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April 15, 2010 |
Vol 17, Issue 18 |
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Welcome to this week's edition of the FAHSA
Link!
Senator Bill
Nelson Signs Letter to Support Section 202 and
811 Programs -- This week, Senator Bill
Nelson signed on to a letter written to the
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee
on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
and Related Agencies requesting $825 million
for the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the
Elderly program and $300 million for the Section
811 program in FY 2011. FAHSA contacted Senator
Nelson's office on Tuesday, and AAHSA met with
his staff member, Stephanie Mickle, Esq., on
Wednesday. Yesterday, Stephanie contacted FAHSA
to let us know that Senator Nelson has agreed
and will join with other Senators in ensuring
that these programs will continue to provide the
adequate funding for Section 202 and 811 housing
needs of Florida's low-income elders and adults
with disabilities for years to come.
Health Care
Reform Bill Timeline and Chart Provided--
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has published two
comprehensive charts that concisely outline the
implementation of the Health Care Reform
bill. The
Health Care Reform Bill Timeline is a
one-pager that shows, at-a-glance, the changes
occurring in each year from 2010-2018. The
Key Employer
Changes charts key health care
reforms for employers.
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ALF News |
DoEA Announces ALF
Core Examination Changes -- Greg Rice,
Department of Elder Affairs, recently notified ALF
CORE curriculum trainers of a change in the
administration of the core examination. Effective
immediately, the David C. Anchin Center, within the
University of South Florida's College of Education,
will be administering the core examination. The ALF
core test project administrator is Olivia Orlando.
Her email address is Olivia@usf.edu. The test must
be administered a minimum of 12 times
each quarter alternating between Miami, Tampa,
Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee. Although
web-based testing was discussed, it is not part of
the contract.
According to Greg, the Anchin Center has been a
leader in the development and implementation of
research sponsored and funded by the Florida
Department of Education, the U.S. Department of
Education, the National Science Foundation, and
private philanthropy.
If you have any questions during this transition,
please contact Greg via email at Riceg@elderaffairs.org
or by telephone at 850-414-2165. Or you may also
contact Scott Marcus of his staff via email at
Marcuss@elderaffairs.org or by telephone
at 850-414-2097.
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Education News
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Don't Wait --
Nominate Your Colleagues for a Prestigious FAHSA
Award -- As an aging-services
professional, you are attuned to who your
organization's exceptional leaders and
innovators. Recognize their contributions by
nominating them for a 2010 FAHSA Award!
The FAHSA Awards honor organizations and
individuals for excellence in leadership, care,
and service innovation. 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.
Service
to Seniors Awards Program Accepting
Nominations -- The Florida
Council on Aging (FCOA) has opened
nominations for the 2010 Quality Senior
Living Awards Program. This year's
award winners will be announced on
Tuesday, August 17th, at the 2010
Florida Conference on Aging at the
Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando. Each
winner will receive an award package
valued at over $400.
Quality Senior Living Awards will be
made in the following categories:
- Service to Seniors by an
Organization
- Senior Vision Media Award
- Dr. Carter Osterbind Outstanding
FCOA Member Award
- Public Service Award
Nominations must be received by
Tuesday,
May 21, 2010. For more
information, or to nominate a deserving
individual or organization, call FCOA at
(850) 222-8877. Nominations may be
submitted on-line at www.fcoa.org.
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, 2010. 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
of 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 website very
soon.
Join Us for
Upcoming Training Opportunities:
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April 27, 2010 - Landlord/Tenant Law
Updates - Free Conference Call for
FAHSA Members
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April 28, 2010 - OSHA Updates
Webinar
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May 4-5, 2010 - MDS Intensive
Two-Day Training, Regal Sun Resort,
Orlando
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General News |
Medicare and
Social Security Could Be Casualties of
Mounting Deficit -- The growing
deficit could force the federal government
to raise taxes or change entitlement
programs, such as Medicare and Social
Security, according to Federal Reserve
Chairman Ben S. Bernanke.
If the
country fails to demonstrate fiscal
responsibility, the country faces a loss of
financial stability and robust economic
growth, he said. The speech comes just weeks
after President Obama signed into law a
nearly $1 trillion health care reform bill.
Critics contend it will increase deficits,
even though the Congressional Budget Office
determined it will reduce deficits.
Bernanke
argued that if the government develops a
"credible plan" to reduce long-term
deficits, it could help boost the economy.
Source: McKnight's Long-Term Care and
Assisted Living, April 9, 2010
AHCA Seeks
Information on Health Information Exchange
Services -- The Agency for Health
Care Administration (AHCA) has posted a
Request for Information (RFI) for Health
Information Exchange Services. Click here
to view the RFI announcement on their
Website by
clicking here.
The
objective of this RFI is to collect informed
recommendations on the requirements for
building the FHIN to provide health
information exchange services to health care
providers as prioritized by Florida's health
care stakeholders.
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Home and Community-Based Services News |
New Report Examines
Efficacy of Self-Directed Care -- A new issue
brief from The Commonwealth Fund finds that
self-directed care for elders and people with
cognitive disabilities has been shown to improve
participants' satisfaction with services, enhance
their quality of life, and reduce costs when
compared with services from an agency. Written by
Vidhya Alakeson, a policy analyst at the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
International Developments in Self Directed Care
examines a range of innovative programs in England,
Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. The
full text of the issue brief is available free as a
12-page PDF on the
Commonwealth Fund website.
CMS Approves ACHC to
Deem Hospice Providers for Medicare-- The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
issued a survey and certification letter announcing
approval of the Accreditation Commission for Health
Care (ACHC) to deem hospices for participation in
the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. The CMS approval
of ACHC provides hospices with another accreditation
option besides the Joint Commission (JCAHO) and the
Community Health Accreditation Program. For more
information, contact Evvie Munley, AAHSA, (202)
508-9478.
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Housing News |
DCA to Sunset
without Reauthorization from House -- While
legislation to reauthorize the
Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA)
remains alive in the Senate, the House
Economic and Community Affairs Council must
vote this Friday, April 16, to pass HB 7107,
which reauthorizes the state agency. If
this legislation is not put on the agenda
and passed, the bill will die. This will
put DCA in "legislative limbo" and subject
to elimination each year unless reauthorized
by a future Legislature. Needless to say,
this would place DCA in a very vulnerable
position. FAHSA contacted several
legislators to ask them to hear HB 7107.
Other Housing
News:
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AAHSA Response Letter to Carol Galante,
HUD' s Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Multifamily Housing
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AARP Publishes Article on Policy Options
to Improve Specialized Transportation
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AARP Online Toolkit
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Vote for New Blogs on HUD's Ideas in
Action Webpage
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Enterprise Community Partners Hosts
Affordable Housing Design Leadership
Institute
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TRACS New Security Training and Rules of
Behavior
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Sign on to National Letter Asking
Congress to Fund the National Housing
Trust Fund
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Weatherization Information
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Legislative News |
Lawmakers Turn Attention to Controversial
Topics --
With only three weeks left of session,
lawmakers turned their attention to several
controversial topics including transitioning
the state Medicaid program to managed care
(a discussion that began in the House last
week), crimes against pregnant women and
their fetuses, a proposed constitutional
amendment that would change the standards
for redrawing political districts, parental
notification of abortion, and the Seminole
gambling compact. Read the
Legislative Weekly Update and
plan to join us at 10:00 a.m. on Friday for
our weekly legislative conference call.
April Special Election Results --
Florida state Senator Ted Deutch (D) won
Tuesday's special election to replace
retiring Democratic U.S. Representative
Robert Wexler. With all precincts
reporting, Deutch obtained 62 percent of the
vote, while Republican candidate Ed Lynch
gained 35 percent. No-party candidate Jim
McCormick received only three percent of the
vote. Deutch will now serve the remaining
eight months of Wexler's term, and will have
to run in November for re-election.
In the special election for House District
4, formerly occupied by Representative Ray
Sansom, Matt Gaetz prevailed against
Democratic opponent Jan Fernald. Gaetz
defeated Fernald in a 66 percent to 34
percent victory. Gaetz will serve as
representative for District 4 over the next
several months, but will face re-election in
November 2010.
Governor Crist Signs Bills on Lawsuit Abuse
and Unfair Litigation --
Governor
Charlie Crist signed two bills, HB 689 and
HB 437, into law yesterday. HB 689 is a
significant victory for property owners and
the business community who will once again
be put on a level playing field when faced
with litigation surrounding slip and fall
accidents. Placing the burden of proof back
where it belongs will help prevent frivolous
and fraudulent lawsuits, which in turn
benefits both property owners and
consumers.
HB 437
prohibits the attorney general's office from
hiring outside trial lawyers on a
contingency fee basis. In order to hire
outside attorneys, the attorney general will
have to provide written determination prior
to entering into such a contract stating
that the representation is both
cost-effective and in the public interest.
This bill also limits the contingency fees
attorneys can collect to $50 million when
working with the state attorney general in
Florida. The legislation will create
transparency and protect the interests of
all Floridians with provisions such as
posting contracts and payments online,
keeping detailed time records for private
attorneys' hours, and maintaining sensible
limits on payouts to private attorneys.
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Nursing Home News |
Changes to
Federal Skilled Nursing Requirements--
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services has delayed for one year the
recalculation of Medicare reimbursement for
skilled nursing care under the new resource
utilization groups system, known as RUGs IV;
the implementation is now set for Oct. 1,
2011. Conversely, neither the changes to the
concurrent therapy requirements nor the
implementation of the new 3.0 version of the
Minimum Data Set have been delayed. They
will take effect as planned on Oct. 1, 2010.
AAHSA Publishes First-Quarter OSCAR Reports--
Free for Members -- The online survey,
certification and reporting (OSCAR) reports
for the first quarter of 2010 are now
available. These quarterly reports offer a
comprehensive overview of survey deficiency
trends both on regional, state, and national
level. The reports also feature information
on several other topics, including staffing
levels, inspection results, and other
statistics by state and type of ownership.
The quarterly OSCAR reports are free to all
AAHSA members and available by
clicking here
or clicking on the
members only pages of the AAHSA website.
Contact: Lara Woody, (202) 508-9429.
Tip Sheet Helps Consumers Identify Nursing
Home Quality -- The Advancing
Excellence in America's Nursing Homes
campaign recently released a tip sheet for
consumers with questions they should ask to
understand resident care planning, staffing,
important care issues and the significance
of measuring resident and family
satisfaction in nursing home quality.
For more
information, make plans to attend the
Advancing Excellence session during FAHSA's
47th Annual Convention & Exposition on
Monday, July 26, 2010 at the Boca Raton
Resort, featuring Carol Benner. To contact
Carol, call (202) 508-9427.
Other Nursing Home
News:
- Get the Latest Edition of the CMS
Nursing Home Data Compendium
- April News on the CMS Five-Star
Quality Rating System
- New Makeup of National Labor
Relations Board Could Lead to Decisions
Favoring Unions
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Preferred Business Associates News |
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Comparing
Active vs. Passive Management-- Manager
selection is an important part of constructing
an institutional investment portfolio; however,
before deciding on a specific investment
manager, institutional investors must first
decide whether to use active management or
passive management. Given the proliferation of
index strategies over the last 35 years,
institutional investors have a number of passive
investment strategies that are less costly than
active management and cover nearly every market
or asset class imaginable. Ideally,
institutional investors should focus on using
active management in those asset classes where
active managers have consistently outperformed
the index, while using passive management to
gain cost effective exposure to asset classes in
which active management has proved to be
ineffective. To
Read More
Reprinted with
permission from Lancaster Pollard's 'The
Capital Issue'.
 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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