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June 3, 2010 |
Vol 17, Issue 25
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Welcome to this week's
edition of the FAHSA Link!
Governor's Veto
Pen Strikes Again -- Last Friday,
Governor Crist vetoed $371 million from the
state's $70.2 billion budget for next year.
Crist used his line item veto authority to nix a
$160 million raid from the Transportation Trust
Fund as well as a seven percent cut in nursing
home reimbursement. He also vetoed nearly $10
million in state funding for Shand's Hospital
and $260 million in funding for local projects
in specific legislative districts.
That same day, he vetoed a bill that would have
limited the cost of drugs that are repackaged
and dispensed by physicians to Worker's
Compensation patients. The business community
and Florida's Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink
were for the bill. The Florida Medical
Association opposed it. The docs won out.
Another bill that was vetoed last week according
to critics would have weakened the rule-making
authority of state agencies and shifted final
authority in some cases to the legislature.
Several environmental groups, along with the
head of the Department of Community Affairs,
requested the veto.
The governor's veto pen was again at work this
week when he vetoed seven more bills, one of
which was a high priority insurance bill that
would have made it easier for insurance
companies to raise property insurance rates by
up to 10%. The bill was endorsed by Kevin
McCarty who oversees the Office of Insurance
Regulation. According to newspaper coverage on
the veto, McCarty felt that the bill was needed
to ensure the solvency of private insurers.
Governor Crist said in his veto message that it
would add to the financial hardship of
consumers.
It's anyone's guess what action the Legislature
will take, if any, to address the budget veto.
To say republican leaders are angry is an
understatement. If there is a way to outsmart
the Governor, they will find it.
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Education News
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Leadership Course Designed for
Supervisors and Managers -- FAHSA's
Leadership Academy Program, rescheduled for
July 26-27, is designed to boost the
leadership and communication skills of
supervisors and managers. Please consider
registering your department heads or
managers for this valuable course. Other
similar courses cost anywhere from
$3,500-$5,000. Take advantage of this
opportunity to send your staff to the
University of Florida's Leadership
Development Institute for a fraction of the
cost. FAHSA paid to develop this course
specifically for FAHSA members.
Register Now!
And, check out testimonials from previous
leadership participants by clicking on the
website links below:
Violet Breder, DON, Winter Park Towers, comments
on FAHSA's Leadership Program - click
here to see her testimony: (you have to join
Vimeo to view)
Listen to what Tim Ficker and Tina Corbett from
Cypress Cove have to say about the program by
watching a short video clip: CLICK
HERE
Join Us for Upcoming Training
Opportunities:
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General News |
Payroll Tax
Forgiveness Credit Eligibility --
According to Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A., you
may be qualified for the payroll tax exemption
that was enacted as part of the Hiring
Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act)
on March 18, 2010. The Act offers a tax credit
or exemption from the employer's 6.2% share of
social security tax on wages that are paid to
qualified employees from March 19, 2010, through
December 31, 2010. Please contact John S.
Roicki at (407) 740-5400 or Karin Vickers at
(305) 819-9555 for additional information.
2010 Hurricane Outlook Predicts Seven
Major Hurricanes -- The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
released its
outlook for 2010 and reports there could be
as many as seven major hurricanes during the
season that kicked off on June 1.
NOAA said it expects an "active to extremely
active" season that could yield between 14 and
23 named storms. Of those named storms, as many
as 14 could become hurricanes with winds
reaching at least 74 miles per hour.
As with every hurricane season, this outlook
underscores the importance of having a hurricane
preparedness plan in place. After a calm 2009
hurricane season, a new
poll conducted shows that 45 percent of
people living on the coast don't feel vulnerable
to a hurricane or related tornadoes and
flooding. The poll, released at the National
Hurricane Safety Initiative in Ft. Lauderdale,
also shows that many people wouldn't vacate
their homes in mandatory evacuations even though
they live in flood zones. Sixty-four percent of
those surveyed said they do not have a family
disaster plan or hurricane survival kit
prepared.
The President recently designated May 23-29,
2010, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
NOAA and FEMA encourage those living in
hurricane-prone states to use this time to
review their overall preparedness. More
information on individual and family
preparedness can be found at
www.Ready.gov and
www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.
Caregiving Cash Award for Local
Innovative Partnerships -- The Rosalynn
Carter Institute for Caregiving is offering a
cash award to support the efforts of groups in
implementing effective caregiver interventions
at the community level. The winning team will be
announced at the RCI's National Summit to be
held Oct. 20-22 at Georgia Southwestern State
University in Americus, Ga. Former First Lady
Rosalynn Carter will present the winning team
with a statuette and a cash award of $20,000 to
the winning partnerships. July 10 is the
deadline for proposals. To download a copy of
the application, click
here.
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Housing & Service Coordinator News |
CMS to Mail
Brochure on Medicare and New Health Reform Law
-- Medicare beneficiaries across the country
will receive copies of a brochure titled, "Medicare
and the New Health Law - What it Means for You."
The mailing from the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines key provisions
of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act for people with Medicare as well as members
of their families.
CHCS Releases Three New Reports on
Quality Long-Term Services and Supports
-- Three new briefs from the Center for Health
Care Strategies (CHCS) have been released on
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). The
first summarizes the current publicly funded
long-term care environment and the barriers to
rebalancing LTSS by outlining initial policy
recommendations for reforming Medicaid LTSS to
support more cost-effective and
consumer-oriented options. The second provides a
detailed overview of current LTSS by addressing
the state rebalancing and reform activities
across the nation and broadly outlines
opportunities and obstacles for LTSS reform.
Finally, the third report presents an array of
innovative initiatives from across the nation
offering alternatives for reforming the delivery
of Medicaid-funded long-term care. It includes
both innovations that have been implemented as
well as promising practices for more effectively
delivering community-based long-term supports
and services. To download copies of the reports,
click
here.
2010 Medicare Home
Health Rates Calculator with Rural Add-On
Payment Now Online -- Under the
prospective payment system, Medicare pays home
health agencies (HHA) a predetermined base
payment. The payment is adjusted for the health
condition and care needs of the beneficiary. The
payment is also adjusted for the geographic
differences in wages for HHAs across the
country. The health care reform bill added a
3-percent additional payment for rural home
health agencies for the period April 1, 2010 to
Jan. 1, 2016.To see how your facility will
fare under the home health prospective payment
system, and for rural providers the additional
rural add on payment, use
AAHSA's home health calculator. It takes all
these separate components into account to
automatically compute your facility's payment
rate for each separate Home Health Resource
Groups.
For more information or with questions, please
contact AAHSA staff,
Lara Woody at (202) 508-9429.
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Housing & Service Coordinator News |
HUD Announces $32.7 Million in Service
Coordinator Grants -- U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun
Donovan announced
$32.7 million in Service Coordinator grants
to 162 recipients. The grants will provide
low-income frail elderly and residents with
disabilities in federally supported housing with
assistance to identify and receive health care,
meals and other critical support services.
The grants go directly to owners of privately
owned multifamily housing developments to hire
or contract service coordinators with
backgrounds in providing social services,
especially to the frail elderly and people with
disabilities, to assist their residents with
special needs. Projects in 40 states will
receive the Service Coordinator grants.
"The Obama Administration is helping older
Americans and those with disabilities get the
housing they need and the grants announced today
give added assistance by helping to provide the
services that will enable them to remain in
their homes, living independently, connected to
their communities and friends," said Donovan.
Other Housing News:
- HUD Supports Transportation Costs in
Operating Budgets
- HUD's FY 2011 Budget Proposal on
Transforming Rental Assistance
- Input Needed on Research Agenda
- Items of Interest from Jacksonville HUD
Office
- Document Files Impacted by Period of EIV
System Unavailability
- Mandatory Use of Enterprise Income
Verification Final Rule
- 2007 Worst Case Needs Report
- Affordable Housing Legislative Update
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Legislative News |
All But One Bill in Hands of
Governor -- By the end of the week,
the governor will have acted on all the
bills that were passed this legislative
session except for one -- HB 1143. HB 1143
is the Agency for Health Care Administration
regulatory reduction bill that was amended
the last day of session to include two
controversial abortion-related amendments.
HB 1143 is the only bill that the
legislature has not sent to Governor Crist.
An article in the Florida Times Union
pointed out that the requirement in the bill
for an ultrasound during the first trimester
of pregnancy prior to an abortion may have
less political consequences than a provision
in the bill that prohibits the use of state
funds for abortion. Although Florida has
never allowed taxpayer dollars to be used
for abortions, the recently passed national
Health Care Reform law requires states that
have laws barring taxpayer funding of
abortion to pass additional legislation
specifically restricting the coverage of
abortions by health exchanges. Twenty-nine
states have adopted such measures. If
Governor Crist vetoes HB 1143, his opponents
could claim that he supports taxpayer
funding of abortion, which is a major change
in policy for the state of Florida.
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Nursing Home News |
Congressional
Extension of Federal Medical Assistance
Percentages (FMAP) Still in Limbo --
Congress passed the American Jobs and Closing
Tax Loopholes Act last week, but it did not
include the provision which would have extended
the temporary increase in the Federal Medical
Assistance Percentages (FMAP) through June 30,
2011. Unless Congress acts soon, the current
FMAP increase will expire on December 31, 2010.
Click
here to see the letter that FAHSA sent to
the Florida Congressional Delegation and lead
conference negotiators on H.R. 4213 last week.
Action Required: Please
contact members of the Florida Congressional
Delegation NOW and urge them to extend the
temporary increase in the Federal Medical
Assistance Percentages (FMAP) through June 30,
2011. It is especially important to contact
Florida's two senators - Bill Nelson
(202-224-5274) and George Lemieux
(202-224-3041). You may use
AAHSA's Capwiz system to send an e-mail to
members of congress.
Very few FAHSA members have used Capwiz to make
contact with Congress on this issue. It is very
important to get involved. The 2010-11 budget
that the Florida legislature just passed
authorizes the Agency for Health Care
Administration to use some of the FMAP dollars
to offset part of the seven percent funding
reduction for nursing homes if FMAP is extended
by 6 months. Even though Governor Crist vetoed
the nursing home budget cut, there are technical
issues that may affect the outcome of his
decision.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Medicaid Nursing Home Budget Update
-- Last week we issued an alert to inform you
that Governor Crist vetoed the Medicaid nursing
home budget proviso language that contained the
$199 million (seven percent) budget cut. Since
then a number of you called or emailed to find
out what the practical implications of this
action are. Read this week's Nursing Home Alert
for more information.
Federal Trade Commission Extends
Enforcement Deadline for Red Flags Rule
-- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has
extended the enforcement deadline for its Red
Flags Rule through Dec. 31, 2010. The action
came at the request of several members of
Congress, which is considering legislation that
would affect the scope of entities affected by
the rule. The rule, which is designed to reduce
identity theft, went into effect on Jan. 1,
2008, with enforcement to begin on Nov. 1, 2008.
The FTC has issued a series of extensions to the
enforcement deadline since that time.
AAHSA Endorses New Bill to Reevaluate
Nursing Home Oversight. -- Sen. Russ
Feingold (D-WI) introduced the Improving the
Quality of Care in Nursing Homes Act of 2010
before the Senate recessed for the Memorial Day
holiday. The bill calls for a study into current
methods of nursing home evaluation, as well as
the relationship between the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services and nursing homes,
and the accuracy of the survey process. The bill
assigns the Department of Health and Human
Services to work with the Institute of Medicine
to conduct the study.
The time has come "for a fundamental review of
how far the nursing home field has come" in the
area of quality assurance, Feingold, the bill's
chief sponsor said. The Government
Accountability Office has identified significant
issues that need to be addressed when it comes
to nursing home oversight and enforcement of
quality standards, according to Feingold."We
commend Senator Feingold for not accepting the
status quo and fighting for a system that will
ensure America's nursing home residents can
receive the highest quality care possible,"
AAHSA President and CEO Larry Minnix said in a
statement.
Source: McKnight's Long-Term Care News &
Assisted Living Daily Update
Other Nursing Home News:
- Medicaid Nursing
Home Budget Update
- GAO Report,
Nursing Homes: Some Improvement Seen in
Understatement of Serious Deficiencies
- Provider Group
Supports Review of Nursing Home Survey
System
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Region / Membership News |
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Congratulations to the
following nursing homes for being recommend by the
Governor's Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care for
the Gold Seal Award:
- Bay Village of
Sarasota, Sarasota -
FAHSA Member
- Brooksville Healthcare
Center, Brooksville -
FAHSA Member
- Coquina Center, Ormond
Beach
- Florida Presbyterian
Homes Inc., Lakeland -
FAHSA Member
- John Knox Village
Medical Center, Orange City
- The Manor at
Carpenters, Lakeland -
FAHSA Member
- The Mayflower
Healthcare Center, Winter Park -
FAHSA Member
- Memorial Manor,
Pembroke Pines -
FAHSA Member
- Palace at Kendall
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Miami
- River Garden Hebrew
Home for the Aged, Jacksonville -
FAHSA Member
- Sunnyside Nursing
Home, Sarasota -
FAHSA Member
- Vicar's Landing
Nursing Home, Ponte Vedra Beach -
FAHSA Member
- Village on the Green,
Longwood -
FAHSA Member
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Preferred Business Associates News |
 FAHSA's
Preferred Business Associates Program (PBAs)
-- A list of PBAs can be found by on
the FAHSA website
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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