Legislative and Agency Corner

• AHCA Statement on MedPAC Report to Congress – ahcancal.org
• AHCA Statement on 2019 SNF PPS Proposed Rule – ahcancal.org
• U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Approves Legislation Including VA Provider Agreements – longtermcareleader.com
• AHCA/NCAL Submit Comments on IMPACT Act “Medication Profile” DRAFT Quality Measures – longtermcareleader.com
• AHCA Statement on 2019 SNF PPS Proposed Rule – longtermcareleader.com
• 2017 Profile of Older Americans – acl.gov
• Older Americans Month 2018 – oam.acl.gov  
• Lack of sleep may be linked to risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease – nih.gov

Webinars of Interest

Stay informed and tune in to ahcancalED for several pre-recorded and live webinars on topics impacting the long-term care profession. Webinars that might be of interest are noted below.  

• Protecting your Tax Exempt Status....It's not just a legal issue
• The AHCA Quality Initiative 2018-2021: What’s New & What it Means for You for NFP
• LTC Trend Tracker℠ 101 for Independent Owners (IO)
• How Independent Owners Can Utilize LTC Trend Tracker℠ Data

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.

• Could Ford Have Dodged the F-150 Fiasco
• Never Trust A Squeaky Clean Mechanic
• When Pigs Fly
• Superpowers and Kryptonite
• Patching the Potholes
• Endangered Species

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 2018 Events

• 2018 National Skilled Nursing Care Week – May 13-19, 2018  
• AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing (Washington, D.C.) – June 4-5, 2018
• AHCA/NCAL 69th Annual Convention and Exposition (San Diego, CA) – October 7-10, 2018  

2018 Health Care Observances

June 2018 marks, among other observances, National Safety Month, Cataract Awareness Month, and Men’s Health Month.  The 2018 Healthcare Observances Calendar can be found here.