Senate Level-Funds Section 202 for 2008, Addresses HAP Gap
Last week, the Senate passed a spending bill covering the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the 2008 fiscal year. The bill funded Section 202 senior housing at $735 million, including $603.9 million for capital advances for new projects and $60 million for service coordinator grants. While we pushed for the Senators to support an increase in Section 202 funding to $750 million, the funding provided in the bill is a success considering that Administration's original 2008 budget proposal of $525 million for the program.

The bill also funds the project-based Section 8 account at $5.813 billion, the amount HUD requested but which is widely recognized as insufficient to meet the existing and renewing project-based Section 8 contracts. The Senate bill includes an amendment giving HUD 60 days to provide a "complete and accurate accounting of the actual project-based renewal costs for project-based assistance under section 8," "revised estimates of the funding needed to fully fund all 12 months of all project-based contracts under such section 8, including project-based contracts that expire in fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008" and "all sources of funding that will be used to fully fund all 12 months of the project-based contracts for fiscal years 2007 and 2008."

The amendment also requires HUD to verify that its fiscal year 2009 budget request "will fully fund all project-based contracts" to the authorizing and appropriations committees in both houses. We hope that these requirements will move HUD toward a satisfactory resolution of the problems AAHSA members are having with chronically late housing assistance payments. We will continue working to maximize funding for senior housing as Congress finalizes fiscal 2008 spending bills over the next several weeks. Contact: Alayna Waldrum, (202) 508-9476.

 

Latest Regulatory News for Nursing Homes
In our most recent Nursing Home Regulatory Report, read the latest on user fees for survey revisits, new guidance on employment of paid feeding assistants, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's new tool for keeping your workplace safe and U.S. Food and Drug Administration notices on diabetes drugs, power wheelchairs, warfarin, Baraclude, red yeast products, Prilosec and Nexium. Contact: Barbara Gay, (202) 508-9489.
| Read the report. |

AAHSA to IRS: Nursing Homes Differ from Hospitals
In our comments on the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) recent draft of a redesigned Form 990, we pointed out that a proposed new schedule for reporting health care providers' community benefit activities contains questions geared to hospitals and is not readily extended to other provider types. The revised Form 990 will be the first significant change in over 25 years to the form not-for-profits must file annually with the IRS. The IRS plans to finalize this form by the end of the year so it can be used in 2009 when organizations file their 2008 tax returns. Contacts Cory Kallheim, (202) 558-5691 or Jennifer Hilliard, (202) 508-9444.
| Read our comments. |

 
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2007 AAHSA-Ziegler Fellowship Winner Announced
Congratulations to Robert Benson, president and CEO of Ohio's Otterbein Lebanon Retirement Living Community, who was recently selected as the 2007 AAHSA-Ziegler Fellow in Strategic and Financial planning. Benson will receive $10,000 to attend the executive education program of his choice. AAHSA chose Benson for this honor because of his commitment to leadership and innovation in aging services. Contact: Deborah Cloud, (202) 508-9458.
| Learn more about the fellowship. |

"The How of Change — What A Difference Management Makes" Webcast
According to one of the participants, our work on leadership was one inspiration for the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) broadcast, "From Institutional to Individualized Care." This program, broadcast on September 14, is archived and available for viewing for the next year. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.
| Find more information. |


 

3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet?

Quality First Works throughout Organizations
The AAHSA Quality First 10 Elements of Quality provide a framework to guide your organization's work in all of its different programs and initiatives. AAHSA created several documents to help you explore how Quality First applies to all that you do. The topics include: Philanthropy and AAHSA Quality First; Quality First and Technology; Quality First and Public Policy; Housing and AAHSA Quality First; AAHSA Quality First and Ethical Practices; and CARF-CCAC 2007 ASPIRE to Excellence Standards and AAHSA Quality First Elements. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.



How are You Celebrating National Adult Day Services Week?
This week marks the 24th annual National Adult Day Services Week and we want to know what your organization is doing to tell the story of caring and encourage your community members to learn more about adult day's value for individuals and those who care for them. Whether you invited a policy maker for a tour or organized a fundraiser, let us know how you are telling the story of caring this year. Contact: Kirsten Jacobs, (800) 558-5301.

Order Your Hardcopy of the New HUD Occupancy Handbook
In response to your requests, the AAHSA Bookstore is offering the entire new Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 Rev-1; Change 2 at a nominal cost to defray printing charges. Although the Handbook is available as a free download online from HUDclips, the sheer volume of chapters can make the process time- and cost-prohibitive. That's why we did the work for you. To order your copy, visit the AAHSA Bookstore and request item number AH002.

CEAL Reports Successes in Quality Assisted Living in 2006
The Center for Excellence in Assisted Living's (CEAL) newly posted annual report details a number of activities and accomplishments over the past year. In particular, CEAL established a new National Clearinghouse, which is an on-line source of information for you on all aspects of assisted living. We are a founding member of CEAL, and Steve Maag, our Director of Assisted Living and Continuing Care, is a member of its board. Contact: Steve Maag, (202) 508-9498.
| Read the report. | Check out the clearinghouse. |

Sept. 21 Is World Alzheimer's Day: Start Planning Your Celebration
Mark your calendars. Sept. 21 is the Alzheimer's Association's first-ever World Alzheimer's Day. This event is designed to bring together consumers, providers, policy makers and other advocates to show their support for funding for Alzheimer's research and awareness program. The association's goal is to raise $1 million for the event, but either way, The Harrah Foundation will match every dollar raised for this important cause. Contact: (800) 272-3900.
| Learn more about the event. |

 
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AAHSA's Money-Saving Programs: Beyond Savings

Don't Risk Claim Delays or Denials – Briggs 2008 ICD-9 Codes Available at a Special AAHSA Discount
Briggs Corporation, a long time AAHSA partner, helps providers code with more precision and efficiency to reduce claim delays and denials. As the new 2008 ICD-9 Codes go into effect Oct. 1, Briggs is offering a one-time only volume pricing promotion for AAHSA members who order their Code Books by Oct. 31. Don't delay. Order today! Contact: Briggs AAHSA Representative, (800) 247-2343
| Learn about tools and savings for AAHSA members. |

 


New Opportunities Available on AAHSA's JobMart
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.

| Download the form to post a job. | Visit the AAHSA JobMart. |

Jobs posted in the past week (Sept. 7 - 13) are:

Administrator
Executive Administrator - Pittsburgh, Pa.
Administrator - Jamestown, N.Y.
Executive Vice President/Administrator - New York, N.Y.
Administrator - Chicago, Ill.

CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Director - Athens, Ga.
Community Executive Director - Florida

Finance
Director of Accounting - Various

Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Senior Market Research Analyst - Des Moines, Iowa
Director of Marketing - Johnson City, Tenn.

Other
Director of Development - North Canton, Ohio
Director of Community Life - Baltimore, Md.
Administrator, Senior Communities - New York, N.Y.
Director of Government Relations - New York, N.Y.
AAHSA Regional Vice President - Western United States
Programs and Operations Administrator - Washington, D.C.



 

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