AAHSA This Week | June 9, 2008
	Your Help Needed Now on Medicare Legislation Senate leaders will decide within the next few days how to offset the cost of a physician payment fix. The bill is on a fast track because the issue must be resolved before July 1. Please tell your senators not to make skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies pay the price for helping physicians. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
	Tell Congress to Prevent More Senior Housing Funding Crises   Last summer, many AAHSA housing members faced unconscionable delays in housing assistance payments, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) continues to short-fund Section 8 contracts. We can head off further payment crises if we persuade congressional appropriators to increase Section 8 funding in the fiscal 2009 spending bill soon to be taken up by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation/HUD. The 2009 spending bill also must provide funding for our Section 202 legislation that already has passed the House. Please contact your House member today on this vital issue. Contact: Nancy Libson, (202) 508-9447.     Contact Congress Now on Home- and Community-Based Services Funding   To help seniors get the services they need to remain at home, we are seeking $10 million for the Lifespan Respite Act, $10 million for the new Community Innovations for Aging in Place program, and a nine percent increase in Older Americans Act Funding in 2009. Appropriations subcommittees in the House and Senate will make the first decisions on spending levels for these programs next week. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, (202) 508-9406.     AAHSA Members Celebrate Homecoming Week Lutheran Home Health Services in Fond du Lac, Wis., celebrated AAHSA Homecoming Week by hosting an Italian dinner with residents and community members. They also offered tours and encouraged attendees to ask staff and residents about their organization. See more Homecoming photos. Last week, more than 230 AAHSA members took part in our inaugural Homecoming Week. These members hosted "senior" proms, wellness fairs, open houses and Memorial Day celebrations to shine a spotlight on their community's treasures: the people they serve. Visit our photo gallery to see photos from these events. The July/August issue of FutureAge will also feature stories and photos from several Homecoming Week events across the country. If you have photos from your event, please send them to us. Contact: Keesha Atkins, (202) 508-9440.   CEAL Annual Report Offers Goals for 2008   The 2008 goals of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) include presenting a webinar on medication management in assisted living, making more consumer information available through the CEAL clearinghouse and supporting the development of assisted living for low- and moderate-income consumers. Contact: Steve Maag, (202) 508-9498.     Check Out the Latest Housing Report and HUD Management Update   In the latest Housing Report, find out about the hearing on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) nominee for secretary, the Section 202 Intergenerational NOFA and the latest on housing trust fund legislation. Plus, there is a new Housing Management Update. Contact: Alayna Waldrum, (202) 508-9476. advertisement   Housing Reform Legislation Needs Immediate Support   Your senators need to hear from you now about signing onto the AAHSA housing reform bill, S. 2736. Time is growing short to get this bill passed by the Senate, finalized with the House, and signed into law. If we don't get it done this year, we will have to begin the entire process over again next year. Please help. Contact: Alayna Waldrum, (202) 508-9476.     CMS Publishes Final Hospice Regulations   The comprehensive rule the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published on June 5 covers the various elements of hospice care, patients' rights, hospice services for patients living in long-term care facilities, and many other issues. The rule becomes effective Dec. 2, 2008. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.   AAHSA Calls on IRS to Make Tax Filing Less Onerous   After reviewing draft instructions to the revised Form 990, AAHSA recommended changes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that would make the filing process less burdensome for our member organizations. Recommendations included further clarifying that new reporting requirements in Schedule H apply strictly to hospitals, not other health care providers, and reconsidering the definition of "key employee." Contact: Cory Kallheim, (202) 558-5691.     AAHSA Recommends More Rational Compliance Guidance for Nursing Facilities   AAHSA has recommended several revisions to the guidelines for avoiding fraud and abuse in the draft Supplemental Compliance Program Guidance for Nursing Facilities, which was issued by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). We focused on medication management and staff screening guidance, and urged the agency not to make compliance overly burdensome for small facilities with limited staff. Contact: Jennifer Hilliard, (202) 508-9444.   CMS Issues New Signature Stamp, QIS Update Letters   The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a letter clarifying that home health agencies and hospices may no longer accept physicians' signature stamps for clinical record documentation. A second letter points out that the Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) brochure has been updated. The 2008 version includes a brief description and an overview of the QIS training process for state implementation. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478.     Correction on HUD's New Dishwasher Policy   We have clarification of the new Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) policy announced last week. While the new rule does allow dishwashers in new construction Section 202 or 811 properties with project-based rental assistance contracts, it specifically prohibits the use HUD funds for their purchase or operating costs. Sponsors will have to pay for dishwashers from sources other than the Section 202 or 811 capital advance or the project rental assistance contract. Contact: Colleen Bloom, (202) 508-9483.   2008 CEMO Compensation Survey Extended Through Friday   The deadline to complete the CEMO Leadership Compensation Survey has been extended to June 13, so your multi-site organization still has a few days to submit salary and benefits data for this valuable resource. To request another copy of the survey data kit, to request an updated order form for the 2008 survey report (now that the pre-order pricing deadline has passed), or to confirm that your submitted data was received. Contact: RCG, Inc.     AAHSA CONFERENCES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES   Strategies for Managing Operational Costs Amidst Economic Uncertainty June 24, 2008 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time Audio Conference AAHSA/Building Owners and Managers Institute International On-line Training Program AAHSA Annual Meeting and Exposition October 12-15, 2008 Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia, Pa. IAHSA 8th International Conference July 20-22, 2009 London, England     OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES   COLLAGE®: The Art and Science of Healthy Aging June 12-13, 2008 Chicago, Ill. The Fifth Annual Healthcare Unbound July 7-8, 2008 San Francisco, Calif. Workforce Innovations Conference July 15-17, 2008 New Orleans, La. Pioneer Network's 8th National Conference August 20 - 22, 2008 Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C.       So what does Quality First do for members exactly?   Click here to read some of what members are saying Quality First does for their organizations. If you haven't signed the covenant yet, then why not do it now and start reaping the benefits of Quality First? Contact: Maggie Flowers, (202) 508-9421.   Elderhostel Helps Your Residents Be a Part of History   AAHSA’s newest member, Elderhostel, has created a program designed exclusively for AAHSA members. The new program "Live from Mount Rushmore: The Wisdom of Our Fathers," is a seminar series that gives the people you serve the chance to explore the names and faces sculpted into Mt. Rushmore and consider how our country’s founding fathers would respond to today’s issues. Save your residents and clients a front row seat. Sign up today. Contact: Paul Duffy, (617) 457-5406.     Are you getting the most out of your food program?   With AAHSA and MedAssets' food program, you can gain control over rising costs to improve operating margin and realize cost savings without compromising quality of care or services. Food service expenses can be as high as 40 percent in long-term care and is frequently the target for administrative cost reduction efforts. The Select Food and Nutrition Program can help you meet this challenge. Along with vendors in the Select program, take a look at Entegra Procurement Services, AAHSA's preferred food procurement vendor. Contact: Chet Chandler, (678) 248-8144.     Nursing Homes that Participate in Advancing Excellence Campaign Demonstrate Quality Improvement   The Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes Campaign -- an unprecedented collaboration of providers, consumers and other stakeholders -- is beginning to show progress. Nursing homes in three categories -- those that register for the campaign, those that select a goal, and those that choose an improvement target -- improve faster in clinical goals than homes that do not take these initiatives. Learn how your nursing home can register and demonstrate quality improvement. Contact: Bruce Rosenthal, (202) 508-9499. advertisement   AAHSA Member Profile:   Dave Santoro Administrator Southington Care Center Southington, Conn. Childhood Ambition: To be an American history teacher. Reason You Work In Aging Services: I work in this area because I strongly believe that a person has the right to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. I feel that you can gain so much insight and knowledge from working with this population and I have often been inspired by the travels and occupations of people that I have met along the way. Biggest challenge: Giving 100% at work and at home each day. Retreat: My car. I have a longer commute every day to and from my work and I listen to a variety of books on tape or CD on a variety of topics. It really helps me to relax each day. Inspiration: My parents. Hidden Talent: I can list the President of the United States in order from the beginning. New Opportunities Available on AAHSA’s Job Mart   Several career opportunities in aging services are now available and listed on Job Mart. Take a look. Pass along the news. If you have a job to post, consider using AAHSA Job Mart. Contact: Phillip Blackmon, (202) 508-9404. Use the downloadable form to post a job. Jobs posted in the past week (May 30 - June 5): Administrator Health Services Administrator - Ithaca, N.Y. Nursing Home Administrator - Cumberland, R.I. CEO/President/Executive Director Executive Director - Bradenton, Fla. Director of Rhode Island Association of Facilities & Services for the Aging (RIAFSA). Nursing/Healthcare Nurse Manager - Ithaca, N.Y. Other Director of Development - Gwynedd, Pa. Director of Development - New Haven, Conn. Review the jobs online Administrator CEO/President/Executive Director Finance Marketing/Sales/Business Office Nursing/HealthCare Other Wanted
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging 2519 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 phone 202.783.2242
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