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January 10, 2017
Join the National Call-In Today!
Call your member of Congress TODAY!
Join the national call-in day to tell your member of Congress to protect our care! Congress has taken the first steps to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with no plan to replace the law, putting access to affordable care for seniors and people with disabilities at risk. Urge lawmakers to protect the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Tell your member of Congress: "Show us your plan to lower health care costs and make improvements before taking vital health care away from millions of Americans."
Contact your member of Congress via the Capitol Switchboard: http://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm or by calling the SEIU Health Care Protection Line at 866-426-2631.
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CMS Finalizes Home Health Agency Rules
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized new Medicare and Medicaid home health care rules and beneficiary protections. These Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of Participation are the minimum health and safety standards a home health agency must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The rules are meant to improve the quality of health care services for Medicare and Medicaid patients and strengthen patients' rights.
CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality for CMS Kate Goodrich said, “Our priority is to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who receive health services at home get the highest level of patient-centered care from home health agencies...(this) announcement is the first update in many years to Medicare and Medicaid home health agency rules and reflects current best practices for in-home care, based on recommendations from stakeholders and medical evidence.” Read CMS's press release here.
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Webinar for Ombudsman Programs on Medicaid Managed Care Tomorrow
National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is hosting a webinar on Medicaid managed care for State Ombudsmen and Ombudsman program representatives tomorrow, January 11 at 3:00pm ET.
In Medicaid, managed care is a form of health care delivery and financing that aims to better manage cost, coordinate care, and improve quality. Managed care involves contracts between state Medicaid agencies and private managed care organizations, or MCOs, that are responsible for the delivery and coordination of services to beneficiaries.
This webinar will cover basic information about the current status and future directions of state Medicaid Managed LTSS programs; key policy and operational considerations for professionals working with older adults enrolled in these programs; and future directions for these programs.
The webinar will feature Damon Terzaghi, NASUAD’s Senior Director for Medicaid Policy and Planning.
Register here.
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Webinar on Benefits for Consumers in the Revised Nursing Home Regulations
Justice in Aging is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, January 18 at 2:00pm ET entitled "Benefits for Consumers in the Revised Nursing Home Regulations." The webinar will look at several provisions that improve on the previous version of the regulations. Justice in Aging attorney Eric Carlson will share highlights and explain how lawyers and other advocates can use the new regulations to benefit residents. Specific topics will include, but not be limited to, care planning, resident-centered care, staff training, visitation, protections against eviction, and returning to a facility after hospitalization.
Register here.
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Spotlight on Educational Resources
The Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) 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:
HCBS Reports and Resources - NORC has a webpage devoted to reports and resources about home and community-based services. The page features reports for consumers, tips for state and local advocates, information on the role of the ombudsman in HCBS, plus overviews of key federal regulations.
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In this Issue
Join the National Call-In Today!
CMS Finalizes Home Health Agency Rules
Webinar for Ombudsman Programs on Medicaid Managed Care Tomorrow
Webinar on Benefits for Consumers in the Revised Nursing Home Regulations
Spotlight on Educational Resources
Combined Federal Campaign
#10552
Thank you for your support!
Action Alert
Congressional Leaders have promised, as a first order of business in January, to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This could harm nursing home residents and other long-term care consumers, their families, the workers who care for them and many others. Tell your Senators and Representative NO!
Ask your Senators and Representative to oppose repealing the ACA without replacing it by clicking here.
Calendar of Events
Wednesday, January 11: Strategies & Promising Practices for Addressing Dementia Care and Wandering Behaviors in HCBS Settings, 1:00pm ET, Webinar from Justice in Aging
Wednesday, January 11: Medicaid 101 for State and Local Ombudsman, 3:00pm ET, Webinar from the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
Wednesday, January 18: Benefits for Consumers in the Revised Nursing Home Regulations, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from Justice in Aging
Tuesday, February 7: The Sexual Abuse of Vulnerable Adults in Institutions: Key Findings and Implications for Practice, 2:00pm ET
November 8-11, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA
Join the conversation and follow us on social media!
Last Week's Most Popular Post:
Wednesday, January 4:
Consumer Voice is peased to provide you with this new resource, Summary of Key Changes in the Rule - Part II
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Tuesday, January 4:
Resource: key changes in revised federal nursing home regs for sections - Resident Assessment - Training Requirements
Long-Term Care Resources & News
Read past issues of The Voice here.
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