Quality Summit and Independent Owner Leadership Conference: Act Now To Save on Registration and Hotel

AHCA/NCAL’s 2020 Quality Summit and 2020 Independent Owner Leadership Conference take place consecutively, offering you an excellent week of networking and education at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, TX.  Register for both and save $50, but don’t delay.  Register and reserve your hotel by February 7 to take advantage of the special AHCA/NCAL room rates.

The Quality Summit is March 9-11 and provides programming for all levels of staff in long term and post-acute care. See the complete list of session topics and descriptions at QS.ahcancal.org.  You can earn up to 11.5 CEs. 

If you’re an owner, operator, or administrator of roughly 10 or fewer facilities, the Independent Owner (IO) Leadership Conference is an outstanding opportunity for you to discuss key issues that are critical to your business.  It takes place March 11-13. This year, the focus is on Solutions to Differentiate Your Business.  You can earn up to 13.75 CEUs.  Visit IO.ahcancal.org to find out more.

Support H.R. 4468, the Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act

Please reach out to your Representatives to encourage them to co-sponsor H.R. 4468, the Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act.  This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) and Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-4), will help address the critical shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) by ensuring that CNAs have access to the quality training that they need.

As you may know, nursing home facilities that face $10,843 or more in civil monetary penalties (CMPs) are subject to the revocation of their training program and are unable to create a new program for a mandatory two-year period.  This new legislation will allow nursing facilities to resume their in-house education programs once deficiencies are identified and remedied, while also providing additional oversight of facilities that are under a period of disapproval for a maximum of two years.

Contact your members of Congress today and tell them to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation that will greatly help those facilities who rely on CNA trainings to provide quality care to their residents.

AHCA ID/DD Congressional Hill Fly-In Event This Month!

AHCA’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Residential Services Providers annual Hill Fly-In event will occur on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at the AHCA offices in DC.  This important event is free to attend for AHCA/NCAL members.  Breakfast will be provided to registrants.  Congressional speakers are being invited, a legislative update will be provided, and Hill visits will follow in the afternoon.  AHCA will provide one-pagers and talking points for registrants to take to the Hill.  If you would like to attend, please contact AHCA’s Senior Director of Not for Profit & Constituent Services, Dana Ritchie, at dritchie@ahca.org.  If you have any questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to let Dana know.  AHCA hopes to see you at this important event!

‘Sharing Our Wisdom’ Announced as 2020 Theme for National Skilled Nursing Care Week

AHCA announced “Sharing Our Wisdom” as the 2020 theme for National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), which will be held May 10-16.  The theme "Sharing Our Wisdom," will celebrate skilled nursing centers, and their residents and staff, by showcasing the insight, purpose, and wisdom to be learned from our seniors, those living with dementia, and people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Residents offer a unique perspective based on their life experiences, reminding us to be present, celebrate the small moments, and value connections.  NSNCW 2020 will focus on the collective wisdom that residents can offer and share.

Established by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in 1967, NSNCW, formerly known as National Nursing Home Week, recognizes the essential role of skilled nursing care centers in caring for America’s frail, elderly, and disabled.  Skilled nursing care centers and members of the public can download NSNCW promotional materials at www.ahcancal.org/NSNCW​ and are encouraged to share activities, ideas, and experiences for the observance on social media using the hashtag, #NSNCW.  AHCA will issue a planning guide and product catalog in late February. For more information on National Skilled Nursing Care Week, visit www.ahcancal.org/NSNCW.

We Need You for Our Social Media Initiative

AHCA/NCAL began a social media advocacy initiative last year and is encouraging all members to get involved.  The effort focuses on improving the overall image of the post-acute and long term care profession by sharing positive stories and pushing back on pieces that attempt to tie all providers to isolated negative events.

AHCA/NCAL will be sending interested members tips for getting more involved on social media, best practices for posting content, sample posts, and a roundup of positive stories about the profession on a regular basis. Individuals who want to get involved should email socialmedia@ahca.org to get on the mailing list.

The campaign also will include a rapid response to stories that are unfairly negative about the profession or do not accurately portray the reality of post-acute and long term care.  AHCA/NCAL hopes to build on these successes as the year continues. With thousands of buildings nationwide who touch the lives of millions of people, there is the chance to seriously affect the way the profession is viewed and treated by lawmakers and the media.

Articles and Resources of Interest

• ICYMI: Assisted Living Survey Data Now Available in LTC Trend Tracker
• Learn New Workforce Recruitment and Retention Strategies in Just 45 Minutes
• Celebrate the Year of the Nurse by Offering Your RNs Gerontological Nurse Certification
• Register Today for Your AHCA PDPM Academy 2020 Subscription
• Take a Free Test Drive of the CARES® Online Dementia Training Program & Members Save 15% on all Purchases

Legislative and Agency Corner

• Updated Five-Star Ratings Released Today
• CMS Hosts Quality Conference in Baltimore — February 25-27
• CMS Hosting January 29 Listening Session on MAC Opportunities to Enhance Provider Experience
• New Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)

Upcoming 2020 Events

• ID/DD Congressional Hill Fly-In Event – February 26, 2020
• Quality Summit – March 9-11, 2020  
• Independent Owner’s Conference – March 11-13, 2020

2020 Health Care Observances

March 2020 marks, among other observances, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month, National Nutrition Month and National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.  The 2020 Healthcare Observances Calendar can be found here.