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September 1, 2015
GAO to Review Federal Nursing Home Rating System
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will conduct a review of the federal government's nursing home rating system, following a letter from Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) that called for a review. Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) also sent a letter to CMS asking for a briefing to address concerns about the Five-Star Quality Rating System, which was designed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to "help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and to help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions." Casey and Wyden said, "The GAO's decision to conduct a review is a first step towards ensuring the accuracy of this system that millions of families rely on." Read more in an article from AANHR, the Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.
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Consumer Voice Gem: Efforts to Preserve Federal Nursing Home Reform Law
In honor of Consumer Voice's 40-year ruby anniversary we will highlight Gems which include key leaders, organizations, and special moments that have made a significant impact on our organization’s development, mission, and advocacy.
This month’s gem is Consumer Voice's efforts to preserve the federal Nursing Home Reform Law
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Advocates during a 1995 demonstration to prevent the repeal of the federal Nursing Home Reform Act
The Federal Nursing Home Reform Act was passed as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 following years of advocacy on the part of Consumer Voice (then the National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform) and other organizations, advocates, health care professionals, and providers with a shared vision of improving nursing home care. In 1991, the federal regulations for nursing homes participating in the Medicare and/or Medicaid programs, known as the Requirements of Participation, were implemented to carry out the landmark vision and goals of this law. The Requirements established strong nationwide standards that facilities must meet in order to receive federal funding.
Today, advocates need to come together again to preserve and strengthen the regulations. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they would be revising and updating the Requirements of Participation in 2012, the Consumer Voice convened a panel of advocates, consumers, and experts to help in developing recommendations, which were submitted to CMS. In 2014, Consumer Voice provided additional recommendations to CMS.
On July 16th, 2015, CMS released proposed revisions to the Requirements of Participation for nursing homes. While these proposed revisions include new positive language that would benefit consumers in a number of ways, there are areas where improvement is needed and even places where the previous regulations have been weakened. Comments are due September 14, 2015.
Visit our website for more information about the proposed revisions, to view a side-by-side of the existing regulations and the revised regulations put forward by CMS, and Consumer Voice’s recommendations in 2012 and 2014 to CMS on ways to preserve and strengthen the nursing home regulations.
Read more about this month's Gem here.
You are invited to join us in celebrating 40 years of making quality care matter by signing this e-card, sending a congratulatory message to info@theconsumervoice.org, becoming a member, and/or supporting our current and future work with a contribution.
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Save the Date for Consumer Voice's 40th Anniversary Party!
Save the date for Consumer Voice's 40th Anniversary Party during the 2015 Consumer Voice Annual Conference. Join us Thursday, November 5th from 6:30pm - 9:30pm at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA for music and dancing, food and a cash bar, and highlights from Consumer Voice's 40 years! For information about party sponsorship, tables and ticket options, click here. Register for the conference and get a free ticket to the party. Stay tuned for more information on purchasing additional tickets for $95. Hope to see you in November at the big party!
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Introducing...40 Words of Wisdom
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40 Words of Wisdom is a unique keepsake book featuring written entries and artwork created by residents around the nation sharing their words of wisdom, thoughts on care and creativity.
CARE Matters is the theme of this year's Residents' Rights Month, designated by Consumer Voice as a time to highlight rights and quality in long-term care settings. Residents were asked to share how CARE Matters and they let their voices be heard--we received more than 100 entries from all over the country!!!
As part of the Consumer Voice’s 40th Anniversary celebration, we selected 40 of our favorites--moving essays, touching poetry and beautiful art--and combined them into 40 Words of Wisdom, a poignant collaboration of resident voices across the nation. This is a must-have collection!
Preorder your copy of this special keepsake book now and receive your book in October!
Consumer Voice members receive a 10% discount at checkout. Joint to get this and other benefits.
For bulk discounts (orders 25 or more), contact info@theconsumervoice.org. You may only utilize one discount - member or bulk discount - per order.
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Editorial in Des Moines Register on Arbitration Agreements in Nursing Homes
The Des Moines Register published an editorial recently on the use of forced arbitration agreements in nursing homes. The article cites a court case last year where a judge found the use of an arbitration agreement "unconscionable" because it was given to the nursing home resident at an emotionally difficult time, was confusing, and portrayed the agreement as beneficial to both the resident and nursing home. Unfortunately, these types of arbitration agreements are frequently upheld by courts. CMS is currently considering major changes to its nursing home regulations, but under the proposed new rules, nursing homes will only be required to "explain" arbitration agreements to residents. Read the full article here.
Public Citizen – a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization – has drafted a petition to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), asking for the agency to ban the use of pre-dispute, forced arbitration clauses in nursing home contracts. Please add your voice to the thousands of others who have already spoken out on this critical issue!
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Health-Care Data Now Available on Yelp
Yelp is partnering with ProPublica to add health-care data to its pages for medical businesses to give consumers more access to government information on hospitals, nursing homes and dialysis clinics. Information is now available on Yelp pages about hospital emergency room average wait time, fines paid by a nursing home and data about patients receiving dialysis treatment's readmittance to a hospital because of treatment-related infections. Yelp's vice president for policy Luther Lowe said, "We're taking data that otherwise might live in some government pdf that's hard to find and we're putting it in a context where it makes sense for people who may be in the middle of making critical decisions." For more information, read the article in The Washington Post.
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Consumer Voice Governing Board Nominations
Consumer Voice (CV) has formed a Nominations Committee to nominate new Directors to new three year terms. The Committee is composed of an equal number of representatives of the CV Governing Board and the Leadership Council. Governing Board member and LTC ombudsman, Lori Walsh, is chairing the committee for a second year. As part of the process, the Committee will determine the number of vacant positions. The Governing Board is charged with management and conduct of the affairs of the organization, including approval of an annual plan and establishing fiscal, operational and other organizational goals. Board members are responsible for fund development and fundraising, making a meaningful financial contribution to the organization, representing the organization as assigned and reporting potential conflicts of interest. Collectively, the Board reviews and ratifies the organization’s program and public policy agenda. Suggested nominees may be referred to Ms. Walsh at walsh@carie.org.
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New DVD Training Program on Supporting Individuals Living with Dementia
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) newest training program for paraprofessionals and professionals - AFA Partners in Care: Supporting Individuals Living with Dementia - is now available through their Dementia Care Professionals of America (DCPA) division. This comprehensive and multidisciplinary 6-hour DVD training program emphasizes the importance of relationship-building in dementia care and features dementia care experts, families, and individuals with dementia. After completing the training, participants can take an exam to pursue certification as an AFA Dementia Care Partner. The certification is renewable each year and requires individuals to earn continuing education credits in dementia care-related competencies. For more information, visit the DCPA website or contact Kristen Cribbs, AFA’s deputy director of educational services, at 866-232-8484 or kcribbs@alzfdn.org.
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Learn About Sepsis in September
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. It occurs as a result of the body’s own reaction to infection, causing inflammatory responses throughout the body. The process can damage organs and cause them to fail. Anyone can develop sepsis, but it's most common and most dangerous in older adults or those with weakened immune systems. Early treatment of sepsis, usually with antibiotics and large amounts of intravenous fluids, improves chances for survival (MayoClinic.org)
September is Sepsis Awareness Month and patient, public and professional fact sheets and other resources are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Sepsis Alliance.
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Briefly Noted...
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Spotlight on Educational Resources
The Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center have a multitude of resources available online covering a wide range of long-term care topics. Visit the Consumer Voice website and the NORC website to explore all the available resources. Take a look at this week's highlighted resource:
Forced Arbitration Agreements in Long-Term Care Facility Admission Contracts - This issue page contains information on forced pre-dispute arbitration agreements and the dangers they pose to long-term care consumers.
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In this Issue
GAO to Review Federal Nursing Home Rating System
Consumer Voice Gem: Efforts to Preserve Federal Nursing Home Reform Law
Save the Date for Consumer Voice's 40th Anniversary Party!
Introducing...40 Words of Wisdom
Editorial in Des Moines Register on Arbitration Agreements in Nursing Homes
Health-Care Data Now Available on Yelp
Consumer Voice Governing Board Nominations
New DVD Training Program on Supporting Indivduals Living with Dementia
Learn About Sepsis in September
Briefly Noted...
Spotlight on Giving: 40th Anniversary Special Gifts Campaign
Spotlight on Educational Resources
Spotlight on Giving: 40th Anniversary Special Gifts Campaign
A critical focus of the Consumer Voice board of directors is ensuring that the organization is able to address effectively the long-term care challenges affecting people today and in the years ahead. A key focus is to fully fund Consumer Voice public policy and advocacy initiatives which are critical at a time like now when new rules are being written and when cost pressures further threaten the commitment to quality, person-centered care and the rights of long-term care consumers. The board has started the year with its own fundraising campaign seeking double the level of annual contributions from each member and now it is reaching out to all members of the Consumer Voice constituency to ask that each person consider making a special contribution to the organization this year. Contributions can be made online here, monthly, as a gift of stock, in recognition of an individual, organization, or in other ways. To discuss your gift and how you would like it recognized, please contact Richard Gelula at rgelula@theconsumervoice.org or (202) 332-2275 x209. And for more information about the 40th Anniversary Campaign, click here.
Participate in the Nursing Home Staffing Campaign
As part of our nursing home staffing campaign, Better Staffing: The Key to Better Care, Consumer Voice is advocating to have a registered nurse on duty in a nursing home 24 hours a day/7 days a week. To show your support of this campaign, ask your Congressperson to support H.R. 952, the Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act. To learn more about staffing issues, visit www.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffing.
Calendar of Events
October: Residents' Rights Month, CARE Matters
November 4-7, 2015: Consumer Voice 39th Annual Conference, Crystal City, Virginia
Thursday, November 5, 2015: Consumer Voice's 40th Anniversary Party, 6:30pm-9:30pm, Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, VA
Register Now for the Consumer Voice Annual Conference
November 4-7, 2015
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New Resources Available on Nursing Home Transitions
- Quality Care, No Matter Where: Successful Nursing Home Transitions Report - examines nursing home transitions and how they can be improved from the perspective of both consumers who have moved back into the community and the agencies that assist them.
- Consumer to Consumer: Tips for a Successful Nursing Home Transition - provides steps nursing home residents can take to make their move go as smoothly as possible
- How-To Guide for State and Local Advocates - equips advocates with strategies, ideas and materials to use in working in their state.
View all resources here.
Get Your CARE Matters Buttons and Wristbands in Time for Residents' Rights Month
October is quickly approaching. Order wristbands and buttons with the 2015 theme, CARE Matters, now to ensure you receive them by Residents' Rights Month! Wristbands and buttons are sold in packs of 20, 50 and 100. See the Consumer Voice online store for more information.
Your Car Can Help Promote Quality Care - It's Easy!
Do you, a loved one or friend have a car that you or they would like to dispose of? Now, Consumer Voice can help – and your used car can help Consumer Voice! By working with our car disposal agency, Vehicle Donation to Any Charity (V-DAC), the proceeds from the sale of your car become a contribution to Consumer Voice.
Donating your car is easy - V-DAC comes to the location of the car and picks it up (whether the car can be driven or not). Provide the car's registration and title, and V-DAC will send you a contribution letter with the amount of the donation that was made.
Note: We are actually registered with the service as “NCCNHR” so when asked which charity you would like to benefit, just say or type in “NCCNHR.”
Here is a link to our page on the V-DAC site http://v-dac.com/org?id=52-1122531 and you can get started there – or just call 877-999-8322 toll free. And to discuss your donation with Consumer Voice, just write to us at info@theconsumervoice.org or call (202) 332-2275 x209
Join the conversation and follow us on social media!
Last Week's Most Popular Post:
Monday, August 31:
As Consumer Voice celebrates our 40-year ruby anniversary, we are highlighting special moments that have made a signficiant impact on our organization's advocacy.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Monday, August 24:
Sign a petition by @Public_Citizen to CMS to ban use of pre-dispute arbitration clauses in nursing home contracts
Long-Term Care Resources & News
Read past issues of The Voice here.
Support Consumer Voice While You Do Your Back-to-School Shopping!
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