Emergency Preparedness CMS Final Rule Summaries Available and Upcoming Webinar

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 be in compliance 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.

In addition, on Thursday, February 9^th, from 1 – 2PM EST, AHCA, with guest speaker Jocelyn Montgomery, RN, and Director of Clinical Affairs at the California Association Health Facilities, will hold a webinar on the emergency preparedness final rule.  The webinar will include, among other things, an overview of the key new requirements, a list of tools to assess if you are prepared for the rule, steps to take now to prepare, and time for your pressing questions to be answered.  You may register for the webinar here.  This will be the first in a 4-part webinar series AHCA will hold this year on the rule. 

CMS Issues New FAQs Regarding Medicaid Beneficiaries in Home and Community-Based Settings who Exhibit Unsafe Wandering or Exist-Seeking Behavior

Last month, CMS issued new guidance with information on how to adhere to the individualized nature of home and community-based services (HCBS) for individuals with dementia or other conditions in which unsafe wandering or exit-seeking behavior is exhibited.  CMS emphasized that person-centered planning, staff training and care delivery are core components of provider operations to meet HCBS requirements for these individuals.  In particular, CMS noted that controlled egress can comply with the HCBS settings rule in certain circumstances; the setting should assess the individual and document his or her choice and need for safety measures in his or her person-centered care plan.  Similarly, while individual rooms in HCBS settings should generally have a lockable door, doors that are not lockable can be used when they are part of the resident’s person-centered plan and after less intrusive methods have been tried and did not work, as provided in the rule.

AHCA/NCAL Independent Owners Conference and Quality Summit Right Around the Corner!

The 2017 AHCA/NCAL Independent Owners Conference will be held March 8 – 10 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.  Join your senior level colleagues to meet and discuss the latest issues that matter to you.  This year’s conference focuses on Surviving and Thriving as an Independent Owner.  You’ll learn innovative strategies and ideas to help you with the challenges of managing staff and patients, and explore different approaches for dealing with new laws and regulation. Discover the best practices in change management and get inspired to raise the quality of care you provide.

 The AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit will be held before at the same hotel March 6-8.  The early registration deadline is February 3, 2017.  Register early and save money off of the standard member rate.  Discount tickets to the Walt Disney World resorts are also available.  Be sure to register today for these important events!  

Mark Your Calendars – AHCA’s 2017 ID/DD Hill Fly-In Event will be held in March

AHCA’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Residential Services Providers annual Hill Fly-In event will occur on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at the AHCA offices in DC. This important event is free to attend.  Breakfast and a boxed lunch 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 Halvorson.  If you have any questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to let Dana know.  AHCA hopes to see you at this important event!

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.