Feb. 04, 2008
» This Week’s Top News
Tell Congress Not to Cut Aging Services Programs
Today President Bush submits a budget to Congress that would take $91 billion from Medicare and another $14 billion from Medicaid over the next five years. Medicare spending cuts would be achieved primarily through freezing payments to health care providers: nursing homes would get no payment update from 2009 through 2011 and home health agencies would get no update from 2009 through 2013. In subsequent years the updates for both groups would be market basket minus 0.65%. An additional across-the-board Medicare payment cut of 0.4% for all health care providers will be triggered if, as expected, general revenues are forecast to exceed 45 percent of program funding.
The budget calls for a $195 million cut in Section 202 senior housing, down to $540 million. This amount would build an estimated 2,400 units in FY09 or 48 units a state on average. In addition, the Administration failed to address the growing shortfalls in the project based Section 8 accounts. The budget’s $7 billion request for FY09 is more than $1 billion less than the amount needed to pay for contract renewals for housing providers.
The budget also calls for cutbacks in several programs that pay for services provided to seniors in the community. Preventive health services and the Alzheimer’s demonstration grants would receive no funding. Social Service Block Grant funding, which many states use for adult day services and in-home programs, would be cut from $1.7 billion to $1.2 billion. Supportive services, family caregiver support and congregate- and home-delivered meal programs would remain at current levels without an inflation update.
We must persuade Congress not to accept these proposals in drawing up next year’s budget. Congress is beginning the budget process, so please contact your legislators as soon as possible. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
Tell Congress Not to Cut Aging Services Programs
Today President Bush submits a budget to Congress that would take $91 billion from Medicare and another $14 billion from Medicaid over the next five years. Medicare spending cuts would be achieved primarily through freezing payments to health care providers: nursing homes would get no payment update from 2009 through 2011 and home health agencies would get no update from 2009 through 2013. In subsequent years the updates for both groups would be market basket minus 0.65%. An additional across-the-board Medicare payment cut of 0.4% for all health care providers will be triggered if, as expected, general revenues are forecast to exceed 45 percent of program funding.
The budget calls for a $195 million cut in Section 202 senior housing, down to $540 million. This amount would build an estimated 2,400 units in FY09 or 48 units a state on average. In addition, the Administration failed to address the growing shortfalls in the project based Section 8 accounts. The budget’s $7 billion request for FY09 is more than $1 billion less than the amount needed to pay for contract renewals for housing providers.
The budget also calls for cutbacks in several programs that pay for services provided to seniors in the community. Preventive health services and the Alzheimer’s demonstration grants would receive no funding. Social Service Block Grant funding, which many states use for adult day services and in-home programs, would be cut from $1.7 billion to $1.2 billion. Supportive services, family caregiver support and congregate- and home-delivered meal programs would remain at current levels without an inflation update.
We must persuade Congress not to accept these proposals in drawing up next year’s budget. Congress is beginning the budget process, so please contact your legislators as soon as possible. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
» Legislative Action Alert
CAST Briefing Brings Aging-Services Technology to Life on Capitol HillLast week, AAHSA’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) along with the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging and Medical Technology Caucus hosted a briefing and demonstration on some of the latest innovations in technology to benefit seniors. At the briefing, AAHSA’s CEO Larry Minnix, Intel’s Darrin Jones and Dr. Mike Magee, CAST’s Senior Fellow in Health Policy, addressed the need for passage of S. 908, a bill to establish the Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Services.
This consortium will bring together representatives of technology developers, service providers, physicians, researchers, seniors and insurers on a non-partisan basis to evaluate the potential of technologies to help the U.S. meet the needs of our aging population. Kathy Bakkenist, Chief Operating Officer and Sr. Vice President of Strategy and Operations at Ecumen and Honor Hacker, a resident of Ecumen’s Lakeview Commons, testified about how technology is already improving the lives of the seniors this AAHSA member serves. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
| Learn more about the bill. |
 Honor Hacker, a resident at Ecumen’s Lakeview Commons in Maplewood, Minn., brought the bill to life when she discussed how technologies like this "brain fitness" game help her "stay connected, proactively manage my health and engage in life throughout life." |
advertisement
"Providing the best value & selection in vehicle to meet the needs of Nursing Care Centers - 800-821-5451"
» Regulatory Updates
Survey and Certification Task Force Discusses Enforcement Proposals
At its most recent meeting last week, our member task force discussed proposals for reforming the enforcement process under the federal survey and certification system. The task force has begun to finalize its work and is drafting a report to the AAHSA board outlining all of its recommendations for changes in the system. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.
AAHSA Protests Intervention in Survey & Certification Appeals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a rule that would give the Secretary of HHS the authority to reverse decisions rendered by the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) in nursing home survey and certification cases if the decisions do not reflect the "considered opinion" of the Secretary. We have submitted comments urging HHS not to implement this rule, because the move would make the DAB’s decisions essentially meaningless and would make it more time-consuming and expensive for nursing homes to exhaust their administrative remedies before reaching the Federal court system. Contact: Jennifer Hilliard, (202) 508-9444.
| Read AAHSA’s comments. |
Physical Inspection Preparation Tips from HUD
Last week the Department of Housing and Urban Development posted a fact sheet with some useful tips on preparing for an upcoming inspection. See the fact sheet. Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.
| Read our Real Estate Assessment Center fact sheets. |
CMS to Host National NPI Roundtable
On Feb. 6 from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Eastern Time, CMS will host a National Provider Identifier (NPI) roundtable focusing on the status of the Medicare implementation. Participants have a chance to ask questions about the NPI. Contact: Iara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
| Register for the roundtable. |
» Learning Opportunities
Extend Your Stay in Washington to Learn More about Culture Change
Following AAHSA’s 2008 Future of Aging Services Conference, sign up to attend Creating Home in the Nursing Home: A National Symposium on Culture Change and the Environment Requirements on April 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. This one-day symposium will include nationally-recognized presenters, response panels featuring representatives from national stakeholder groups and an opportunity for you to ask questions and share ideas about culture change. Contact: Christie Dobson, (585) 271-7570.
| Read more about the symposium. |
| Register online. |
Upcoming AAHSA Audioconferences:
Disruptive Residents and the Law: What You Need to Know Join us on Feb. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time to find out how you can handle a disruption in a community caused by a resident (or a resident’s family member) with care, concern and coordination. On the call, you’ll learn how to develop contracts, policies and procedures that will help you to deter an incident or facilitate an effective response to a disruption. Contact: Nataki Goodall, (202) 508-9471.
| Register online for the audioconference. |
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 the appropriate and inappropriate 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. |
Does Your Organization Know the Secret to Greatness in Aging Services?
AAHSA and LarsonAllen LLP, a national CPA, consulting, and advisory firm, want to know your answers. That’s why we are sponsoring the second year of our 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 multiple level aging-services providers that are AAHSA Quality First Covenant signers are encouraged to apply for this honor. Phase I applications are being accepted through March 10. Selected organizations will be recognized at AAHSA’s 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition and will also be given the opportunity to share their knowledge with our Leadership Circle. Contact: Lee Barbeau, (267) 419-1171.
| Learn more about the "Pathways to Greatness" recognition program. |
» Quality First
 3,200 Covenant signers! Have you signed yet? |
Answer Quality First’s Question of the Quarter
Members often ask us how their peers are implementing Quality First. To find out, we’re launching our Quality First Question of the Quarter. Click here to answer three short survey questions and let others know about your work to put quality first. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499.
Check out the January’s Most Popular Tools and Top Viewed Resources on the Quality First Web site.
» Research and Resources
Do You Have Historical Photos of Your Facility?
If so, consider sending copies of them to AAHSA. We want to use them to highlight how not-for-profit organizations like yours stand the test of time and will continue to care and serve elders for generations to come. Please send AAHSA’s Keesha Atkins your high resolution, print-quality photos no later than Feb. 8. Contact: Keesha Atkins, (202) 508-9440.
Call for Sessions: Long-term Care Health Information Technology Summit
Are you interested in sharing your organization’s experience with health information technology? The American Health Information Management Association, of which AAHSA is a member, is now accepting session proposals for the fourth annual long-term care health information technology summit. Proposals should focus on one of the following areas: adopting health information technology, addressing policy and advocacy issues, empowering consumers to use personal health records, demonstrating health information technology through various projects, looking at new issues and technologies, exchanging health information, researching issues impacted by health information technology and e-prescribing/medication management. Use the online form to submit your abstract by Feb. 18. Case studies may be submitted until April 30. Contact: Karyn Downie, (202) 508-9410.
| See the session submission template and instructions. |
London’s Calling…And so is International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA). IAHSA recently opened the call for presentations at their 8th International Conference, held from July 20-22, 2009, at the Queen Elizabeth II in London, England. At the conference, you’ll get the chance to showcase your expertise, innovations and organizational successes with your peers from around the world. The conference also offers a great forum for exchanging both practical knowledge and new ideas for creating the future of our field. Visit the IAHSA Web site to submit your proposal today. Contact: Alysha Liljeqvist, (202)508-9468
| Submit your proposal. |
AAHSA Money-Saving Programs: Beyond Savings
Can You Save Money and Still Support Local Businesses?
The answer: Yes, with the help of Matthews Buses. This Group Purchasing partner provides discounts to you while allowing you to keep business within your community. Whether you’re looking for your first conversion van or updating an entire fleet of mobility vehicles, Matthews Buses can help you make the most of your transportation purchases. Contact: Ed Sawicki (518) 434-1760.
| Learn more about Matthews Buses. |
advertisement
» 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.
Download the form to post a job.
Visit the AAHSA JobMart.
Jobs posted in the past week (Jan. 25 - 31):
Administrator
Administrator - Crowne Point, Ind.
CEO/President/Executive Director
Executive Director - South Bend, Ind.
CEO - Everett, Wash.
Executive Director - San Antonio, Texas
Senior VP - Consulting Services Division - Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Marketing Director - West Central, Ohio
Nursing/Healthcare
Director of Health Services - Gwynedd, Pa.
Administrator
CEO/President/Executive Director
Finance
Marketing/Sales/Business Office
Nursing/HealthCare
Other
Wanted
» Newsletter Tools
View Past Issues · Subscribe · Advertise · Contact Us
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