Education News

 
Florida Not Only State Still Hurting From Recession - Last week, a report was released that identified Florida as one of the 10 worst states in terms of economic recovery.  But according to a biannual report, The Fiscal Survey of States completed by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers, the budget crunch is not over for most states.
 
"Despite massive spending cuts in fiscal year 2009, states are still facing roughly $14.5 billion in budget deficits for fiscal year 2010, according to the NGA and NASBO reports. Predictions indicate that shortfalls will approach $21.9 billion for fiscal year 2011. Meanwhile, increased Medicaid enrollment due to recessionary job losses and anticipated expansion under health care reform has caused Medicaid spending to increase. Spending in FY 2010 is expected to grow by 6.6 percent, the reports say. States have cut spending on nursing home and home and community-based care services to overcome budget shortfalls."
 
"The length and depth of the economic downturn, coupled with increasing Medicaid enrollment and severe budget cuts suggests states will be struggling to recover financially for at least the next 10 years, NGA officials said in a release accompanying the reports."
 
Given these predictions, it is not surprising that Governor Crist is preparing for another revenue shortfall. He has instructed his department heads to come up with a list of cuts equal to 10 percent of their budget to prepare for the future. Meanwhile Florida legislators are bracing themselves for another tough session. As reported in the November 5th issue of the LINK, Senator Mike Haridopolos, speaker designee for 2011 and 2012, has asked long-term care providers to give him ideas on how to slow the growth in Medicaid spending and cut expenditures.
 
Source: November 16, 2009 issue of McKnight's LTC Daily News
 
Two New IRS Publications Available for Charitable Organizations - Two new publications were issued during the summer related to not-for-profit organizations:
 
1. Compliance Guide for 501(c) (3) Public Charities (August 2009) - In this publication, the IRS addresses activities that could jeopardize a public charity's tax-exempt status. To download, click here.
 
2. Disaster Relief Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations (July 2009) - In this publication, the IRS addresses charitable organizations  providing assistance to victims of disasters such as floods, fires, riots, storms, or similar large-scale events. To download, click here. 
 
New Environmental Public Health Tracking Portal - Florida's new Environmental Public Health Tracking portal is a dynamicWeb site providing health and environmental data in one easy to find location. The portal provides information about health conditions such as asthma, cancer, carbon monoxide poisoning, childhood lead poisoning and more. Environmental data is displayed about air quality (ozone and particulate pollution) and drinking water. The web portal is a part of a nationally-funded project with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to promote state efforts to display common indicators to inform. Check out the new Web site by clicking here.  

 

FAHSA General Membership Alert Page 

Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update for CY 2010 Final Rule (CMS-1560-F) - The Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update for CY 2010 Final Rule (CMS-1560-F) contained some important revisions to the level of outlier payments available for 60-day home health episodes of care that carry unusually high costs.  For CY 2010, CMS will cap home health outlier payments at 10 percent per HHA and target total aggregate outlier payments at 2.5 percent of all HH PPS payments.  Final instructions (Change Request/Transmittal) describing the changes that will be made by Medicare contractors to implement this new outlier policy are currently being developed and are expected to be released sometime in early December.  HHAs should note that HH PPS billing instructions are not changing as a result of this policy.  CMS will provide an update as to the status of those instructions at our next Open Door Forum (ODF) on Wednesday, December 2nd.
 
VA Looking for Services Partners - The Veterans Administration (VA) is initiating demonstration programs for "patient-centered alternatives to institutional extended care." While the program funding will go to VA facilities, these facilities may contract with outside organizations to provide the services.  Adult day services programs with a significant number of veterans are encouraged to reach out to the VA medical center in their area and suggest they apply for these funds. The VA will be seeking innovative clinical demonstration pilots that hold promise for efficacy, sustained success, and subsequent dissemination and are integrated and coordinated with other initiatives, such as patient-centered medical home (PCMH). VA facilities must submit their applications by December 7. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, pnotarstefano@aahsa.org, (202) 508-9406. 

FAHSA Attends NTHDC Training - On Tuesday, November 17, North Tampa Housing Development Corporation (NTHDC) conducted Owner/Agent Training at College Park Towers, a FAHSA-member community managed by SPM, Inc., in Orlando.  Gail Matillo, FAHSA's Director of Housing, attended the training which focused on HAP Vouchers, Special Claims, Waiting List, Applications, EIV and MOR Compliance/9834.  NTHDC conducted training in Jacksonville and plans to conduct additional trainings in multiple locations in early 2010.  Watch for more information on their Web site.  To receive a copy of the handouts from the training, please contact Gail Matillo, FAHSA Staff, gmatillo@!fahsa.org or (850) 671-3700 
 
FAHSA Members Score Superior on MOR's - Maureen Green, Administrator, Federation Gardens I, Miami; Jesus Arias, Administrator, King's Arms, Tampa; and Rosa Morales, Administrator, Los Robles Apartments in Miami, all FAHSA member communities, have been awarded Superior Ratings on their June 2009 Management and Occupancy Reviews (MOR) and are listed on the North Tampa Housing Development Corporation web site. Congratulations!!!
 
REAC Revises Requirements for Inspecting Elevator Equipment Rooms - On November 16, the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) issued revised Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) requirements for inspecting Elevator Equipment Rooms.   The notice establishes specific requirements that HUD-assisted and insured properties must meet to ensure inspections will be conducted when scheduled.   These requirements become effective on January 4, 2010. 
 
REAC also issued an Inspector Notice 2009-03 to all UPCS inspectors about these requirements.  Please click here to read the notice.
  
Some NOFA Deadlines Have Been Extended - For Section 202, which offers supportive housing for the elderly, the new deadline is December 14, 2009. Accordingly, the phase II environmental assessment has been moved to January 14, 2010. Click here to obtain more information.
 
The new deadline for Section 811 - supportive housing for persons with disabilities, is December 17, 2009, and the phase II environmental assessment is due January 19, 2010. To obtain more details click here.
 
Applicants who have submitted their applications prior to this publication can choose to resubmit an updated application that reflects the corrections and clarifications. The last application received by Grants.gov by the December 14, 2009 or December 17, 2009 deadline, as appropriate, and in accordance with HUD's FY2009 Grace Period Policy, will be the application that is reviewed and rated.
 
Several sections of the NOFA required revision to correct particulars such as email addresses, tables and exhibits. Also, additional clarification in reference to Energy Star and Green Development was found to be necessary. Because of the integral nature of these corrections, the deadline for application submission was extended. This notice is intended to disseminate this information to the entire applicant pool as rapidly as possible, to facilitate applicants' recognition and utilization of these changes to the NOFA.

 
Voice Your Concerns During Upcoming County Legislative Delegation Meetings - Sign Up Now! - Over the past five years, FAHSA members have been testifying at county legislative delegation meetings. The meetings provide speakers with exposure to their own legislators and an opportunity to talk about the challenges they face with funding and regulation. Get on the agenda now so you are not the last speaker of the day. Use the three minutes allotted each speaker to discuss FAHSA's Public Policy Priorities for 2010 or to talk about your own concerns. Click here to view the public policy priorities. Click here to view a sample testimony.  Mary Ellen Early, FAHSA Senior Vice President-Public Policy, will assist you with your testimony.  For a list of hearings click here. 
 
Expiration of Stimulus Money adds to Florida's Financial Woes - The budget shortfall for FY 2010- 11 could total as much as $2.7 billion. That's after more than $5 billion in cuts over the past three years.  The pending expiration of the federal stimulus money that the state used to offset cuts to critical programs such as Medicaid and build the current $66.5 billion budget could add to the problem. Legislators had no choice but to use the one time money, but the end is near. Soon they will have to find a way to plug the hole.
 
State Senators Float Idea to Seek Waiver to Drop Out of Federal Medicaid Program & Create Own System - This week, Senators Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne (Senate President designee for 2011 and 2012), and Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, announced in a press conference that they are exploring the possibility of seeking a federal waiver that would allow Florida to retain $18.2 billion in state and federal funding for Medicaid and use the money to create a medical program for the needy that is tailored to Florida.  According to the two high-powered lawmakers, the health care reform bill recently passed by the US House of Representatives will cost the state significantly because it could expand by 1 million the number of Floridians qualifying for Medicaid. They noted that the program has already grown by 600,000 new enrollees to 2.7 million over the past 20 months.
 
The U.S. House legislation would allow individuals with incomes up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($33,075 for a family of four) to qualify for Medicaid. The federal government would pay the costs for those newly-eligible for the first two years and 91 percent of the costs after that. There is not guarantee that the match will not change as the federal government tries to reign in its spending in future years.
 
The U.S. Senate is considering a more modest Medicaid expansion for people with up to 133 percent of poverty to qualify.

FAHSA Nursing Home Alert Page

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.

 

FAHSA Preferred Business Associates Page

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?

We feature various Aging Services jobs. Ready to start your job search?

Click here to find your next Aging Services job!

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!

 

FAHSA Career Center Web Page

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.