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This Week's Top News:
2008 Funding for Older Americans Act and Nurse Training Is at Stake: Contact Congress Now
This week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor/Health and Human Services will draft and vote on the fiscal 2008 spending bill that covers these vital programs for your work. Please send a letter urging your legislators to tell their colleagues about the value of fully funding these programs for their elderly constituents and those who care for them. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, (202) 508-9406, on OAA and Alzheimer's Disease funding and Barbara Gay, (202) 508-9489, on nurse training programs.
Write to your legislators.
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CMS Proposes 3.3 Percent Update for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a 3.3 percent market basket increase for SNFs in fiscal year 2008, which begins Oct. 1. The proposed rule includes revisions and rebasing of the market basket, which currently reflects data from fiscal year 1997, to data reflecting fiscal year 2004. CMS is also proposing to raise the current 0.25 percent threshold for the forecast error adjustment under the SNF prospective payment system to 0.5 percent. The proposed rule continues a special payment add-on of 128 percent for additional services required by nursing home residents with HIV/AIDS. Use our updated SNF payment calculator to see how these proposed changes would affect your organization. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Use the calculator.
New Calculation Tool Reflects Proposed Home Health Rate Changes
AAHSA recently updated our calculation tool to reflect CMS' proposal to increase the statutory Medicare market basket update by 2.9 percent in 2008. This calculation tool assumes that home health agencies report 12 health care quality measures to CMS and thus reflects the full 2.9 percent market basket increase. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Use the tool.
OBRA at 20: Progress Achieved, Recommendations for Change
Last Wednesday, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing entitled "The Nursing Home Reform Act Turns Twenty: What Has Been Accomplished, and What Challenges Remain?" In our statement to the committee, we outlined the many ways that your leadership has improved quality of care and life in America's nursing homes since federal nursing home standards were enacted in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA). We also recommended revisions to help you continue your quality improvement efforts. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478, or Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
Read our statement.
Watch the committee hearing.
New CMS Administrator Nominated
President Bush just announced that he will nominate Kerry Weems to be the new CMS administrator. Weems currently serves as the deputy chief of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). During his 20-year career at HHS, Weems has overseen departments focused on budget, information technology and finance. His nomination is now subject to Senate confirmation. Contact: Barbara Gay, (202) 508-9489.
Prepare for National Provider Identifier Contingency Planning
If your organization doesn't have its NPI yet or you won't make the May 23 deadline, now's the time to read CMS' materials on contingency plans. These materials include a new plan announced by fee-for-service Medicare. CMS also urges providers to pay attention to information from the health plans they bill so that they are aware if and when a health plan announces its own contingency plan. Finally, CMS will host a roundtable call on May 10 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time to answer your questions about the planning. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Read frequently asked questions on NPI compliance contingency guidance.
See the latest CMS articles and resources on our NPI page.
Making the Case for PACE:
Is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Right for You?
Will PACE serve your organization's mission, be financially viable and benefit your community? Find the answers to these questions and more during our next audio conference on May 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. On the call, you and your fellow staff members can learn from experts about the operations, obstacles and most important, the opportunities developing a PACE program can offer to elders and disabled individuals in your community. Registration ends on May 23, so sign up now for your spot. Contact: meeting@aahsa.org, (888) 508-9441.
Find more information and register online.
Download a PDF to register by fax/mail.
Part B Paid Claims Rejected in Error
CMS announced that Part B paid claims that overlap non-pay SNF claims are being rejected in error. To resolve this problem, CMS commissioned the Common Working File (CWF) maintainer to identify erroneously rejected Part B claims and automatically pay them. The fiscal intermediaries (FIs) will identify these claims and providers can see the corrected claims from May 28 - June 1. Payment should be expected shortly thereafter. For Part B multi-carrier system (MCS) carriers and durable medical equipment contractors (DME MACs), adjustments will be done manually. These providers should expect to receive payment after they see the claims online. In the meantime, Part B providers should not resubmit or adjust these claims. Please contact the appropriate FI, carrier or DME MAC with any questions or concerns. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Read the transmittal.
Group Purchasing News:
How Can You Win a Free Trip to AAHSA's Annual Meeting and Two Tickets to Disney World?
The answer's easy: re-enroll in our group purchasing and shared services program by June 8. This program already offers you great discounts on products and services, and your state association receives the revenue to expand your advocacy and educational opportunities. Now, participating in the program also means you get a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the AAHSA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando, Oct. 21-24, 2007. This includes airfare, hotel, registration and two tickets to Walt Disney World. Already re-enrolled? Not to worry. You're already entered in the contest! Contact: Toni Lindsay, (202) 508-9494.
Find your state association and enroll now.
Receive Recognition for Your Organization's Great Work
How? 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 continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) that are AAHSA Quality First Covenant signers are encouraged to apply for this honor. Selected organizations will be recognized at AAHSA's 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando in October and will also be given the opportunity to share their knowledge with AAHSA's Leadership Circle.
Send in your application by June 15. Contact: Steve Maag, (202) 508-9498.
Apply for the "Pathways to Greatness" recognition program.
Make Your Philanthropy Relationships and Messages Matter
Attention fundraising and development professionals: don't miss AAHSA's Philanthropy Summer Forum, July 16-17, in Boston. At this year's forum, you'll explore how new fundraising and messaging strategies and techniques will help you build enduring relationships and achieve financial success. Read the APN brochure
for complete program details and registration information. Registration closes on June 8, so reserve your spot today. Contact: meetings@aahsa.org, (888) 508-9441.
See the brochure.
BJBC Brief Offers Ways to Improve Respect and Retention in Your Workforce
From diversity training to mentorship programs, the latest Better Jobs Better Care (BJBC) issue brief explores how providers like you focus on respect to build better workplaces and offers ways for you to do the same in your organization. Contact: Linda Barbarotta, (202) 508-1209
Read the issue brief.
AAHSA Members Tell Your Caregiver's Story at Our Annual Meeting
Do you work with a direct care worker or frontline caregiver who is committed to "Living Your Organization's Story" every day? Share with us what makes them stand out. We'll review the submissions and feature our favorites during one of the General Sessions at AAHSA's 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando this October.
Please send your caregiver's name and photo along with their story and your contact information to AAHSA's Sharon Sullivan. All submissions must be received by June 30. Members whose stories are selected will be contacted via e-mail by July 30. Contact: Sharon Sullivan, (202) 508-9449.
How Can Your Organization Celebrate Older Americans Month/Homes for the Aging Week?
Use a free guide from the Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance to find out. The guide includes tips and tools you can use to honor the older adults in your community. You can also order products featuring the 2007 theme: "Linking Generations." New products for this year include sun visors, magnifying book marks and more. Members from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Washington and Wisconsin can even receive a discount by ordering the products through their state associations. Start planning this important national celebration today. Contact: Jenny Mims.
See the guide.
Order the products.
Advancing Excellence Campaign Update:
Campaign "Trailblazers" Designation Deadline Is One Week Away
There are just seven days left for your organization to be known as a "trailblazer" for quality as part of the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes campaign. This campaign is reinvigorating efforts to improve the quality of care and life for those living or recuperating in America's nursing homes. Time is running out. Register by May 14 to confirm your organization's commitment to quality. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
Learn about the Advancing Excellence campaign.
Register for the Advancing Excellence campaign.
 3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet? |
"I have found the [new AAHSA] Consumers' Guide to Quality Aging Services to meet two needs," said Jerry Kuyoth, chief operating officer of National Church Residences' Health Care Division. "First, it has helped our organization to think more globally and from the perspective of engaging consumers in a dialogue of what is actually important to them. Second, it demonstrates the key to effective implementation of Quality First... that there is not one right way to do something but it is patently wrong to not fully and clearly address all 10 AAHSA Quality First Elements in our planning and our daily operation." Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
See the AAHSA Consumers' Guide to Quality Aging Services.
See resources to earn trust with residents, clients and families.
Symposium to Address Design's Role in Your Organization's Future
At the 2007 Design for Aging Symposium, June 4-5 in Kansas City, Mo., you can explore the connections between the latest aging-services design research and its impact on your organization's design and remodeling plans. The conference will feature education sessions about how design innovation can jumpstart cultural transformation, improve dementia care programs and more. Most important, you'll gain the practical knowledge needed to take the ideas of today and transform them into the solutions of tomorrow. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Aging Research Institute (ARI), along with additional support provided by BBT Capital, the Society for Advancement of Gerontological Environments AAHSA and IAHSA, are sponsoring the event. Contact: John Grace, (785) 554-5628.
Register for the symposium.
New CASP Training Available
Learn the latest techniques for managing your organization's financial solvency and physical plant at the upcoming Certified Aging Services Professional (CASP) Spring Institute, May 15-16 in Philadelphia. Contact: (940) 565-2733.
Learn more about the course.
Help Advance Research on Nursing Homes
If your nursing home was invited to participate in a Commonwealth Fund national survey of nursing homes, we strongly encourage you to respond. The researchers use the survey findings to develop a snapshot of how nursing homes differ across the country in the services and care they provide and how their care evolves over time. You organization's director of nursing would have received the invitation. Contact: A. Eleanor Chand-Matzke, Ph.D.
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 (April 27 - May 3):
AdministratorNursing Home Administrator - Racine, Wis.
Administrator - Florida
Health Center Administrators - Miami, Fla.
CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Director - Winter Park, Fla.
Executive Director - Linton, Ind.
Finance
Chief Financial Officer - Philadelphia, Pa.
Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Sales & Marketing Professional - Philadelphia, Pa.
Nursing/Health Care
Director of Nursing - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Director of Nursing - Charter House - Rochester, Minn.
Other
Lifestyle Producer - Schaumburg, Ill.
Director of Dining Services - Morgantown, W.Va.
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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