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The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

January 23, 2012

Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Brief on Medicaid's Role in Meeting the Long-Term Care Needs of America's Seniors

The Kaiser Family Foundation has recently released a new brief, Medicaid’s Role in Meeting the Long-Term Care Needs of America’s Seniors, which analyzes the role of Medicaid in providing long-term care coverage for millions of elderly individuals. The brief highlights the particularly high use of long-term care amongst elderly persons aged 85 and above, a population that is set to increase by roughly 70% between now and 2032. It provides analyses of each state’s elderly population and Medicaid expenditures and emphasizes the detrimental effect Medicaid funding reductions would have on consumer access of LTSS. To read this Kaiser Family Foundation brief, click here. The Consumer Voice also has a webpage concerning Medicaid and long-term care, which can be accessed here.

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2013 Older Americans Month Theme Announced

The Administration on Aging has announced the 2013 theme of Older Americans Month (held in May) – “Unleash the Power of Age.” This year’s theme celebrates older Americans as productive, active and influential members of society, sharing essential talents, wisdom and life experience with their families, friends and neighbors.

For more information on Older Americans Month, visit AoA’s website.

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WA LTCOP Awarded Grant from WA Attorney General

The Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program was awarded a grant from the Washington Attorney General from funds collected from the settlement of a case against Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a division of Johnson & Johnson) for illegal marketing of Risperdal. The grant of $521,000 for two years will be used to advance training for ombudsmen related to inappropriate use of antipsychotics, creation of an outreach toolkit, consumer awareness activities, presentations at resident council meetings and facility staff training.

For more information, read the announcement from Washington Attorney General.

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CMS Posts QAPI at a Glance Guide

In late December, CMS posted the draft QAPI at a Glance document to its website. The QAPI at a Glance is a guide that provides tools and resources for implementing QAPI. According to CMS, the introductory materials are to be made available on the CMS website by February 2013. The draft document contains the following tools: QAPI Self-Assessment; Guide to Develop Purpose, Guiding Principles, and Scope for QAPI; Guide for Developing a QAPI Plan; and Goal Setting Worksheet.

New Issue Page on Licensing and Certification Available on the NORC Website

Each state has an Office of Licensure and Certification that works to ensure that the quality of healthcare delivered by providers is safe, cost effective and compliant with all state and federal laws. Nursing homes must be licensed to operate according to their state’s licensure requirements. This new issue page contains consumer information, resources on the nursing home survey and enforcement process, CMS Survey and Certification letters, GAO reports and additional resources on licensure and certification.

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Protect the Elderly from Dangerous Bed Rails

THANK YOU to those individuals and groups who have signed our petition which calls for safety standards for adult bed rails. Haven’t signed yet? Please take the time to do so today by clicking here. We have a goal of 1,000 signatures and we need your help to reach that goal!

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About The Gazette

The Gazette is a weekly e-newsletter, published by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, please unsubscribe. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to swells@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2013.

The Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. We are a primary source of information and tools for consumers, families, caregivers, advocates and ombudsmen to help ensure quality care for the individual. The Consumer Voice's mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports.

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