What’s New
We need you to Contact Congress!
Urge Congress to Reform Flawed Medicare Physician Payment System by asking Legislators to support H.R. 2. Congress will soon vote on H.R. 2, a permanent reform of the badly flawed Medicare physician payment system. This measure will affect skilled nursing facilities and home health care providers both directly and indirectly. We urge you to contact your legislators in support.On March 17, 2015, as part of the LeadingAge PEAK Conference in Washington, DC, LeadingAge DC members joined others from across the country to make visits to Congress. The DC Contingent visited the office of Congresswomean Elanor Holmes Norton. In addition to discussions on financing older adult services, our members shared their concerns regarding the three day stay requirement for admission to skilled nursing post-hospitalization. The ongoing problem with observation days is a major barrier for our members, and one we believe Congress must address this session. Congressional staff indicated they have been hearing a lot about this issue. On March 17, 2015, as part of the LeadingAge PEAK Conference in Washington, DC, LeadingAge DC members joined others from across the country to make visits to Congress. The DC contingent visited the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
National Update
LeadingAge remains concerned about two aspects of the Medicare physician payment reform proposals introduced today (March 19,2015) in both houses of Congress: Medicare therapy caps. Cuts to post-acute care providers. Read moreObservation Days
One bill we have supported in the past has been re-introduced on the federal level this session. The Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act requires hospitals to give formal notice to patients within a period of time after classifying them as an inpatient or outpatient under observation. We believe seniors should have notice of their status as soon as possible during their stay and before they leave the hospital, so they can be aware of the financial and eligibility consequences of the hospital’s decision. However, the NOTICE Act does not eliminate the three-day stay requirement for admission to skilled nursing post-hospitalization. One bill has been introduced this session to do just that. The Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act of 2015 eliminates the three-day inpatient stay required for Medicare coverage of Part A skilled nursing care benefits by allowing centers that meet particular criteria, based on the Nursing Home Compare program, to automatically qualify to waive the prior hospitalization requirement.
Updates to the Medicare Internet-Only Manual Chapters for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Providers are effective June 15, 2015. The updates can be found here.
The Veterans Administration is proposing a rule change regarding eligibility for the Aide and Attendant program which is being used by individuals to help pay for assisted living. These rules address asset limits, countable assets, a look-back period for transfer of assets, allowable medical deductions, and how activities of daily living are considered in determining eligibility. Assisted living facility must be licensed. This link from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys describes the proposed changes. Here is the link to the actual proposed rule. LeadingAge is developing comments on the proposed rules which are not yet available. We will keep members informed as this rulemaking process continues.Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2015 Introduced
Member Opportunities and Resources
Housing and Health Care: A Toolkit for Building Partnerships
The LeadingAge Center for Housing Plus Services is pleased to announce its new Housing and Health Partnerships toolkit. The toolkit provides resources and guidance to help providers of affordable senior housing and their health care partners work together to improve health, safety and quality of life for housing residents, while reducing unnecessary use of health services and achieving cost savings.
Insights/Quality Metrics Update
LeadingAge Quality Metrics is a set of interactive data tools that assists nursing homes in analyzing how they measure up to their peers, demonstrate value, and improve performance. Leveraging Nursing Home Compare data, Quality Metrics allows nursing homes to compare themselves against nearby or comparably sized nursing homes. It also offers a tool to help predict Five-Star status and provide guidance on where to focus to increase their rating. Read MoreNew Home Health Tool: Upcoming Webinars on Accessing Using
Home Health Quality Metrics is the latest addition to LeadingAge Insights and complements Nursing Home Quality Metrics, an interactive data tool that provides skilled nursing homes with the ability to analyze their 5-star ratings, staffing, quality measures and deficiencies.
Beginning this month, LeadingAge members now have access to Home Health Quality Metrics, an interactive benchmarking tool that uses Home Health Compare data to analyze process and outcome quality measures reported on the Home Health Compare website.
Upcoming Events
Technology Networking Forum with LeadingAge Maryland Members
Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Ingleside at King Farm, Rockville, Maryland
- Topics – data security, HIPAA audits, breaches, Business Associate agreements
- Lunch included, No Fee
- Members Only
- Register with Christy Kramer at ckramer@leadingage.org
Armed Forces Retirement Home – Tour the Scott Building and discuss their small house design
Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 1:30 – 4:00pm
- LeadingAge Members Only
- Space is limited and registration details will be provided soon
- Register Here
- Ingleside at King Farm, Rockville, Maryland
- Topic – working at the intersection of many faith traditions and culture
- Lunch included, No Fee
- Members Only
- Register with Christy Kramer at ckramer@leadingage.org
CCRC Trends: Are You Ready for What Lies Ahead?
Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 2:00 -3:00 p.m.As market demographics and consumer expectation continue to evolve, so does the health reform environment in which aging services providers operate. This new normal requires that CCRCs think differently about the products and service offerings they will deliver in the near future. How will your organization respond and adapt to these impending changes? This webinar will explore what LeadingAge members can do to position themselves for success.
- Examine the key trends impacting the future of aging services, including the challenges and opportunities they pose for CCRC providers.
- Discuss how you can become a resource and service provider of choice for older adults in your community.
- Consider ways your organization can invest in systems and programs that will increase your brand’s visibility in the marketplace.
- Speaker: Steve Maag, Director, Residential Communities, LeadingAge
- Register Here
- Fee: $99
- Continuing Education LeadingAge has applied to receive one NAB Continuing Education (CE) credit for participating in this webinar. Please read important continuing education credit rules.
LeadingAge Maryland Annual Conference: Turf Valley Resort, Ellicott City, Maryland
April 20-22,2015
- LeadingAge DC Members receive member rate.
- Read more and register here
Governing for Strategic Success
A new governance program led by renowned governance speaker and author Jamie Orlikoff will roll out this summer. The retreat will prepare boards for strategic planning discussions to help move forward in the rapidly changing aging services environment. Three two-day retreats will be offered in June, July and August in Denver, Philadelphia and Chicago. These retreats are for board chairs, chairs-elect and CEOs as well as full boards and leadership teams. Members can get more information and register on the LeadingAge Website.
In the News
Nursing Homes find Alarms do more Harm than Good
On March 16, The Boston Globe published “Nursing homes find bed, chair alarms do more harm than good“.
Did You Miss It?
LeadingAge puts out several newsletters related to specific provider news, weekly advocacy updates, technology and research. If you’d like to find out the latest on housing, nursing home, home & community-based services, assisted living, continuing care retirement communities or anything else related to the field, visit the LeadingAge newsletter archive today.