of previous ones, can be found here.

AHCA’s State of the States Clearinghouse

AHCA members now have access to key Medicaid and Medicare information through the new State of the States Clearinghouse. The AHCA State of the States Clearinghouse is a one stop shop for key Medicaid and Medicare information impacting the long term care profession.   

This new resource provides valuable data, including:

·                 Overview of the demographic landscape;

·                 State-specific nursing center occupancy and ownership breakouts; 

·                 Certificate of Need requirements for nursing centers and state licensure requirements; 

·                 State data on the cost of care for long term services and supports;  

·                 State data on the total number of Medicare enrollees; 

·                 Data on state Medicare Advantage plan enrollees and comparisons to the national average; 

·                 State and national Medicaid expenditure data;

·                 State Medicaid rates, costs and shortfalls;

·                 And other significant state-specific data related to payment structure, managed long term services and home and community based services coverage.

AHCA will continue to provide the most up-to-date information through the Clearinghouse and share new data/resources as they become available. Also be sure to visit the AHCA Medicaid Page to learn more about the program and to access additional AHCA members-only Medicaid resources.

Upcoming 2015 Events

• Alzheimer’s Disease Research Summit 2015: Path to Treatment and Prevention at the National Institutes of Health – Feb. 9-10, 2015
  
• 2015 AHCA/NCAL Quality Symposium – Feb. 23 – 25, 2015
  
• 2015 NCAL Spring Conference – March 9 – 11, 2015
  
• 2015 Independent Owner Leadership Conference – March 11 – 13, 2015
  
• 2015 ID/DD Hill Fly-In Event – March 24, 2015

2015 Health Care Observances

The 2015 AHCA/NCAL Health Care Observances Calendar can be found here.  February marks, among other observances, both American Heart Month and National Cancer Prevention Month.