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June 27, 2017
Call Your Senators and Tell Them to Vote No to Medicaid Cuts
Last Thursday, the Senate released another version of the American Health Care Act, called the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. Unfortunately, there is nothing better about it! This bill proposes even deeper cuts to Medicaid.
Call your Senators and tell them to VOTE NO to the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017.
You can call your Senators by dialing the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When calling, you can discuss the following points:
- Medicaid is the largest single payer of long-term care in our nation.
- Medicaid is the ONLY way most people can afford long-term care.
- Medicaid allows older adults and people with disabilities to get the services and supports they need every day.
For nursing home residents and other long-term care consumers, cuts to Medicaid could mean they wouldn't be able to remain at home or might be forced out of nursing homes.
To learn more about how cuts to Medicaid can hurt nursing home residents, other long-term care consumers and their families, go to our webpage on preserving Medicaid.
A New York Times article published Saturday provided insight on the many older Americans in nursing homes who depend on Medicaid. An estimated 64 percent of Americans in nursing homes depend on Medicaid. State Medicaid programs are required to cover nursing home care. However, states determine how much to pay facilities and, with the proposed cuts, could decrease the amount they pay or limit coverage eligibility. States could also adopt further restrictions like requiring residents' families to pay for their care or limiting the types of services and days of nursing home care Medicaid would pay for. Furthermore, significant cuts to Medicaid could compel nursing homes to decrease staff, supplies and amenties, which would greatly affect all residents, not just those on Medicaid. For more information, read the article.
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Consumer Voice to Continue to Operate NORC
Consumer Voice is pleased to share that we have been awarded a three-year Cooperative Agreement to continue to operate the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC).
The Center provides support, technical assistance, and training to the 53 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks of 552 local Ombudsman entities. All Center products and activities are intended to enhance the skills, knowledge, and management capacity of State Ombudsman Programs to enable them to effectively respond to residents’ complaints and represent their interests on both an individual and systemic level; and, strengthen the program by highlighting innovative, effective approaches for providing Ombudsman program services.
Consumer Voice has operated the Center since 1993 and been involved in the Center since 1988 and we look forward to continue to support the important work of Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs across the country.
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Reminder: Consumer Voice Leadership Awards Nominations Due July 14
Are you looking for a way to recognize a long-term care consumer, long-term care ombudsman, family caregiver, citizen advocate, or another individual for their advocacy on behalf of long-term care consumers? We encourage you to nominate individuals you know who have put "advocacy in action" and have made significant contributions to improving the lives of long-term care consumers.
Based on your nominations, Consumer Voice will recognize people who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to improving the lives of long-term care consumers. Find more information about submitting a nomination here.
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Residents' Rights Posters Available for Pre-Order
Newly designed Residents' Rights Posters are now available for pre-order in our online store.
 Residents’ Rights are guaranteed by the federal 1987 Nursing Home Reform Law. The law requires nursing homes to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity and self-determination. This easy-to-read poster provides important information for all staff, volunteers, residents and advocates.
Posters are printed on sturdy, glossy paper. Choose the horizontal or vertical layout and 11"x17" or 18"x24" depending on your needs.
Display these posters in facilities, resident rooms, or offices of advocates as a reminder of the important rights to which all residents are entitled.
Residents' Rights Posters are currently available for pre-sale and will be shipped beginning August 1st.
Remember: Consumer Voice members receive 10% off all items in the online store. Join or renew your membership here. Email info@theconsumervoice.org for the discount code.
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Reminder: Questionnaire for Ombudsman
NORC is seeking information from Ombudsman programs regarding their state and local advocacy, activities, innovative practices, training, and resources regarding abuse, neglect, and exploitation in long-term care facilities.
NORC would appreciate any information you can share in this brief questionnaire. Send examples of resources or questions/comments to ombudcenter@theconsumervoice.org. Please respond by Thursday, June 29.
NORC will not share individual responses or contact information without permission.
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Justice in Aging Webinar on Supported Decision-Making
Join Justice in Aging on Tuesday, July 11th at 2:00pm ET for a webinar - Legal Basics: Supported Decision-Making. Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a person-centered planning and person-driven decision-making model that can be used as an alternative to guardianship, to help individuals retain their legal rights. This legal basics webinar will explore how SDM can be used to preserve the fundamental human and constitutional rights of persons with disabilities, including older adults who are experiencing changes in memory and cognition. It will cover fundamentals of the PRACTICAL tool that guides users through SDM and will cover the state of the law on SDM. Register here.
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Financial Exploitation Materials for AAPI Older Adults
The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) and the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) released new financial exploitation educational materials. The materials include two fact sheets - Identifying Financial Exploitation and Planning to Protect Yourself from Financial Exploitation – available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, and Samoan. Plus, Guidelines for Professionals provide instructions for using the fact sheets and highlight best practices for professionals when working with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) older adults. Access these resources 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:
Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations - This issue page from Consumer Voice covers the revised federal nursing facility regulations. It provides an overview of the regulations, rule resources, presentations, issue briefs, CMS resources and information on the implementation timeframes.
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In this Issue
Call Your Senators and Tell Them to Vote No to Medicaid Cuts
Consumer Voice to Continue to Operate NORC
Reminder: Consumer Voice Leadership Awards Nominations Due July 14
Residents' Rights Posters Available for Pre-Order
Reminder: Questionnaire for Ombudsman
Justice in Aging Webinar on Supported Decision-Making
Financial Exploitation Materials for AAPI Older Adults
Spotlight on Resources
Combined Federal Campaign
#10552
Thank you for your support!
Webinar Tomorrow on Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations
Join us for "A Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations: Taking Another Look at Key Sections" Wednesday, June 28 at 2:00pm ET. The Consumer Voice, Justice in Aging, and Center for Medicare Advocacy have heard you and examined your questions about the revised federal nursing home regulations.
Register now.
Registration is Now Open!
Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference
November 5-8, 2017
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
Arlington, Virginia
Calendar of Events
June: Pride Month
Wednesday, June 28: A Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations: Taking Another Look at Key Sections, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from Consumer Voice, Justice in Aging and Center for Medicare Advocacy
Wednesday, June 28: HCBS Quality Framework Development, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from the Administration on Community Living
Tuesday, July 11: Legal Basics: Supported Decision-Making, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from Justice in Aging
November 5-8, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA
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Last Week's Most Popular Post:
Wednesday, June 21:
Missed the pep rally yesterday? See info for telling your Senator to save Medicaid for Long-Term Care Consumers!
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Friday, June 23:
CMS Needs to Hear From You - Submit Comments by June 26
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