Feb. 20, 2007

This Week's Top News:

Congressional Leader to Discuss Affordable Housing at AAHSA Conference
On Mon. March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon, Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the new chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, will address our Future of Aging Services Conference about his agenda for the new Congress and its impact on the future of affordable senior housing. Congressmen Frank, a long-time advocate for affordable senior housing, now leads the committee whose decisions impact the policies and priorities of this important program. Attend this session to how you and other providers can help him create better policies for older adults. Contact: Nancy Libson, (202) 508-9447.
Learn more about Congressman Frank's positions on housing.
Register for the conference.

Oklahoma "Storyteller" Wins Free Trip to AAHSA's March Conference
Congratulations to Steve Dickie, executive director of Oklahoma Methodist Manor in Tulsa, Okla. He won a free trip to AAHSA's Future of Aging Services Conference, March 19-21 in Washington D.C., after sharing a story about his experience as a "direct care worker for a day" and the impact it had on his views and among his organization's employees. Do you have a story like Steve's to share? We want to hear it. Our story bank is still open for your submissions. You can also fax them to us at (202) 783-2255. Another great way to receive recognition for your hard work is to apply for an AAHSA award. Our 2007 award winners will receive free registration for our 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando, where they will be recognized for their accomplishments. To apply, see the awards brochure mailed to AAHSA members this month, or access the full details and nomination forms on AAHSA's web site. Nominations are due by April 15, so start your application today. Contact: Lauren Shaham, (202) 508-1219.
Read Steve's story.
Send in your stories.

Member of Long-Term Care Quality Commission Testifies for Appropriations Subcommittee
Mary Jane Koren, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the National Commission for Quality Long-Term Care, testified last week for the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations. Koren, who is assistant vice president of The Commonwealth Fund, cited the commission report entitled, "Out of Isolation: A Vision of Long-Term Care in America," which calls for long-term care to be brought to the forefront of the discussion of health care reform and outlines six broad focus areas on which it will issue recommendations: cultural transformation, empowering individuals and families, workforce, technology, regulation, and finance. Contact: Doug Pace, (202) 508-9454.
Read the testimony.
Learn more About the Commission.

CMS Updates HCPCS Codes for SNF Medicare Billing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently issued their quarterly update of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for both fiscal intermediaries and durable medical equipment regional carriers that are subject to consolidated billing under the Medicare prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities (SNF). Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
See the updates.

New Workforce Development Grants Now Available
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is now funding grants for five new demonstration projects focused on workforce development in our field. The grants will be awarded to applicants whose programs would focus on partnerships with regional businesses and educational institutions to improve job training in our field. On March 5, the DOL will sponsor a Webinar about the program. Grant applications are due by April 5. Contact: (877) 464-4772
Learn more about the grants.
Find out about the Webinar.

Nurses: You May Qualify for Help With Your Student Loans
Under the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program, nurses who are full-time employees in nursing homes may qualify for the government to pay up to 85 percent of their outstanding student loans. Apply by March 9 and see if you can take advantage of this opportunity.
Apply for the repayment program.

OSHA Issues New Employee Rights Poster
All employers are required to post information about employees' right to confidentiality when they file a complaint, report an emergency or seek advice from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Now, you can share this information with your employees by posting OSHA's new "It's the Law" poster. Contact: Jennifer Hilliard, (202) 508-9444.
Download the poster.

3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet?
Two-Thirds of AAHSA Members Have Signed the Quality First Covenant. Have You?
"Quality First is a tool to help us 'connect all the dots,'" AAHSA Board Chair Margaret M. "Peggy" Mullan said. "If we embrace it individually and collectively, we will transform the future of aging services." As Quality First approaches its fifth anniversary, isn't it time your organization made a commitment to put quality first? Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
Find out if your organization has signed the AAHSA Quality First Covenant.
See the Covenant.

OIG Reports on Pre-Admission Screening of Younger Residents with Mental Illness or Retardation
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released two new reports last month: Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) for Younger Nursing Facility Residents With Serious Mental Illness and Preadmission Screening and Resident Review for Younger Nursing Facility Residents With Mental Retardation. These reports examine the extent to which PASRR requirements were addressed for Medicaid nursing facilities residents, aged 22 to 64, with serious mental illness and mental retardation in five states, and assess federal and state oversight of the PASRR process. In both reports, the OIG found that both CMS and the survey and certification agencies offered limited oversight of the PASRR process. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.
Read the reports.

Is Your Workplace Prepared for Pandemic Flu?
OSHA recently issued guidance to employers that they can use to prepare for their workplaces for a global influenza outbreak. Contact: Jennifer Hilliard, (202) 508-9444.
Read the guidance.

National News Focuses on Caring for Older Adults
Both NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News are featuring stories focused on the challenges that baby boomers are facing as their parents age as well as services and resources that can help them. Since the stories ran, both networks have received thousands of viewer questions and stories about this important topic. While media interest is high, take this opportunity to "tell your story" to local media. Let them know how caregivers in your community benefit from the care and services you provide for older adults. Contact: Sarah Mashburn, (202) 508-9492.
View the NBC Nightly News Series.
Watch the CBS Evening News Story.
Contact the media in your community.

2006-2007 AAHSA Assisted Living Salary & Benefits Reports Available
How does your assisted living facility compare with others across the country? Read the latest version of this annual report to find out. The report features salary and benefits information for 40 different positions in assisted living organizations and is categorized by for-profit and not-for-profit status, unit and revenue size and geographic region or state. All AAHSA members can order valuable resource at the discounted price of $225. Contact: (201) 405-0075.
Order the report.

Featured Group Purchasing Partner:

Other Providers Can Help You Improve Quality and Satisfaction
The Confidence Program, one of AAHSA's Shared Services partners, uses the expertise of not-for-profit providers like you to develop satisfaction survey tools and resources that will help you improve quality throughout your organization. Watch your mailbox for more information about special AAHSA-member prices on these valuable resources. Contact: Jen Frink, (630) 325-6170.
Learn more about the Confidence Program.

Opportunities Available on AAHSA's Job Mart

Several career opportunities in aging services are now available and listed on Job Mart. Take a look. Pass along the news. If you have a job to post, consider using AAHSA Job Mart. Contact: Phillip Blackmon, (202) 508-9404.
Post a job.

Jobs posted in the past week (Feb. 9-15):

Administrator
Administrator - Tampa, Fla.
Community Administrator - Kansas City, Mo.
Corporate Consulting Administrator - Arlington Heights, Ill.

CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Directors - Across the U.S.
Executive Director - Northwest Metro Chicago, Ill.

Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Sales Counselor - Bradenton, Fla.
Sales & Community Outreach Professional - Seattle, Wash.
Marketing and Sales Director - Allentown, Pa.

Nursing/Health Care
Director of Nursing - Chapel Hill, N.C.
Director of Nursing - Pasadena, Calif.
Director of Nursing - Glen Arm, Md.
Director of Nursing - Jacksonville, Fla.
Health Care Services Director - Arlington Heights, Ill.

Other
Public Policy Director - Washington, D.C.
Household Coordinator - Manhattan, Kan.
Director of Activities - Rockville, Md.
Assisted Living Manager - Schaumburg, Ill.

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American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Tel (866) 783-2242, Fax (202) 783-2255