|
April 1, 2010 |
Vol 17, Issue 17 |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
Welcome to this week's edition of the
FAHSA Link.
Senator Joe Negron
Receives Visit from Sandhill Cove Constituents
-- During FAHSA's Legislative Workshop last week,
FAHSA members and Sandhill Cove staff, Jolynn
Whitten, Executive Director, and Julie Bindl,
Administrator, met with Senator Joe Negron (R-28)
and discussed several of the following public policy
priorities:
-
Increase the Senate Health & Human Services
Appropriations Committee's budget allocation,
-
Reduce proposed nursing home budget cuts to maintain
quality care and preserve jobs, and
-
Allocate full funding from the Federal Medicaid
Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to the state's Health
and Human Services budget.
Senate Considers Medicaid Overhaul
- Senate Republicans came up with an unexpected turn
of events in the debate about overhauling Medicaid,
approving a proposal that could lead to capping
program costs and giving health-insurance vouchers
to beneficiaries. They also voted to expand
Medicaid's controversial pilot program requiring
recipients to enroll in managed-care plans.
The capping and voucher proposal is far from taking
effect: Details remain sketchy, and such major
Medicaid changes would need agreement from the state
House and, ultimately, the federal government. But
the idea --- inserted into the fine print of the
Senate's 2010-11 budget plan --- was a clear signal
that Republican leaders want to reinvent Medicaid.
To read more about this, please click on the
following news link below from the article source
HealthNewsFlorida.org
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
Innovation Exchange |
|
FAHSA's Innovation Exchange Corner Features "Mayflower
Remembers"- FAHSA's Innovation Exchange Program
provides members with an opportunity to share ideas and
best practices with others and to recognize their staff
for extraordinary performance. This month, FAHSA is
showcasing "Mayflower Remembers" submitted by The
Mayflower Health Center.
"Mayflower Remembers" is a unique and meaningful way for
the staff to say "goodbye" when a Health Center resident
dies. A white silk arrangement of roses is placed by
the time clock for three consecutive shifts to assure
that all direct care staff are aware that a resident has
expired.
A reminiscing session is scheduled and facilitated by
the Director of Social Services. Notices are posted
internally throughout the community (especially if the
individual resided in independently living previously).
Staff, caregivers, patients, other families, the
resident's roommate and friends often attend and
participate. The Remembrance is informal and occurs at
the change of shift to include two daytime shifts. A
bouquet of live roses is placed in the center of a table
along with photos and other memorabilia of the resident.
During the session, the resident's social history and
"story" is shared, and attendees are encouraged to talk
freely, sharing the good, sad, and often funny memories
of the resident's life. To read more about the
"Mayflower Remembers," please go to the
FAHSA Innovation Exchange Web page. |
|
Education News
|
Don't Wait -- Nominate Your Colleagues
for a FAHSA Award -- As an
aging-services professional, you are attuned to
who your organization's exceptional leaders and
innovators are. Recognize them by nominating
them for a 2010 FAHSA award!
The FAHSA awards honor organizations and
individuals for excellence in leadership, care
and service innovation. Apply for a 2010 FAHSA
award by June 15. For details and entry forms,
click here.
April 30 Is Due Date for 2010 AAHSA
Awards -- Please encourage your members
to submit entries for the 2010 AAHSA Awards.
Entries must be submitted online no later than
April 30. View award details. Winners receive
national recognition and one free registration
to the 2010 AAHSA Annual Meeting & Exposition,
Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Los Angeles, where the awards
will be presented. Questions? Contact AAHSA
staff Deborah Cloud, (202) 508-9458, or Alma
Gill, (202) 508-9420.
Next Leadership
Academy Program Rescheduled for July 26-27
-- FAHSA plans to conduct the 2nd class of the
Leadership Academy beginning on July 26 and 27,
2010 in conjunction with FAHSA's 47th Annual
Convention and Exposition in Boca Raton.
Applicants who previously applied do not need to
re-apply. Scholarship funds to cover half of
the tuition are available for those who would
like to participate. This training is a
valuable resource to develop leadership skills.
During the three-month course (both onsite and
online), the following leadership topics will be
discussed:
-
Understanding the Role of the Emerging
Leader
-
Understanding Emotional Intelligence and Its
Impact on Leadership Success
-
Leading and Managing for Results
-
Teamwork and Team Building
-
Giving and Receiving Feedback
-
Delegating and Influencing
-
Problem Solving
-
Managing Conflict
Please consider registering for this next
course. Registration and a brochure is available
on
FAHSA's web site. Scholarship
forms are also available.
The New MDS 3.0 Resident Assessment
Instrument (RAI) Course: A Strategic and
Systematic Approach -- Please plan to
attend the MDS 3.0 intensive two-day training
program scheduled on May 4-5. SAVE THE DATE!
This workshop is targeted for MDS Coordinators
as well as those who would like to become
familiar with the changes to the RAI process
with MDS 3.0.
The new MDS 3.0 is four times the size as the
current assessment tool. Although the process
is similar, there are major differences. Jean
M. Bean, RN, Director of Clinical Services,
Covenant Retirement Communities, will be
attending the MDS National Train the Trainer
Conference in Baltimore April 13-15, and will
then be FAHSA's presenter for this training.
She will provide participants with the latest
information, straight from CMS. A brochure and
online registration will be available on the
FAHSA web site very soon.
Join Us for Upcoming Training
Opportunities --
-
April 28 -- OSHA Updates Webinar
-
May 4 & 5 -- MDS Intensive 2-Day
Training, Regal Sun Resort, Orlando
|
|
General News |
Health Information Technology
-- The stimulus legislation passed last year
contained a program to give incentive payments to
physicians and hospitals that "meaningfully use"
health information technology in their practices.
On March 26, Senator Bill Nelson signed on to a
letter by Senators Baucus and Harkin asking the
Department of Health and Human Services to clarify
the proposed standards to reward doctors and
hospitals for adopting and using electronic health
information technology. The letter requests that
the Secretary allow some additional flexibility in
the criteria providers must meet in its proposed
rule regarding health IT, while still holding them
to high standards to ensure that health IT is being
effectively used. The letter also requests that
targeted changes be made to allow more hospitals and
physicians to qualify for the incentive payments.
Source: Sen. Bill Nelson Legislative Update
Governor Crist Encourages Floridians to
Complete Census and Be Counted in 2010 Sunshine
Census -- The Census count directly affects
how $400 billion per year in federal funding is
distributed to state, local and tribal governments.
As part of his ongoing effort to ensure Florida
receives its fair share of federal funding and
representation, Governor Charlie Crist encouraged
all Florida residents to fill out and return their
Census questionnaire.
The U.S. Census Bureau is encouraging residents who
have not received a census questionnaire to wait
until April 12, 2010, to request a replacement. By
that date, additional questionnaires will have been
mailed to non-responding households in targeted
areas. To request a questionnaire, call the
Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center, toll-free
at 1-866-872-6868. Floridians can also receive a
questionnaire at a "Be Counted" location in their
community. "Be Counted" locations can be found at
the
Census website,
on the "Take 10" page.
|
|
HCBS News |
|
Assisted Living for the Elderly Waiver Services
Procedure Codes and Fee Schedule -- This rule
applies to all Assisted Living for the Elderly (ALE)
waiver services providers enrolled in the Medicaid
program. All ALE waiver services providers enrolled in
the Medicaid program must be in compliance with the
Assisted Living for the Elderly Waiver Services
Procedure Codes and Fee Schedule, July 2009, which is
incorporated by reference in Rule 59G-13.051. The
Procedure Codes and Fee Schedule are available from the
Medicaid fiscal agent's Web Portal at http://mymedicaid-florida.com.
Click on Public Information for Providers, then on
Provider Support, and then on Fee Schedules. Paper
copies may be obtained from the Agency for Health Care
Administration, Bureau of Medicaid Services, 2727 Mahan
Drive, M.S. 20, Tallahassee, Florida, 32308.
Medicare Fraud Statistics Appalling for South
Florida -- An article that appeared in
The Palm Beach Post
today highlights the incredible amount of home health
fraud that is occurring in South Florida, specifically
in the Miami-Dade area. It's no wonder that the Florida
Legislature continues its quest to identify and punish
perpetrators of Medicaid and Medicare fraud. It's also
difficult to understand how fraud of this magnitude has
been able to go on for so long.
According to The
Palm Beach Post
article, "In 2008, of all the Medicare payouts for home
health care services nationwide, over 50 percent were
shelled out in Miami-Dade. That was despite the fact
that only 2 percent of patients receiving such
federally-funded care in the U.S. live in the county.
Much of the billing was fraudulent. Some persons
listed as recipients of "home" health care services
turned out be homeless people, who simply loaned their
names to crooks. When investigators went looking for
firms that had been paid by Medicare for medical
equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers and hospital
beds to be used in homes, they found that 30 percent of
the companies didn't exist. Much of the Medicare money
was paid to companies that claimed they administered
insulin shots to blind diabetics. But many of the
patients weren't blind. The investigators concluded
that a growing chunk of Miami-Dade's gross domestic
product is generated by Medicare fraud. In 2008,
suspects accused of $793 million in false Medicare
claims were indicted in South Florida, about 90 percent
in Miami-Dade. Last year that figure rose to $952
million."
Medicare Home Health Rural Add-on -- On
March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA),
which creates a 3 percent add-on to payments made for
home health services to patients in rural areas. The
add-on applies to episodes ending on or after April 1,
2010, through December 31, 2016. Similar to temporary
rural add-on provisions in the past, claims that report
a rural state code (code beginning with 999) as the Core
Based Statistical Area (CBSA) code for the beneficiary's
residence will receive the additional 3 percent
payment. The CBSA code is reported associated with
value code 61 on home health claims.
|
|
Housing News |
|
Sadowski Housing Trust
Fund - Currently in the appropriations
bills, the Senate and the House have plans to
transfer remaining funds out of the Sadowski Housing
Trust Fund. Individual letters to each member of
the legislature, emphasizing support of repeal of
the cap and fully funding the housing trust funds
will be delivered today. Although the Senate sweep
is less than the House, we'll have to wait and see
which one of the following will be appropriated:
-
Senate sweeps $164.3 million, appropriates $37.5
million for housing (not specified, but in category
that includes Down Payment Assistance), and leaves
balance of approximately $10.01 million neither
swept nor spent.
-
House sweeps $174.31 million, appropriates $37.5
million ($26.5 million for DPA and $1 million to
public housing).
Boyd Speaks on
Preservation -- Recently, Janegale Boyd,
FAHSA's President/CEO, had the opportunity to
speak to a group of members from the Florida
Alliance for Retired Persons at the Capitol in
Tallahassee. Janegale stressed the urgent need
for preservation dollars to renovate older
communities.
Other Housing News:
-
AAHSA Participates in HUD
Section 202 Reform Meeting - Additional Links to
Section 202 Information
-
Send a Copy to Your Legislators
-
DOE Lists Eligible
Weatherization Properties
-
EIV Final Rule Webcast
-
CPD Allocations for
Florida Released Today
|
|
Legislative News |
|
Legislative Session Reaches Mid-Point -- This
week marks the mid-point of the 2010 Legislative
Session. Because of Passover and Good Friday, it was a
short week at the Capitol. Senators and representatives
took Monday and Tuesday off, but returned to Tallahassee
on Wednesday to vote out their respective budget bills
before heading home on Thursday afternoon for a long
weekend.
The first five weeks of session had been unusually
fast-paced. It is extremely rare to have major bills on
the Governor's desk this early, but it has happened
quite a few times over the past few weeks.
Most House committees have concluded their business.
Substantive committees in the Senate will continue to
meet until April 20. At this point, if a bill has not
been heard in at least one House committee, the
likelihood of passing is minimal. Since only 10 to 15
percent of the bills that are filed pass both chambers,
lobbyists and lawmakers will be making last-ditch
efforts in the final weeks of session to salvage their
bills or amend similar language to bills that are
moving. To read more, on this and other legislative
action this week, please refer to the
Legislative Update.
Budget Update -- In a surprise move,
the Senate Ways and Means Committee decided to account
for the revenues the six-month extension of the higher
federal match will bring to Florida. As a consequence,
several programs slated for cuts were restored.
Included on the list are:
- Medically Needy and MEDS/AD programs - extended
until June 30, 2011
- Home Care for the Elderly - cuts restored
- DOEA Local Programs - cuts restored
- Alzheimer's Disease Project - cuts restored
All in all, close to $1 billion additional, one-time
(nonrecurring) dollars were injected into the Senate
health and human services budget. The nursing home
rate cut and increased assessment were not modified,
nor were there additional diversion slots added.
Both chambers will vote out their respective
appropriations bills on Thursday, April 1. Next,
conference committees will be formed and differences
between House and Senate versions of the bills will
be resolved. We expect the conference committee
meetings to conclude by the middle of April.
Florida TaxWatch Government Cost Savings
Task Force Releases Final Recommendations to Save
More than $3 Billion -- Florida TaxWatch
and the Government Cost Savings Task Force announced
the release of the Report and Recommendations of the
Florida TaxWatch Government Cost Savings Task Force.
The final report,
Report and
Recommendations of the Florida TaxWatch Government
Cost Savings Task Force to Save More Than $3 Billion,
includes 88 immediately actionable
recommendations that total $3.2 billion in cost
savings for the state of Florida. The 128-page
publication is the product of nine months of work by
31 distinguished Floridians, on behalf of all
Florida's taxpayers, working to provide
constructive, pragmatic, and principled cost-savings
recommendations and wise budget reductions.
|
|
Nursing Home News |
Dr. Donald Berwick
to be Named New Head of the Center for Medicare
& Medicaid (CMS) -- As co-founder,
president and CEO of theInstitute for Health
Improvement (IHI), Donald M. Berwick, MD, is
scheduled to be named the new CMS Administrator
by President Obama. Berwick is best known for
IHI's efforts to reduce medical errors in
hospitals including the widely acclaimed
"100,000 Lives" campaign targeting
hospital-acquired infections. He succeeds Mark
McClellan as CMS Administrator, who was the last
full time CMS Administrator, leaving the post in
2006.
Other Nursing Home News:
-
DEA Releases Interim Rule
on Pain Medication
-
Report: Nursing Home
Therapy Reimbursement Under Review As Reform Law
Toughens Up
-
EHR Grants for Long-Term
Care Providers (From AAHSA)
-
Health Care Bill Long-Term
Care Related Grants and Other Relevant
Provisions
|
|
Preferred Business Associates News |
|
 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.
|
|
Career Center |
|
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!
|
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.
|
 |
|
|
