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.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
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
.jpg)
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 114th 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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)