June 11, 2007

This Week's Top News:

Victory Against Nursing Home Survey Revisits User Fees
Hundreds of you contacted your legislators to oppose the nursing home survey revisit user fees, and your legislators responded by prohibiting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from imposing these fees in the first draft of their fiscal year 2008 appropriations bill. This bill goes to the full Committee next week and the House will likely vote on it before July. Senate consideration will follow later in the summer or fall. We are watching closely to make sure that the fees do not reappear in the bill. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.

Initial Success on Funding for OAA, Nurse Training, Alzheimer's Disease Programs
Many of you also have been contacting your legislators in support of increased funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA), nurse recruitment and training, and Alzheimer's disease programs. All of these initiatives would receive more funding under the 2008 spending bill drafted by the Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. The measure includes a 2.3 percent raise for OAA, up to $1.4 billion, with a 7 percent increase in the congregate and homebound meal programs, $11.6 million for the Alzheimer's disease demonstration, and $21.4 million for preventive health. Nursing education and training programs also received a substantial boost in funding. We will continue doing everything possible to maintain these increases as the bill moves through Congress. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, (202) 508-9406.

Four Days Left to Apply for Leadership AAHSA
Take a quantum leap in leadership. This year-long learning experience is focused on supporting and developing emerging leaders who will create the future of aging services. Members are encouraged to nominate themselves or other individuals that are recognized as emerging leaders within their organizations. To apply, complete an online application and submit two letters of reference, a resume and a personal leadership essay by June 15. Contact: Kris Santaromita, (202) 508-1212.
See the application.

New AAHSA Nursing Home Regulatory Report Now Available
In our report, you'll find the latest news on National Provider Identifier (NPI) implementation and the Advancing Excellence Campaign as well as FDA notices on Avandia, shark cartilage capsules and toothpaste made in China. Contact: Barbara Gay, (202) 508-9489.
Read the report.

Funding Available for Rural Housing
The Rural Housing Service recently announced that the following rural housing funding will be available this year:

Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
Find more information.

Register for CMS' Data Dissemination Roundtable
On June 14, CMS will host a national roundtable on the Data Dissemination Notice from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Registration will close at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on June 13, or when they space is filled. No exceptions will be made, so register today. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Register for the roundtable.

Apply for the AAHSA Ziegler Graduate Fellowship in Executive Management
Would you like to receive up to $10,000 to attend the executive education program of your choice? Then apply for the AAHSA-Ziegler Graduate Fellowship in Executive Management by Aug. 10. Previous recipients have completed courses at Harvard and other leading universities. Administrators, CEOs, CFOs and other executive leaders of AAHSA-member organizations are encouraged to apply. To apply, submit an application form, essay, two letters of recommendation, a letter of support from your board chair and proof of your organization's not-for-profit status. Contact: Trish Calamari, (202) 508-9480.
Apply for the fellowship.

Explore New Health IT Information and Opportunities: Register by June 19 to Save $50
What's the role of health information technology (HIT) in your work? Find out at the third annual Long-Term Care Health IT Summit on June 20-21 in Chicago. At the summit, attendees will identify strategy-setting opportunities for adopting HIT in long-term care settings, discuss funding issues, learn about new technologies and explore the link between HIT and higher quality care and services. Contact: Karyn Downie, (202) 508-9410.
Learn more about the summit.

CMS Discontinues the Unique Physician Identifier Number (UPIN) Registry
Effective June 29, CMS will no longer assign UPINs to Medicare providers. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Read the change request and a MLN Matters article about it.

NPI Implementation Affects Remittance Advice Transactions
CMS' transaction processes will change as the agency continues to implement the NPI. A key difference is that a facility's legacy number will be phased out of remittances to include NPI information. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Read an article analyzing NPI's impact on providers.

June 15 Is the Last Day to Apply to Receive Recognition for Your Organization's Great Work
There are just a few days left to apply for AAHSA and LarsonAllen's "Pathways to Greatness" Recognition Program. This program is designed to honor great aging-services organizations and use their expertise to develop a framework others can use in their work for older adults. All members who provide multiple levels of services and programs for older adults on one campus and are AAHSA Quality First Covenant signers are encouraged to apply. All Covenant signers who submit applications will receive a review and analysis of their application and feedback from the review panel with a critique and comparison of their organization to top performers and median performers. Those selected to submit applications for phase II will be provided a more detailed review and analysis of their application as part of the determination process. Contact: Steve Maag, (202) 508-9498.
Apply for the "Pathways to Greatness" recognition program.

3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet?
Want to Do More for Your Community but Don't Know Where to Start?
Our Social Accountability Program can help. This resource includes everything you need to develop, report and evaluate your organization's programs and services for the greater community. From hosting an information session on long-term care costs to offering your facility for subsidized child care programs, this guide is filled with the ideas and information you need to highlight your commitment to community.
Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
See the Social Accountability Program.

Five Wishes Directive Eases End-of-Life Decisions
Give your residents, clients and their loved ones a Five Wishes Advance Directive and help them plan for when a health crisis occurs. This directive, available in 29 languages, is designed to help older adults express their medical, personal, emotional and spiritual needs and preferences when it comes to the care they receive. Free copies of the directive, along with other end-of-life care resources, are available on the Aging With Dignity Web site. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, (202) 508-9406.
Order copies of the directive.

AAHSA's Money-Saving Programs: Beyond Savings

Partner's Free Proposal Helps You Find Food Cost Savings
We all know time is money, but with the help of FoodSource Plus, you can save both for the benefit of your organization and the people you serve. This AAHSA group purchasing partner will help you make online orders, compare different distributors' costs, find the best price on more than 10,000 products and analyze how much you could save with their help in a free food purchasing proposal. Contact: Mike Foley, (866) 248-4520.
Learn more about FoodSource Plus.

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 (June 1-7):

CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Director - Des Moines, Iowa
Executive Director - Winter Park, Fla.

Finance
Accounting & Billing Professional - Des Moines, Iowa

Nursing/Health Care
Director of Nursing - Mercer Island, Wash.
Director of Nursing - Montana

Other
Mid-Level Architect - Philadelphia, Pa.
Regional Vice President of Operations - Florida
AAHSA V.P., Education and Leadership Development - Washington, D.C.
Director Resident Life and Wellness - Tampa, Fla.
V.P. of Mission Advancement (Chief Development Officer) - Louisville, Ky.
Planning and Finance Positions - Connecticut & New Jersey

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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