February 21, 2017
New Issue Brief on Nursing Services
Consumer Voice, along with the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Justice in Aging, has released a new issue brief in their issue brief series, "A Closer Look at the Revised Nursing Facility Regulations."
The new issue brief looks specifically at nursing services. The regulations failed to include a numerical minimum staffing standard, instead maintaining the previous requirement that “sufficient staff ” be available. The regulations do, however, place a greater emphasis on establishing minimum competencies and skill sets for all nursing personnel. Facilities must assess their resident population and resources to determine both the number and competencies of staff needed to care for residents.
In addition, the regulations have increased requirements for in-service training of nursing personnel. Finally, the revised regulations require that the resident and resident representative be notified of any waivers of nursing staff requirements.
Visit the Consumer Voice website for the other issue briefs in the series.
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Materials Available from Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations Webinar
The recording and presentation slides are now available from last week's webinar "A Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations: Part 1." In the webinar, experts from Center for Medicare Advocacy, Justice in Aging and Consumer Voice discuss key changes in: (1) Assessment, Care Planning & Discharge Planning, (2) Nursing Services, (3), Unnecessary and Antipsyhotic Drugs, and (4) Transfer/Discharge. View the materials here.
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Oppose the Repeal of the ACA and Changes to Medicaid
Congress is planning to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with major changes to Medicaid. Tell your members of Congress NO!
The ACA didn’t just expand coverage for millions of Americans, it was the first law in many years to adddress the quality of care in nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding. The ACA provides more accountability, improved training, and makes prevention of elder abuse a national priority.
The ACA also improves access to home care services, which keep people at home and help nursing home residents move back into the community. Repeal of the ACA could eliminate these protections, improvements, and services.
At the same time, proposals to replace the ACA include significant changes to Medicaid. These plans would impose spending caps per enrollee or convert Medicaid into block grants - resulting in Medicaid cuts. In addition, federal nursing home quality standards could be eliminated because states would receive federal monies with relatively few requirements. These changes to Medicaid put long-term care consumers at risk.
Please contact your members of Congress now and urge them to vote to keep Medicaid as it is AND to vote against repeal of the Affordable Care Act without adequate replacement! Click here to send your message.
Thank you for taking action!
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Webinar on Training to Prevent Adult Abuse & Neglect
PHI is holding a webinar on the new CMS regulations that mandate abuse prevention education. The webinar will cover new regulatory requirements, skills development to manage emotional reactivity, and prevention, including identification and reporting of abuse and neglect. Join the webinar on Tuesday, February 28 at 12pm ET. Cost is $59. Register here.
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Spotlight on 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:
Put a STOP to Poor Care - Consumer Voice's “Put a STOP to Poor Care” brochure, produced in collaboration with the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), includes indicators of quality care, warning signs, red flags of potential abuse, and advocacy tips to address concerns. Regardless of where an individual receives long-term care services and supports they are entitled to receive quality, person-centered care, and this brochure was designed to help consumers understand quality care, learn how to identify issues, and gain action steps to advocate for the care they need and deserve.
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In this Issue
New Issue Brief on Nursing Services
Materials Available from Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations Webinar
Oppose the Repeal of the ACA and Changes to Medicaid
Webinar on Training to Prevent Adult Abuse & Neglect
Spotlight on Resources
Combined Federal Campaign
#10552
Thank you for your support!
Calendar of Events
Tuesday, February 28: Training to Prevent Adult Abuse & Neglect, 12:00pm ET, Webinar from PHI, Cost: $59
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:
Friday, February 17:
An article in The Boston Globe explained that proposed program cuts to MA Medicaid program will result in over 7,000 MA residents losing at-home nursing care.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Friday, February 17:
Proposed cuts to MA Medicaid program could result in over 7,000 MA residents losing at-home nursing care
Long-Term Care Resources & News
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