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September 24, 2009 |
Vol 16, Issue 42 |
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Welcome to this week's edition of the FAHSA
Link.
FAHSA's "Financing Long-term Care in
Florida Forum"- The FAHSA Board of
Trustees is the host for our first-ever
statewide public policy forum October 30, 2009,
8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Our partners in this
endeavor are the American Association of Homes
and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), Reubin O'D
Askew Institute on Politics and Society with the
University of Florida. The Honorable Holly
Benson, Secretary, Florida Agency for Health
Care Administration, is our honorary moderator
for the day. This Forum will place
thought-leaders and public policy experts in the
same room to discuss how we will meet Florida's
challenges over the next 12-20 years in
providing care and services for seniors. The
pending challenge for Florida is how to care for
our growing senior population as Florida is 17%
higher than other states currently in age 65
year plus seniors and will grow by 126% in the
85 plus age group in the next 12 years. The
Forum will include presentations of a Florida
demographic study commissioned by Ponce de Leon
LTC RRG, Inc. which will showcase the aging and
care requirements over the next 20 years, as
well as a national and a state panel of experts
to discuss needs, trends, and financing
necessary. The Askew Institute will produce, at
their expense, a white paper for distribution
following the event.
We ask that each of you complete a registration
for the Forum. This event will be held at the
Double Tree Resort (formerly the International
Plaza Resort), 10100 International Drive,
Orlando, Florida 32821. The cost is only $30 to
cover lunch and breaks, as we wanted to make
this as affordable as possible. Click
here to register online.
Regional Meetings Focus on Alzheimer's
Disease and Related Dementias - This
week, FAHSA members had the opportunity to
participate in FAHSA regional meetings featuring
speakers from one of Florida's many Alzheimer's
Disease Resource Centers. Three of the meetings
were held at a Center, and this allowed for a
tour of the facility. FAHSA would like to thank
John Hehn (Florida Presbyterian Home) for
suggesting the topic and tour of the Johnnie B.
Byrd, Sr., Alzheimer's Center & Research
Institute, and the other Memory Disorder
Clinics.
Clinicians provided helpful practical
information on how to deal with the behavior and
communication challenges that often accompany
dementia. They also discussed the causes and
types of dementia that are often mistaken for
Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 200
individuals attended the meetings, which also
included an election of the FAHSA Region Vice
Chair for Membership and the FAHSA Region Vice
Chair for Advocacy.
If you did not attend the regional meetings,
click here to view a list of centers posted
on the Department of Elder Affairs Web site.
Regardless of where you are located, the
Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr., Alzheimer's Center &
Research Institute should be considered a
resource if you need information or one of your
residents can benefit from a consultation with a
clinical team that specializes in Alzheimer's
disease. The Institute has a screening program
as well as educational and family support
resources.
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ALF News
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DOEA Holds Another Rule Development
Workshop on the Ombudsman Rule - Last
week, Carol A. Berkowitz, Esq., FAHSA Senior
Director of Regulations and Compliance, attended
another rule development workshop on the Chapter
58L related to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Program. Click here to view the
comments,
the rule and the
assessment tool. If you should have any
comments or concerns, please feel free to
contact
cberkowitz@fahsa.org.
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Education News |
FAHSA's 16th Annual Maintenance
Workshop - November 18, 2009 at the
Regal Sun Resort in beautiful Lake Buena
Vista, Florida. The workshop will include
presentations on the following: Mold and
Mildew Abatement, Incident Command Systems,
Lead-Based Paint Restrictions, Energy
Performance, Cabling and Abandoned Wiring,
Latest Fire Key Changes to Elevators, Fair
Housing Update, Life Safety, and Freon! For
more information or to register, please
click here
Upcoming Educational Events:
- October 1-2, 2009 - FAHSA's Leadership
Academy, Orlando
- October 30, 2009 - Financing Long-term Care
in Florida Forum, Orlando
- November 18, 2009 - FAHSA's Maintenance
Workshop, Orlando
FAHSA Calendar of Events |
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General News |
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OIG Reports on State / Local Pandemic
Preparedness - Following are the links
to two new HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
reports on State and/or local Pandemic Influenza
Preparedness.
1.
State and Local Pandemic Influenza Preparedness:
Medical Surge - This report
determines the extent to which States and
localities have prepared for a medical surge in
response to an influenza pandemic and have
conducted and documented exercises that test
their preparedness. The OIG found progress in
the five States and ten localities reviewed, but
that improvement is needed in their ability to
respond to an increased demand for medical
resources. The OIG Report includes
recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to address
improvement in areas such as coordination among
stakeholders; recruitment and management of
medical volunteers; electronic systems to track
available beds and equipment; planning for
alternate care sites; and identifying guidelines
for altering triage, admission, and patient care
during a pandemic.
2.
Local Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Vaccine
and Antiviral Drug Distribution and Dispensing
- The OIG found that the majority of the ten
localities reviewed had begun planning to
distribute and dispense vaccines and antiviral
drugs. However, most of the distribution and
dispensing components and preparedness items
identified in HHS pandemic influenza guidance
had not been addressed in their planning
documents. Plans did not identify the
organization or individuals responsible for
specific actions; the sources of personnel
necessary to staff distribution and dispensing
positions; and/or include valid, detailed formal
agreements with partnering agencies. OIG
recommendations include that the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) work with States to
improve local pandemic influenza vaccine and
antiviral drug distribution and dispensing
preparedness and facilitate the sharing of
pandemic influenza planning and response
information and emerging promising practices.
HHS and USDA Unveil New Food Safety
Consumer Web Site - Health and Human
Services (HHS) and the US Department of
Agriculture (USDA) recently unveiled a new Food
Safety Consumer Web site at
www.foodsafety.gov. The new site will
feature information from all the agencies across
the federal government that deal with critical
food and food safety information, including
preventive tips about how to handle food safely,
alerts on life-saving food recalls, and the
latest news from the key agencies.
H1N1 Flu Vaccine Available Soon
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the
Food and Drug Administration approved four
manufacturers' H1N1 vaccines, making large-scale
vaccination possible. Vaccine supplies may be
available as soon as Oct. 5, but the bulk of
vaccines will arrive after Oct. 15.
FDA Issues Warning On Emergency Alert Pendant -
There have been at least six reports of
serious injury or death associated with the Philips
Lifeline Personal Help Button necklaces, according
to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The
device is designed specifically not to break away
when tugged; yet because of such durability, it
poses a serious hazard should it become tangled
around another object. The risk is heightened for
seniors with mobility issues or who are at a greater
risk for falls. Between 1998 and 2009, there have
been four deaths and two serious injuries associated
with the device, the FDA said in a statement.
Philips Lifeline has alerted its 750,000
customers to the potential risk, officials said.
While the number of incidents is very low
compared with the number of users of the device,
the severity of the occurrences is of concern,
the government officials noted. The agency
recommends individuals consult with their
physician to determine which style of emergency
alert button is appropriate for their use. -
Source: McKnight's LTC Daily News, Sept. 26,
2009
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Home and Community-Based Services News |
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Advance Copy - CMS Hospice
State Operations Manual (SOM) Sections 2080-2089
(9/18/09) -
Click here to view the new Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) new Survey and
Certification Letter: Advance Copy - Hospice State
Operations Manual (SOM) Sections 2080-2089
(9/18/09).
The Manual includes the following:
An advance copy of the hospice sections of
Chapter Two of the State Operations Manual (SOM)
includes revised interpretive guidance related to
the revised Hospice CoPs that were effective
December 2, 2008 (2080-HOSPICE - Citations and
Description [through] 2089 - Survey Requirements
When the Hospice Provides Care to Residents of a SNF/NF
or ICF/MR).
The changes to these sections represent the most
recent material for 42CFR Part 418 Conditions of
Participation (CoPs) for Hospice and replaces all
previously released versions.
Attachment A is the advance copy of the revised
SOM and will ultimately be published in Chapter Two
of the SOM. CMS advises that the "...final Chapter
Two of the SOM may differ slightly because the
document is still in the formal clearance process."
A crosswalk to the previous Chapter Two is
included.
AHCA Moves Toward Transitioning Medicaid
Nursing Home Residents - Last week, Long v.
Benson, a state lawsuit which alleged that the state
discriminates against adult Medicaid residents with
various disabilities by preventing them from moving
out of nursing homes into less restrictive community
settings was put on hold for a year. U.S. District
Judge Robert Hinkle agreed to put the lawsuit "in
abeyance" for up to a year while the state
implements a transition program for Medicaid nursing
home patients.
Click here to read more in this week's Nursing
Home Alert.
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Housing News |
Just Released: U.S. Housing Market
Conditions, Second Quarter 2009 - HUD's
Office of Policy Development and Research has
released U.S. Housing Market Conditions for the
second quarter of 2009. The report contains a
quarterly analysis of housing production,
marketing, affordability and interest rates, and
the multifamily housing sector. The data are
compared to both the previous quarter and the
second quarter of 2008. This issue also presents
updated national data, overviews of economic and
housing market trends within each HUD region,
and reviews historical trends in national and
regional housing markets. The feature article
highlights and expands upon new tables in the
U.S. Housing Market Conditions. These tables,
which document the Federal Housing
Administration's share of 1- to 4-family
mortgage originations, are featured in both the
National and Historical Data Sections.
Click here to view this and previous U.S.
Housing Market Conditions reports. Printed
copies will be available shortly and can be
ordered at no cost by calling HUD USER at
800-245-2691, option 1.
List of Those Required to File Starting
Oct. 1 Under Stimulus Reporting Requirements Has
Been Issued -HUD has posted the
lists of properties, by contracts, that will
be required to perform ARRA related reporting
between Oct 1 and 10, 2009. Click here to view
the list.
If your contract is on this list, you must have
a DUNS number, have registered with CCR, and
then register for federalreporting.gov in order
to do the reporting. Obtaining a registration
access can take from five to eight days, so DO
IT NOW!!
Though AAHSA has seen drafts of the letters that
each impacted owner will receive, HUD has not
released any detailed guidance on how to respond
to the reporting questions yet. That will be
the next step. - Colleen Bloom, AAHSA, 202
508-9483.
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Legislative News
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Senate Health Care Reform Bill Amended
to Iclude a Few Provisions to Help LTC -
Although the CLASS Act sponsored by Ted
Kennedy is missing from the latest Senate health
care proposal, a few provisions are under
consideration by the Senate Finance Comittee
could help long term care consumers and
providers. After two days and more than 560
proposed amendments, adjustments to the Senate
Finance Committee health care proposal are still
a long way from being completed, but long-term
care providers have found at least a few plums
among them.
Assisted living advocates are hailing inclusion
of an amendment that would eliminate
prescription drug co-payments for dual-eligible
residents. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced
the proposal, which has been praised by an array
of assisted living groups. Another change would
be an extension of the Medicaid "prompt pay"
rule, which would expedite reimbursements for
hospitals and nursing homes. It was put forward
by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who has been at
the center of the Finance Committee debate in
recent weeks, and is likely to have several
wishes granted if she ultimately goes along with
the Democrat-designed bill. Also, Sen. Ron Wyden
(D-OR) has suggested improving the Medicare
hospice benefit by allowing patients receiving
hospice care to remain eligible for all other
Medicare services during that time. -
Source: McKnight's LTC Daily News, Sept. 24,
2009
Tensions Between States, U.S.
Government over Medicaid Grow -
Governors & State Legislatures Concerned
about Proposals to expand Medicaid
Eligibility - Assurances from the U.S.
Congress that states will not be saddled
with extra costs from a nationwide health
care reform plan have done little to relieve
concerns of state legislatures and
governors. The National Conference of State
Legislatures wrote to the Senate Finance
Committee this week about parts of the plan
the committee is currently drafting that
would expand income eligibility requirements
for Medicaid -- a move that would increase
participation in the program. State budgets
are stretched to the limit because of the
economy and most, like Florida, have had to
make substantial cuts over the past three
years.
The conference is asking that any type of
expansion be reimbursed 100 percent by the
U.S. government. 'A lesser commitment from
the federal government would shift billions
of dollars in costs to states,' it added.
But the Finance Committee's chairman, Max
Baucus contends his plan would already
'provide significant support to states to
help finance the cost of increasing
eligibility for the Medicaid program,'
according to a committee statement.
States would see a net decrease of $2.6
billion in their Medicaid spending from 2010
to 2012, although over the period of time
stretching from 2010 to 2019 total state
spending would increase 1.3 percent,
according to the committee.
In a preliminary analysis of the
legislation, the Congressional Budget Office
said that by 2019 the health care plan would
add 11 million people to Medicaid
enrollment. The CBO also said states would
not be able to lower their existing Medicaid
eligibility income level until 2013, but
that they would receive enhanced
reimbursements for new enrollees. 'The
resulting reimbursement rate could not
exceed 95 percent and would average about 90
percent in 2019,' the CBO wrote. Source:
Reuters, 9/23/2009.
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Nursing Home News |
AHCA Moves Toward Transitioning Medicaid Nursing
Home Residents - Last week, Long v. Benson,
a state lawsuit which alleged that the state
discriminates against adult Medicaid residents with
various disabilities by preventing them from moving
out of nursing homes into less restrictive community
settings was put on hold for a year. U.S. District
Judge Robert Hinkle agreed to put the lawsuit "in
abeyance" for up to a year while the state
implements a transition program for Medicaid nursing
home patients.
Click here to read more in this week's Nursing
Home Alert.
Other Nursing Home
News:
- DOEA Holds Another Rule Development Workshop
on the Ombudsman Rule
- AHCA Moves Toward Transitioning Medicaid
Nursing Home Residents
- Nurses and Relatives Fail to Detect Chronic
Pain Among NH Residents
- NEXT CMS Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door
Forum is October 15
FAHSA Nursing Home Alert Page
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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 2009 -- 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
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. © 2009 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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