AHCA/NCAL Responds to House Republican Legislation to Repeal and Replace Obamacare

On March 7, 2017, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) President and CEO Mark Parkinson today issued the following statement regarding the Obamacare repeal and replace bill released on Monday, March 6:

“Long term care providers across the country are disappointed that cuts to Medicaid are included in the Obamacare repeal and replace bill released yesterday. The current Medicaid system underfunds nursing center care by $22.46 per day, resulting in a shortfall of nearly $7 billion annually. The bill released yesterday will sharply reduce Medicaid funds across the board for all beneficiaries, making it harder than ever to maintain access to care for the most vulnerable in our society.

“The residents in long term care centers are uniquely vulnerable. More than one million individuals call nursing centers their home and most rely on Medicaid for their care. This bill will cut Medicaid funding for seniors and individuals with disabilities, jeopardizing access to the care they need.

“We strongly encourage Congress to protect Medicaid access for seniors and people with disabilities in the Obamacare repeal and replace effort.”

AHCA/NCAL Congratulates Administrator Verma

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) President and CEO Mark Parkinson issued the following statement on March 13 regarding confirmation of Seema Verma as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at the Department of Health and Human Services:

“We congratulate Ms. Verma and look forward to the opportunity to work with her and the team at CMS. Her experience and health care policy knowledge will serve the country well as we continue on the journey to provide quality care for millions of patients and residents.”

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

AHCA’s ID/DD Members Storm the Hill this Week

This Wednesday, AHCA’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Residential Services Providers will be in Washington DC for AHCA’s annual Hill Fly-In event.  Participants will hear from several Congressional speakers, including current and former Hill staffers and members of Congress.  The morning will start off with a Hill update from Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-02), and will be followed by a Managed Care update from Camille Dobson, the NASUAD Deputy Executive Director.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from a Congressional Hill panel that will include the Honorable Earl Pomeroy, the Honorable Jim McCrery, Bob Russell and Dan Elling. 

AHCA’s ID/DD providers will then head in the afternoon to Capitol Hill to discuss critical issues, including Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care and workforce shortages.  If you have any questions relating to this event, please don’t hesitate to contact AHCA’s Senior Director of Not for Profit & Constituent Services, Dana Halvorson. 

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.