June 25, 2007

This Week's Top News:

Nursing Home User Fee Resurfaces in the Senate
We need your help again to stop implementation of $125/hour fees on survey revisits. A few weeks ago, we succeeded in persuading House appropriators that user fees on nursing home revisits should not be allowed to go into effect. Unfortunately, the user fee is included in the Senate version of the fiscal 2008 spending bill for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Send a sample letter and help us persuade Senators to include the same provisions contained in the House bill to prohibit these user fees. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
Write to your legislators.

Senate Spending Bill Increases Older Americans Act and Nursing Education Funding
Your advocacy has paid off in other provisions of the fiscal 2008 Labor/Health and Human Services spending bill. The committee approved a $20 million increase for federal nursing education programs, 13 percent more than the 2007 appropriation. The measure also includes $3.2 billion for programs serving elders, including $773 million for senior nutrition and $162 million for family caregiver support. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, (202) 508-9406.

Help Create the Long-Term Care Solution
In the last few weeks, you should have received a mailing about AAHSA's new Long-Term Care Solution program to advance a publicly-sponsored insurance program to fix our country's long-term care financing system. AAHSA members are being asked to support the campaign's economic modeling and public education to help create a program that empowers consumers to control and pay for their aging services. Contact: Lauren Shaham, (202) 508-1219.
Visit the "Long-Term Care Solution" Web site.
Read our white paper on long-term care financing.

CMS Suspends Marketing of Private Medicare Fee-for-Service Plans
In response to concerns of illegal and aggressive marketing practices, seven health care plan sponsors have signed an agreement to suspend the marketing of private fee-for-service plans. The suspension will be lifted only when CMS certifies that a plan has the systems and management controls in place to comply with CMS guidance. The plans involved include United Healthcare, Humana, Wellcare, Universal American Financial Corporation (Pyramid), Coventry, Sterling and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee. The House Energy and Commerce Oversight Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on predatory sales practices in the marketing of Medicare Advantage plans and the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee is considering legislation to protect Medicare beneficiaries. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Read the CMS announcement.

Amendment Would Require HUD Leadership with Limited English Proficiency
Rep. Barney Frank (D -Mass.) plans to offer an amendment to Section 8 reform legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to manage a 24 hour toll-free language assistance hotline, translate a set of documents chosen by a stakeholder advisory group and establish a clearinghouse of additional documents in translation to help housing providers comply with HUD's Limited English Proficiency Guidance. The Section 8 bill likely will come to the House floor after the 4th of July recess. This amendment resulted from a consensus agreement AAHSA negotiated among other housing provider associations as well as civil rights and national origin interest groups. Contact: Nancy Libson, (202) 508-9447.

New Survey and Certification Letter on Physical Restraints
The new letter from CMS clarifies the phrases "remove easily" and "freedom of movement" as related to the physical restraints definition. It also further clarifies the meaning of "medical symptom." The Letter is effective 30 days from issuance, and will be incorporated into the State Operations Manual (SOM), Appendix PP. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.
Read the letter.

Go Green! Audio Conference
Implement Eco-Friendly Practices that Promote Healthy Communities and Increase Your Bottom Line
"Going Green" offers tangible benefits to residents, staff and the surrounding community. How will it help you? Reduce short- and long-term costs for your facility through favorable bond ratings, reduced insurance rates and clear market differentiation. Today's residents and future consumers are also leading the charge to implement eco-friendly building and conservation programs. Join us to learn more at this audio conference on July 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, and find out how you can "go green" and save! Secure your spot and register by July 20. Contact: meeting@aahsa.org, (888) 508-9441.
Download more information and a PDF registration form.
Download more information and register online.

IFAS Award Recognizes Rising Nurse Leader
Does your organization have a nurse whose leadership stands out? Nominate him or her for the Institute for the Future of Aging Services' (IFAS) 2nd Annual Joan Anne McHugh Award for Leadership in Long-term Care Nursing. This award recognizes nurses who provide excellent clinical care, demonstrate leadership and are committed to the long-term care nursing field. Nurses who work for AAHSA-member organizations and meet other eligibility criteria may be nominated. The winner will receive a $500 personal and $1,000 professional development award and national recognition at AAHSA's 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition. All entries must be postmarked by July 13. Contact: Alisha Sanders, (202) 508-1211.
See the nomination brochure.

HUD Offers Web Training on New Online Income Verification System
On June 27 and June 28, HUD's Office of Housing Assistance and Grant Administration will present a Web training on the 7.0 Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system for multifamily housing providers. The presentation will run each day from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Different materials will be presented each day. The course is targeted to HUD staff, property owners, management agents and contract administrators. To take part in the training, visit HUD's Schedule of Upcoming Webcasts and click the icon for "6/27 or 6/28". Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.

Members to Share Technology Expertise at National Event
Several AAHSA members will participate in the "aging services and technology" track at the fourth annual Healthcare Unbound Conference & Exhibition in San Francisco on July 16-17. AAHSA members who are speaking include, Sandra Elliott, director of consumer technology and service development, Meridian Health; Keith Perry, CEO, Sears Methodist Retirement Services; Lisa Gaudet, director, remote care technology and genetic service, NorthEast Health & The Eddy; Cecily Baker, vice president of home care, Beth Abraham Family of Health Services and Margie Bass, director of clinical services and telehealth project director, Beth Abraham Family of Health Services. The conference will focus specifically on innovative applications of remote monitoring, home telehealth and pervasive computing technologies for disease management and wellness promotion. Listen to providers share their perspectives on the future of aging services and the steps they are currently taking to incorporate technology innovations in their work. Register by June 22 and receive the $100 early bird discount on registration fees. In addition, CAST and AAHSA members can also receive an additional $100 discount. Contact: Rebecca Scritchfield, (202) 508-9416.
Learn more about the conference.

Got an Opinion about AAHSA This Week?
Let us know what you think of this weekly e-mail newsletter. Please complete this short survey about AAHSA This Week's structure and content. We'll use the results to make sure our newsletter better meets your needs and preferences. Contact: Lauren Shaham, (202) 508-1219.
Take the survey.

3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet?
To Shift Gears to Quality First or Continue to Run on Automatic?
Ever wonder why your organization should get involved in Quality First when everything is already running smoothly? A visit to an antique car show inspired Mike Moore with United Presbyterian Home in Washington, Iowa, to share his answer to that question. Contact: Maggie Flowers, (202) 508-9421
Read Mike Moore's thoughts.

Conference Addresses Your Future Design Needs
How will the needs of aging baby boomers affect your organization's design and development plans? Find out at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design Executive Education Program, Aug. 8-10, in Cambridge, Mass. At the conference, you can learn from experts how to evaluate potential markets and market segments, anticipate emerging market trends, design age-sensitive environments, develop operational and space programs, assess financing mechanisms and opportunities and recognize operational issues and challenges for your organization now and in the future. Contact: Lori Miller, (412) 894-8341.
Learn more about the conference.

AAHSA's Money-Saving Programs: Beyond Savings

Partner Cuts Food Costs for Members of all Sizes
FoodSource Plus is an AAHSA Group Purchasing partner committed to customizing its cost cutting services for members of all sizes. Fax them your last two invoices from your current food distributor, and FoodSource Plus will conduct an audit of your purchases and offer you opportunities to save anywhere from 10 to 50 percent on these costs. They will also develop customized order guides and nutritional menus for you based on your needs and resources. 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.
Use the downloadable form to post a job.

Jobs posted in the past week (June 15-21):

Administrator
Program Director of Adult Day Health Care and Outpatient
Medication Services - Phoenix, Ariz.
Vice President of Nursing Home Operations - Rockville, Md.
Administrator - Bartlett, Ill.
Administrator - Northern Calif.

CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Director -Spanish Fort, Ala.
President and CEO - High Point, N.C.
Executive Director - Delray Beach, Fla.

Finance
Financial Consultant/Project Manager - Twin Cities, Minn.
Chief Financial Officer - Valdosta, Ga.

Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Sales and Marketing Director - Fond du Lac, Wis.

Nursing/Health Care
Director of Clinical Development and Compliance - Johnston, Iowa

Other
Chief Operating Officer (COO) - San Antonio, Texas

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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