Monday, Feb. 25, 2008
» This Week’s Top News
President Submits Proposed Medicare Spending Cuts
Because general revenues will exceed 45 percent of program funding, President Bush gave Congress a set of proposals to reduce Medicare spending as required by the Medicare Modernization Act. Proposals that apply most directly to health care providers call for "value-based health care." These proposals would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a system for interoperable electronic health records, which we support and are working with CMS and other stakeholders to achieve. CMS also would have to give consumers price and quality information to help them choose among health care providers, plans and treatment options. Other proposals, which have gained less support on Capitol Hill, would impose federal limits on malpractice suits and recoveries and would increase Medicare premiums for upper-income beneficiaries. The law requires Congress to give quick consideration to these proposals, but their enactment is far from guaranteed. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
President Submits Proposed Medicare Spending Cuts
Because general revenues will exceed 45 percent of program funding, President Bush gave Congress a set of proposals to reduce Medicare spending as required by the Medicare Modernization Act. Proposals that apply most directly to health care providers call for "value-based health care." These proposals would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a system for interoperable electronic health records, which we support and are working with CMS and other stakeholders to achieve. CMS also would have to give consumers price and quality information to help them choose among health care providers, plans and treatment options. Other proposals, which have gained less support on Capitol Hill, would impose federal limits on malpractice suits and recoveries and would increase Medicare premiums for upper-income beneficiaries. The law requires Congress to give quick consideration to these proposals, but their enactment is far from guaranteed. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
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» Legislative Action Alerts
Service Coordinator Funding Coming, Just Not Very Soon
We have learned from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that funds for service coordinator grant extensions and renewals will not be issued until the fiscal year 2008 extension notice is completed. HUD expects to use alternate funding for service coordinator grants in the interim. Local HUD staff should be able to help you access alternate funds in a pinch. If you aren’t getting the help you need, please let us know Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
» Regulatory Updates
Economic Stimulus Checks Won’t Count as Income
HUD announced that the tax rebates your tenants may receive under the economic stimulus legislation recently signed into law should not be counted as income. The announcement quotes Chapter 5-6.F.3 and Exhibit 5-1 on Income Exclusions in HUD Handbook 4350.3 Rev- 1, "Temporary, nonrecurring, or sporadic income (including gifts) is not counted." Tax rebate checks should begin to arrive in May. Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
» Learning Opportunities
What Does the Future of Aging Services Look Like?
Find Out at the AAHSA 2008 Future of Aging Services Conference: Solving the Workforce Challenge, held from March 31-April 2 at the Mariott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference provides proven tactics and technologies to solve your most urgent workforce challenges. Workforce Solutions Day, an unprecedented program, unlocks ready-to-use personnel strategies to gain a competitive edge in today’s and tomorrow’s aging services field. Click here to visit the event website and register today. Contact: AAHSA@Laser-Registration.com, (514) 228-3159.
| Visit the conference Web site. |
| Register for the conference. |
Upcoming AAHSA Audioconferences:
Unnecessary Antipsychotic Medication Use in LTC Facilities: CMS Requirements and AAHSA Member Innovations
Do you want to know more about antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes? Join our audio conference on Feb. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Time to understand more about this important issue. On the call, medical and pharmacy experts will discuss the effects of the revised 2006 CMS guidance and use of unnecessary and off-label antipsychotic medications in nursing homes. You’ll also hear how fellow members reduced the use of antipsychotic drugs through diverse programming in their organizations. Contact: Nataki Goodall, (202) 508-9471.
| Register online for the audioconference. |
Present a Session at July’s Healthcare Unbound ConferenceAAHSA’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) is organizing the aging-services track at the Healthcare Unbound Conference, July 7-8 in San Francisco. The track will include three panel discussion sessions, one of which will focus on provider business models. How can you participate as a presenter? Send us a document with the proposed presentation’s title; theme; the name(s), affiliation and education of its presenter(s); a 200-word description; three learning objectives; the intended audience and the duration of the proposed presentation by March 4. Proposals describing practical implementations, evaluation results, payer’s perspective, promising business models and provider’s experience are particularly encouraged. This year’s conference will focus on the use of remote monitoring and home telehealth technologies, with a special emphasis on Baby Boomers and the elderly population. Contact: Zohra Sirat, (202) 508-9438.
| Read about the conference. |
CASP Hosts Spring Institute
From May 12-17, join your peers at the 2008 Certified Aging Services Professional (CASP) Spring Institute at the St. Petersburg College Downtown Campus in St. Petersburg, Fla. This educational institute is designed to offer beginning to mid-level aging-services professionals the knowledge they need to deliver housing, supportive and community services that meet the needs of the people they serve. Contact: clas@unt.edu, (940) 565-2733.
| Learn more about the 2008 spring institute. |
| Register for the institute. |
» Quality First
 3,400 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet? |
We’ve started a Blog
AAHSA’s Quality First team recently developed a new way to start discussions and share information with you: an AAHSA Quality First Blog. There, you’ll find insights and ideas about putting quality first in your work. Join our blog community and start contributing to this important conversation. Contact: Maggie Flowers, (202) 508-9421.
» Research and Resources
Celebrate AAHSA Homecoming Week: Host an event in your community
AAHSA’s Homecoming Week is a time for members to invite their greater community to learn more about their work and the people they serve. From May 26-30, we are asking members to host some type of event to shine a spotlight on their community’s treasures: the people they serve. In March, you will receive a Homecoming Toolkit with event ideas, planning tips and strategies to get media attention. Visit www.AAHSAhomecoming.org to get initial program ideas and tell us what you’re planning. Contact: Keesha Atkins, (202) 508-9440.
Handy Reference Chart for Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Claims
The revised Spell of Illness Reference Chart, which provides Medicare claims processing information, is now downloadable from CMS’ Medicare Learning Network. Click here to download the copy. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
AAHSA Launches 2008 Member Survey
We want to be a better association for you. That’s why AAHSA recently launched our 2008 member survey. This survey is designed to help us better understand what members want from their membership and learn more about the work you do for older adults. We randomly selected about 1,000 AAHSA members to receive this web-based survey. If you receive an e-mail asking you to complete the 2008 AAHSA Member Survey, please do so. All responses will remain confidential. We care about your thoughts and want to know how we can increase the value of your membership. Contact: aahsasurvey@aahsa.org, (877) 379-7878.
Try These New Board Education Tools from AAHSA
We prepared a PowerPoint for board education based on the 33 principles in Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations, an outgrowth of the work of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector. Use the PowerPoint alongside the guidebook to review with board members their responsibilities in four areas: (l) legal compliance and public disclosure; (2) effective governance; (3) strong financial oversight; and (4) responsible fundraising. Both tools are organized in four stand-alone sections, making it easy to cover the principles one or two modules at a time over successive board meetings. Contact: Deborah Cloud, (202) 508-9458.
| Download the PowerPoint and guide. |
| Consult a detailed reference edition of the guide. |
Your Input Needed on the State of Seniors Housing
If your organization has received the 2008 State of Seniors Housing Survey, we hope you will complete it and return it as soon as possible. The survey includes both for-profit and not-for-profit independent living communities, assisted living residences, Alzheimer’s care facilities, and continuing care retirement communities that are stabilized. Your participation is essential to develop the quality data that all organizations need. As an added bonus, all organizations that complete surveys will receive a complimentary copy of The State of Seniors Housing 2008, which compiles the survey results for comparisons to your own operations. Responses are requested by close of business Monday, March 10. Contact: Colleen Blumenthal, (941) 363-7502.
PowerPoint Available from Advancing Excellence Pressure Ulcer WebinarOver 2,300 facilities across the nation registered for the Advancing Excellence pressure ulcer webinar last week. If you missed it, the PowerPoint presentation is available on the Advancing Excellence Web site. The audio recording will also be available on the site next week. The next Advancing Excellence webinar will be in April. Contact: Karyn Downie, (202) 508-9410.
| Learn more about the campaign. |
AAHSA Money-Saving Programs: Beyond Savings
Winter is Here. Make sure your sidewalks are clear.
When the flurries are flying, you need to be prepared for the daily tasks of dealing with snow and ice. Many people from your community are parking in your lots, walking on your sidewalks and entering your facilities. Just as we take care of our personal homes and ensure safety for our families and friends, you need to make sure the residents’ home and their visitors are safe. Our group purchasing partner, Fastenal, has some products to help you do just that. Fastenal Contact: Scot Chaikin, (972) 245-8171.
| Dig Out the Winter Specials. |
» JobMart
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.
Use the downloadable form to post a job.
Jobs posted in the past week (Feb. 15 - 21):
CEO/President/Executive Director
Chief Operating Officer - Detroit, Mich. area
Executive Director - Portland, Ore.
Community Executive Officer - Lexington, Ky.
Executive Director - S.E. Chicago Metro Area/N.W. Ind.
Finance
CFO - Philadelphia, Pa
Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Sales Leader - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Sales & Marketing Specialist - Fort Myers, Fla.
Nursing/Healthcare
MDS Coordinator - Napa, CA.
Director of Nursing - Assisted Living - Rockville, Md.
Other
Vice President of Project Development - New Jersey
Review the jobs online
Administrator
CEO/President/Executive Director
Finance
Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Nursing/HealthCare
Other
Wanted
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American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
phone 202.783.2242, fax 202.783.2255