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January 14, 2010 |
Vol 17, Issue 6 |
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Welcome to this week's edition of the FAHSA
Link.
Legislative Committee Meetings Continue - It's
All About Money for 2010 Legislative Session! --
According to the latest estimates presented to
legislators this week, the general revenue
shortfall for the 2010-11 fiscal year is between
$1.7 billion and $2.5 billion depending on how
much legislators set aside for reserves. The
shortfall would decrease if congress extends the
higher federal matching rates for Medicaid that
were implemented as part of the federal stimulus
package passed nearly a year ago. The stimulus
moneys expire on December 31, 2010, but state
Governors are advocating for a six-month
extension to get them through the 2010-2011
fiscal year. So far congress is resisting
because of the cost. For a complete overview of
this week in the Legislature, please see the
Legislative Alert which addresses the following
items:
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Cost Cutting Ideas -- Possible End of Free
Health Insurance for State Employees
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Background Screening Remains High Priority
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Interest in Medicaid Fraud Continues
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ALF Draft Bill Unveiled
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Continuing Care Bill In Bill Drafting
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Governor and Lawmakers Propose Return of
Back-To-School Sales Tax
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Cities Have Had Enough With Unfunded
Mandates; Oppose Cap on Revenues
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FAHSA's Regional Meetings
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Regional Meetings Informative and Successful -
This week, FAHSA held two informative regional
meetings at Covenant Village in Plantation and
Plymouth Harbor in Sarasota.Natasha
Bryant, M.A.,
Managing Director and Senior Research Associate,
Institute for the Future of
Aging
Services (IFAS); Dr.
Ann
Hubbard, MSN, ARNP, Ed.D.,
Indian River State College, and board member from
the Florida Center for Nursing; Mason Jackson,
Workforce Florida, Regional Workforce Director; Jean
M. Wortock, Ph.D., MSN, ARNP. Dean, College of
Nursing St. Petersburg College and board member of
the Florida Center for Nursing; and Ted Ehrlichman,
Workforce Florida, Regional Workforce office,
provided an overview of the workforce composition,
current demographics on Florida's nursing workforce,
and standardized core competencies. The presenters
offered strategies and solutions to the growing
workforce problems as well as retention and
self-sufficiency. Representatives from the regional
workforce regional offices discussed training
dollars and grants that are currently available to
providers from federal stimulus and state grants.
If you were unable to attend the regional meetings,
download a copy of the presentations by clicking
below:
FAHSA would like to thank Chuck Johnson, Executive
Director, and Judy Johnson, Administrator, Covenant
Village; Harry Hobson, CEO, Dorothy Barichak,
Administrator, Plymouth Harbor, and their staff for
graciously hosting the meetings this week.
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ALF News |
2009 Assisted Living Salary & Benefit Report is
Available (From HCS) -
The national median hourly rate of Assisted
Living Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is
$19.36 according to the 12th annual Assisted
Living Salary & Benefits Report, just published
by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS).
The percent increase was 1.68% for LPNs in
facilities reporting data from both the 2008 and
2009 Reports. The Report is published in
cooperation with the American Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and
supported by the National Center for Assisted
Living (NCAL).
Turnover rates for LPNs showed a marked
decrease, dropping 8.32% over the previous year.
Vacancy rates also fell 1.20%. The Report
covers 16 management and 24 nonmanagement
positions. To obtain a copy of the report
please visit www.hhcsinc.com.
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Education News
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Two
Regional Meetings Rescheduled -
The regional meetings
previously scheduled for January
14-15 have been rescheduled for
February 9-10, 2010. Please plan to
attend the meetings, featuring
presentations from Robyn Stone, CEO,
Institute for the Future of Aging
Services (IFAS), board members from
the Florida Center for Nursing and
representatives from the regional
Workforce offices.
February 9, 2010 - Advent
Christian Village, Dowling Park
February 10,
2010 - Waterman Village, Mt. Dora
Joint Philanthropy Workshop Planned
-- VISION 2020 - New Solutions
for a New Decade - is an exclusive
opportunity for members of the American
Association of Homes and Services for
the Aging (AAHSA) and the National
Hospice Workgroup Philanthropy Forum to
engage in strategic, generative
discussions around planned giving, major
gifts fundraising, donor relationship
management and the ethics of
philanthropy. The workshop will be held
May 5-7, 2010 in St. Petersburg. For
more information or to register, contact
Mike Bell, CEO, Suncoast Hospice
Foundation at Mikebell@thehospice.org.
Upcoming Educational Events:
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January 19, 2010 -
Affirmative Fair Housing
Marketing Plans Webinar
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January 26 & 27,
2010 - FAHSA Board of Trustee
and Public Policy Meeting, Boca
Raton Resort
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February 9-10,
2010 - FAHSA's Regional Meetings
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January 28-29,
2010 -1st Class Final
Leadership Academy, Orlando
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February 16, 2010
- Detecting Abuse and the
Hotline Free Conference Call
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February 25, 2010
- CNA Train the Trainer,
Orlando
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March 16, 2010 -
Medicaid Integrity and RAC
Webinar
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March 23 & 24,
2010 - Legislative Workshop,
Tallahassee
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March 25 & 26, 2010 - Leadership
Academy, Tallahassee
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General News |
Attorney General and AHCA Secretary Release
Annual Medicaid Fraud Report
- On January 7,
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
(Agency) Secretary Thomas W. Arnold and Florida
Attorney General Bill McCollum released
Florida's annual Medicaid Fraud and Abuse
Report, highlighting the importance of
increasing Medicaid fraud awareness.
In the 2008-09 fiscal year, the Attorney
General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and
the Agency's Medicaid Program Integrity (MPI)
staff worked together to recover $287 million in
overpayments to Medicaid providers. In
addition, the work of the MFCU and the Agency's
MPI staff prevented more than $18.9 million in
Medicaid overpayments during the 2008-09 fiscal
year, ensuring more dollars are spent on
Florida's most vulnerable citizens. To read the
complete article please click on the General
Alert link below.
For the benefit of our for-profit members, we
are including the below article from
AAHSA's HCBS Report: January 2010
CMS Issues Guidance on Home Health Billing
and Ownership Rules-
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
issued guidance to Medicare contractors on how
to implement two provisions from the Home Health
Agency (HHA) Prospective Payment System Final
Rule. The first provision deals with a home
health agency selling (including asset sales or
stock transfers), transferring, or relinquishing
ownership of the agency. The second provision
lists the requirements of an HHA whose Medicare
billing privileges have been deactivated.
Read Full Article
Other General News
- Attorney
General and AHCA Secretary Release Annual
Medicaid Fraud Report
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WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the
Better Business Bureau
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Home and Community-Based News |
AAHSA Requests Information
-- According to the Administration on Aging
Statistics and feedback from membership, only 15
states (AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, ID, IN, MD, NE, NJ,
NY, OH, OR, PA, and VA) have area agencies on
aging that use the Older Americans Act Title III
funds to pay for Adult Day services. The
remaining states were using Title III for other
supportive services. We are also hearing that
restrictive regulations for the use of the
caregiver funding for respite under Title III
E conflicts at times with state ADC regulations
and the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are using
this problem to limit funding going to adult day
programs.
There will be a re-authorization of the Older
American's Act in 2011 and forums will be taking
place throughout the country to discuss the
approval. AAHSA would like to know if you are
receiving funding from your local Area Agencies
on Aging for Adult Day and if there are other
regions of your state that use Title III funding
for adult day. Please respond to Peter
Notarstefano at
pnotarstefano@aahsa.org.
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Housing News |
Kathlene Coughlin Williams to Present on Fair
Housing -
Don't miss
this opportunity to hear Kathlene C. Williams
presentation on Affirmative Fair Housing on
January 19.
Register today!
Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Operating Cost Standards
- Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons
with Disabilities Programs -- HUD has released
the annual Operating Cost Standards (OCS), that
they use for calculating the annual per
person/per unit amount of a Project Rental
Assistance Contract (PRAC) when making Fiscal
Year 2009 subsidy fund reservations for Capital
Advance applications under the subject programs.
The standards have been updated using the
National Consumer Price Index (CPI) of housing
changes for 2009.Historically, some areas
significantly exceed the National CPI average.
To assure that those areas are not precluded
from program participation, each HUD Office
noted below is authorized to adjust its annual
OCS by up to the additional percentage shown:
Chicago - 0.6 percent; Miami - 12.2 percent; New
York - 39.5 percent; Philadelphia - 13.6
percent; Los Angeles - 28.6 percent; San
Francisco - 26.9 percent; and Seattle - 24.1
percent.
The 2009 operating cost standards for the
Jacksonville HUB are as follows:
Jacksonville $4,220
Miami $4,517
Tampa $3,990
To determine the total amount of an annual PRAC,
multiply the OCS by the number of residential
spaces in a group home or by the number of
revenue-producing units in either an independent
living facility or an elderly project. For the
six cities listed above, the result thus
obtained would be multiplied by part or all of
the additional percentage, as needed.
The term of the PRAC is reduced from 5 years to
3 years. The Department anticipates that, at
the end of the contract terms, renewals will be
approved subject to the availability of funds.
In addition to this provision, the Department
will reserve PRAC funds based on 75 percent
rather than 100 percent of the current OCS for
approved units in order to take into account the
average tenant contribution toward rent.
For more information,
click here to read the notice, HSNG 10-3, or
contact HUD representative, Adia Hayes at (202)
708-3000, Extension 2463.
Place to Post Your EIV Questions - Members have
been getting some strange reports from EIV. If
you are receiving these messages from EIV,
please report them by clicking on this web site.
If you've never used the TRACS discussion forum
Web site, you will need to register to log
in. The forum is monitored by system specialist
consultants and they will respond to your
comments and questions.
In addition, HUD has released a notice to
provide guidance on the use and distribution of
the EIV & You brochure. Download a copy of the
notice by
clicking here.
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Legislative News |
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Member Testifies During Delegation Meeting --
Last Friday, January 8th, Diane Marcello,
Director, Health Services, Sunnyside Village,
testified before the Sarasota Legislative
Delegation. She spoke about the adverse
consequences of possible Medicaid budget cuts and
reminded lawmakers that long-term care providers are
major contributors to jobs and the economy. Senator
Mike Bennett commented that Sunnyside is an
outstanding provider and that the delegation would
do what it could to keep Medicaid cuts in check.
Diane was the only elder care provider who spoke. In
addition, an AARP volunteer testified about the
importance of the diversion program.
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Nursing Home News |
CMS Published Chapter 6 of RAI Manual
-- The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS)
published chapter 6 of the Resident Assessment
Instrument (RAI) manual, which helps staff
gather information used to asses and plan the
care of residents, as well as information used
for payment of skilled nursing services provided
in a resident's Part A stay. Chapter 6 explains
how the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 is used to
support Medicare reimbursement and ensure that
claims submitted to Medicare are accurate and
meet all Medicare requirements. This chapter
provides step-by-step instructions on how to the
RUGs grouper calculates the appropriate RUG IV
classification based on the data from an MDS
assessment, including determinations of ADL
scores and total rehabilitation therapy
minutes.
For the complete RAI manual, go to the
CMS website, and click on
MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Jan 2010 [ZIP 20 MB].
For the benefit of our for-profit members, we
are including the below articles from
AAHSA's This Week Jan. 11, 2010 Report:
NCAL Conducting Assisted Living Employee
Vacancy, Retention, and Turnover Survey
- With the support of AAHSA, the American
Seniors Housing Association, and the Assisted
Living Federation of America, the National
Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) is conducting
a first-ever national staffing vacancy and
retention survey. We urge our Assisted Living
and CCRC members, who have a separate assisted
living community, to participate so that the
survey will acquire meaningful results for
benchmarking. The survey is available in Excel
or PDF format and should be submitted as
instructed on the forms. Contact: Steve Maag,
(202) 508-9498.
OIG Issues Report on Pricing for Enteral
Nutrient in Nursing Homes -
In this report, the Office of Inspector General
(OIG) compares Medicare's Part B fee schedule
for enteral nutrients provided during non-Part A
stays to prices available to nursing home
suppliers and other purchasers in 2006, finding
that Medicare's fee schedule for enteral
nutrients provided under Part B during non-Part
A stays was more than double the prices
available to nursing home suppliers and other
purchasers. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202)
508-9478.
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Preferred Business Associates News |
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 FAHSA's
Preferred Business Associates Program (PBAs)
-- A list of PBAs can be found by on
the FAHSA Web site
www.fahsa.org and
selecting Preferred Business Associates from the
left side menu bar or clicking on the FAHSA
Preferred Business Associates Page hyperlink.
FAHSA members can also use the on-line directory
to search for PBAs by specialty.
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Career Center |
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Welcome to the Florida Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging Career Center!
Your destination for exciting Aging Services job
opportunities and the best resource for
qualified candidates in the Florida Aging
Services Industry. Searching for a job in Aging
Services?
Looking to fill a position? This job board is
custom tailored for the Aging Services industry,
which means we attract the most qualified
professionals in Florida.
Create an Employer Account,
search resumes and post your Aging Services job
now!
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Copyright 2010 -- Publication of the Florida
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
(FAHSA).
- FAHSA Chair: Terri Cunliffe
- FAHSA President/CEO: Janegale Boyd
- Managing Editor: Gail Matillo, MPA, COS
Copyright Information: Copies of the articles
and other information in this publication may be
noncommercially reproduced for the purpose of
educational or scientific advancement.
Otherwise, no part of this publication may be
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, mechanical or electronic, including
photocopying, microfilm and recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system,
without the written permission of the editor.
Correspondence: Should be addressed to: Editor,
1812 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. For
telephone inquiries, call (850) 671-3700. Or
E-mail FAHSA at info@fahsa.org. © 2010 FAHSA.
All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this
correspondence is not intended as a substitute
for legal advice. Please discuss any information
gathered from this or any other FAHSA
publications with your legal counsel in the
context of your particular situation before
implementing any new policies or procedures.
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