2017 AHCA/NCAL Awards Program

Through the Volunteer of the Year (VOY), ID/DD Hero of the Year, Not for Profit (NFP) Program of the Year and NFP Trustee awards programs, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) honor those individuals who are dedicated to improving the quality of lives of residents and their surrounding communities.  The deadline for AHCA receipt of all nominations is Friday, June 9, 2017.  The nomination applications can be found here.   

 Just as a reminder, whereas the Volunteers of the Year nomination form MUST be submitted by a state affiliate organization, the ID/DD Hero of the Year, the NFP Program of the Year and NFP Trustee nomination forms can be member-submitted directly to AHCA electronically.  All nominations must be typed and submitted electronically this year.  Faxed or handwritten nominations are not accepted.  Honorees in each category will be recognized at AHCA/NCAL’s 68th Annual Convention and Expo, October 16-18, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

2017 AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing

Join your colleagues to hear the latest news from Capitol Hill, share ideas, network, and prepare with AHCA/NCAL to carry your message to your Members of Congress and their staff.  Then spend several hours meeting with your Members of Congress in-person.  It's the most powerful way to be heard and have an impact.  You can now take advantage of an AHCA/NCAL room rate and save at the Washington Court Hotel on New Jersey Avenue, NW. Deadline: May 8, 2017.  Visit CB.ahcancal.org for updates and to see the complete agenda.

The conference registration fee is complimentary to AHCA/NCAL Members and AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members, and their spouses, and is accepted on a first-come basis.  This year's keynote is Fox News Channel Anchor Bret Baier.  Additional speakers and guests will be announced shortly.  Register today.

AHCA/NCAL Observation Stays Hill Issue Brief Available

Last month, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) commended several members of Congress for reintroducing the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2017 (S. 568/H.R. 1421).  Introduced on March 8, 2017 by Congressmen Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), and Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), the legislation ensures that time spent under “observation status” in a hospital counts toward satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital requirement for coverage of skilled nursing care services under Medicare.  The Observation Stays Coalition, which consists of over 30 organizations including AHCA/NCAL, fully supports this legislation.  The AHCA/NCAL issue brief is for your use when reaching out to your members of Congress.  

AHCA/NCAL continues to keep the observation stays issue one of its top advocacy and outreach priorities.  Increasingly, patients have no idea what their status is in a hospital, or the importance of it, which can lead to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical expenses should they need skilled nursing center care following their hospital stay.  In addition to placing a financial burden on seniors and their families, this anomaly in Medicare rules can cause unnecessary spend-down, accelerating the time frame in which seniors will have to turn to programs such as Medicaid to pay for their care.  For more information about the observation stays issue, please visit the AHCA/NCAL website. 

2017-2018 AHCA Elections and Solicitation for Candidates

The 2017-2018 election cycle has officially opened for AHCA members in good standing interested in running for the AHCA Board of Governors.  The AHCA elections are for three officer positions (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer), one Independent Owner Representative, one Regional Multifacility Representative and two At-large Representatives. AHCA members interested in running for an AHCA Board position may obtain the necessary candidacy materials online.  Applicants must complete and electronically submit the AHCA candidacy materials by close of business on May 22, 2017.  Candidates will submit completed materials by sending an e-mail to Christy Sharp.

The AHCA elections will take place during the second Council of States meeting at the AHCA/NCAL 68th Annual Convention & Expo, October 15 - 18 in Las Vegas, NV.  Once the application phase has ended, the AHCA/NCAL Credentialing Committee will hold an in-person meeting to conduct a certification process for each candidate.  Once certification occurs, AHCA will announce the slate of candidates to the membership.  If you have further questions, contact Christy Sharp.

‘Family is Forever’ Designated as 2017 Theme for National Assisted Living Week

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) recently revealed “Family is Forever” as this year’s theme for National Assisted Living Week®.  The annual, national observance provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and surrounding communities to celebrate the individuals served in assisted living and learn more about this sector of long term care. ​​​​​

“Anyone who has spent valuable time in an assisted living community has seen how staff can come to think of their residents like family,” said NCAL Executive Director Scott Tittle. “It takes a special person to work in our profession, and often, caregivers form bonds that can never be broken.  This National Assisted Living Week, we want to recognize these amazing individuals who give their heart and soul to their residents, as well as those seniors and individuals with disabilities who leave a lasting imprint on their caregivers.”

Established by NCAL in 1995, National Assisted Living Week (NALW) will be held Sept. 10-16, 2017.  This year’s theme is inspired by a quote from the poet Maya Angelou: “Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.” Assisted living communities across the country are encouraged to organize activities and events during NALW that celebrate these deep connections between staff and residents.

The “Family is Forever” logo is available for download to assisted living communities, stakeholders, and members of the public on the NALW website.  In the coming months, NCAL will issue a planning guide and product catalog centered on ways to celebrate “Family is Forever.” Please visit www.NALW.org for updated information and resources.

Emergency Preparedness CMS Final Rule Summaries and Webinar Series Available

The California Association of Health Facilities and the American Health Care Association have put together a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) and Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ICF/IID) Emergency Preparedness CMS Final Rule summaries that can be found here.  The rule was released on Friday, September 16, 2016, and can be found here.  Providers will need to comply by November 2017.  Members impacted by the rule include SNFs, Nursing Facilities and ICF/IIDs.  This final rule is not applicable to Assisted Living Providers. 

Finally, the AHCA Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Webinar Series that you might find of assistance can be found here. 

NFP Grassroots Advocacy – Facility Visits over Recess

Gary Kelso, AHCA’s NFP Council Chair, encourages AHCA’s NFP providers to participate in our grassroots advocacy efforts in 2017.  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.

AHCA’s NFP Council member, Van Moore (pictured to the right), meets with Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR-2, pictured on the left) at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles.  Van discussed with the Congressman issues impacting AHCA/NCAL members, including the observation stays issue. 

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. 

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 115^th Congress, first session, can be found here.  The tentative U.S. Senate schedule for 2017 can be found here.

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!

   

AHCA’s State of the States Clearinghouse

AHCA members have access to key Medicaid and Medicare information through the 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 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.

We’ve Got You Covered! AHCA/NCAL Insurance Solutions Website

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) now offers a variety of comprehensive insurance programs to meet your business needs. Backed by the strength of our membership, AHCA/NCAL Insurance Solutions programs are designed with exclusive member savings and discounts for both the fully-insured or self-insured members.

The program offers health insurance options, group and voluntary benefit packages, an aggressive Stop-Loss insurance program as well as cloud based HR platforms that will help members achieve savings and greater efficiencies on HR services within your company, while also tracking and reporting on key Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements.  For more information, please contact AHCA’s Dave Kyllo at dkyllo@AHCA.org and visit the AHCA/NCAL Insurance Solutions website.  

Articles and Resources of Interest

• How To Help Alzheimer’s Patients Enjoy Life, Not Just ‘Fade Away’ – khn.org
• To Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s, Think Before You Eat – khn.org
• Boomerang Seniors: Aging Adults Move To Be Near Mom Or Dad – khn.org
• Want To Live Past 100? Centenarians Share Secrets Of Knee Bends And Nips Of Scotch – khn.org
• A Playbook For Managing Problems In The Last Chapter Of Your Life – khn.org
• ‘Tsunami’ Of Alzheimer’s Cases Among Latinos Raises Concerns Over Costs, Caregiving – khn.org
• Death Doesn’t Have To Be So Scary – khn.org
• Laughing Until You Die – khn.org
• More Than 20,000 Open Positions Posted in LTC Sector in April – longtermcareleader.com
• Nominate Your Champion of Quality By June 9! – longtermcareleader.com
• New! LTC Trend Tracker Features for Account Administrators – longtermcareleader.com
• SNF QRP Submission Deadline Upcoming – longtermcareleader.com
• Updated PBJ Manual Now Available – longtermcareleader.com
• SNF QRP Quick Reference Guide – longtermcareleader.com
• Measuring Compliance Program Effectiveness Resource Guide – longtermcareleader.com
• Check Updated LEIE Database – longtermcareleader.com

Legislative and Agency Corner

• By Law, Hospitals Now Must Tell Medicare Patients When Care Is ‘Observation’ Only – khn.org
• CMS Updates SNF Billing Reference Booklet – longtermcareleader.com
• GAO Shows Improvement Needed to Reduce Improper Billing – longtermcareleader.com
• CMS Post Results of RAC MDS Validation Study of SNF Therapy RUG Claims – longtermcareleader.com
• New CMS Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Form – longtermcareleader.com

Webinars of Interest

Stay informed and tune in to AHCA/NCAL-hosted pre-recorded and live webinars on several topics impacting the long-term care profession.  A few webinars coming up in May that might be of interest are below.  

• Best Practice Standards for Nutrition
• ahcancalED for IO’s and NFP Providers
• Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Webinar

In addition, the Administration for Community Living’s National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center has partnered with the American Society on Aging to hold a webinar on May 16^th entitled, “Providing Safe and Effective Nutrition for People with Dementia,” from 1-2pm ET.  More details and where to register can be found here.   

Webinar Recording Now Available – SNF PPS FY 2018 Proposed Rule

Last Friday, AHCA hosted a webinar highlighting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) fiscal year (FY) 2018 update.  The recording is now available for members only. 

During the webinar, AHCA staff provided an overview of the proposed rule.  They also discussed the difference between the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the regular annual payment update) and the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Both were issued on Thursday, April 27.  Please note that an ahcancalED log-in is required to hear this recording.

AHCA/NCAL Learning Management Website

AHCA/NCAL has a comprehensive online Learning Management System to support the training needs of its members. The website, known as ahcancalED, contains a wealth of information including educational programs, webinars, instructional videos, training courses, and other tools. It is available free to AHCA/NCAL members.

"We created ahcancalED for our members who do not have the time or budget to develop the newest in-service training," said Dr. David Gifford, AHCA/NCAL Senior Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs. "Our objective also was to provide the best and latest educational tools, especially as CMS increases its regulatory requirements about staff training and competency in a number of areas. ahcancalED is designed to help individuals in our profession do a better job of caring for patients and residents and advance in their careers."
The information on ahcancalED is structured to make the online learning experience engaging, meaningful, and interactive for users. The fresh graphics and clearly defined sections within the site make it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need. The site also allows users to track their own learning progress.
Teams of experts from around the country working with AHCA/NCAL staff helped to create the content. "We will constantly be adding new programs and materials so that we can keep the site fresh and dynamic," said Gifford. "We'll continue to look for new ways the site can grow and serve our members. It's a great value-added benefit and a tangible example of our commitment to enhancing quality."
ahcancalED can be accessed at https://educate.ahcancal.org/. Suggestions for content or other site enhancements can be submitted to the ahcancalED team at educate@ahca.org. AHCA/NCAL welcomes ideas that will help improve quality and strengthen the knowledge, skills and attitudes of staff in the long term and post-acute care community.

From the Blog of Josh Linkner

Noted on the Josh Linkner blog, “To Josh Linkner, creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of all human progress. As such, he’s spent his career harnessing the power of creative disruption.  His journey has been non-traditional at every step. As the founder and CEO of four tech companies, Josh built his businesses from a blank page into a combined value of over $200 million. As a hyper-growth CEO of over 20 years, he’s used innovative approaches to topple competitors, fight through adversity, and achieve at the highest levels.”  The bio section of Linkner’s blog goes on to include that, “Josh is an internationally-recognized thought leader and top-rated keynote speaker on innovation, creativity, reinvention, and hyper-growth leadership. His keynotes are focused on not only inspiring audiences, but also sharing actionable strategies to drive meaningful outcomes.”  Read some of Linkner’s blogs below.  In addition, you can view some of his keynote speaking addresses here.

• Two Danger Traps To Avoid When Growing Your Business
• Don’t Stumble Over Something Behind You
• The Two Big Things United Got Wrong That You Can Get Right
• The Sushi Donut
• Vu Déjà

Guest Problem Resolution 101: Power of the Follow-Up

Dr. Bryan K. Williams notes on his blog that, “Follow-up is an art form.  Some people have it down to a science.  In many ways, one of the biggest differences between good, great, and engaging service is the quality of the follow-up.  So what is the first step towards mastering this rare art form?  It can be summed up in one phrase: Take ownership..” The full blog version of the “Guest Problem Resolution 101:  Power of the Follow-Up” 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 States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds a monthly call or webinar concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability.  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.

Upcoming 2017 Events

• AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. – June 5 – 6, 2017
• 68th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Las Vegas – October 14-18, 2017

2017 Health Care Observances

June 2017 marks, among other observances National Safety Month, Cataract Awareness Month, and Men’s Health Month.  The full 2017 health care related observances calendar can be found here.