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September 19, 2017

Graham-Cassidy Bill Would Convert Medicaid to Per Capita Caps; Take Action!

The Senate has introduced another new bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and it's bad, if not worse, than previous bills.  This bill, referred to as the Graham-Cassidy Bill, converts Medicaid into a per capita cap system.  A per capita cap means that states will receive a fixed amount of money per beneficiary, which will likely not include adjusments for the rising cost of health care or needs of the population.

Call your Senators & Governors and tell them, NO CAPS to MEDICAID!

You can call your Senators by dialing the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  You can find the number for your Governor by clicking here.  When calling, you can discuss the following talking 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 long-term care consumers to stay in their homes.

For nursing home residents and other long-term care consumers, caps to Medicaid would result in cuts to available care and services and would make it harder to qualify for care.

To learn more about per capita caps and how they can hurt nursing home residents, other long-term care consumers and their families, go to our webpage on preserving Medicaid.

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More Needs to Be Done to Protect LTC Residents in Disaster Situations

The death of 8 nursing home residents in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Irma is tragic and sad.  As the events in Hollywood and North Miami Beach unfold, it is a reminder of the vulnerability of long-term care facility residents, and older adults needing care and services in their own homes.   This situation provides a hard lesson about what it means to be prepared for an emergency, and the need to be vigilant about monitoring the adequacy of those plans.  

We know that elders are particularly susceptible to dehydration and heat, and they are acutely vulnerable in times of disaster.  As Florida officials investigate this terrible situation, we call on all communities to reassess their preparedness for, and ability to respond to, emergency situations.  From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to state and local officials, power and energy companies, and long-term care providers themselves, there is an urgent need to reassess standards and procedures for both prevention and response to emergencies.

Our staff will continue to stay in close contact with our network in impacted states, and follow the reports on investigations and recovery to identify best practices and lessons learned in order to improve the emergency preparedness process to ensure the safety of all long-term care consumers.  For more information about emergency preparedness, visit our issue page.

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LTCCC Updates Brief on Requirements for Reporting Suspicion of a Crime Against a Nursing Home Resident

The Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) has updated its policy brief "Requirements for Reporting to Law Enforcement When There is a Suspicion of a Crime Against a Nursing Home Resident."  The updated brief includes changes to civil money penalty thresholds and upcoming changes to the federal guidance for nursing homes.  The update was issued as a response to the recent alert published by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General which found that more than one-quarter of serious cases of nursing home abuse are not reported to law enforcement and in response to recent tragic reports of residents dying in a Florida nursing home after Hurricane Irma.  The brief provides recommendations for state survey agencies, nursing homes, long-term care ombudsmen, residents and families.  Read the updated policy brief here.

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Senate Hearing on Older Adults and Disaster Preparedness

There will be a hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Wednesday, September 20th regarding "Disaster Preparedness and Response: The Special Needs of Older Americans."  Witnesses include New Orleans former Health Commissioner, Wilkes Barre Fire Chief, and experts on aging and disaster preparedness.  Find more information here.

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Materials Available from Webinar on Surveillance Cameras in Nursing Homes

Materials are available from our recent webinar "Balancing Privacy & Protection: Surveillance Cameras in Nursing Home Residents' Rooms."  The use of surveillance cameras in nursing home residents’ rooms is becoming more popular among some consumers and policymakers, but it comes with a range of potential positive and negative implications. The webinar covered residents' rights and interests involving surveillance cameras and considerations to evaluate before installing a surveillance camera.  Speakers discussed their experiences in utilizing surveillance cameras.  Access the recording and Powerpoint slides here.

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HHS Webinar on Vaccines and Aging

Join the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services National Vaccine Program Office for a webinar on Tuesday, September 26th at 12:00pm ET entitled "Aging & the Immune System: Rethinking Vaccines for Older Adults."  The webinar will provide information about how the immune system changes with age, making older adults more vulnerable to infectious diseases.  It will cover new research which is changing the design of vaccines for older adults.  Free continuing education is available.  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:

Ombudsman Outlook - Check out the new issue of the Ombudsman Outlook, a quarterly e-newsletter for State and Local/Regional LTC Ombudsmen.

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In this Issue

Graham-Cassidy Bill Would Convert Medicaid to Per Capita Caps; Take Action!

More Needs to Be Done to Protect LTC Residents in Disaster Situations

LTCCC Updates Brief on Requirements for Reporting Suspicion of a Crime Against a Nursing Home Resident

Senate Hearing on Older Adults and Disaster Preparedness

Materials Available from Webinar on Surveillance Cameras in Nursing Homes

HHS Webinar on Vaccines and Aging


Spotlight on Resources


Combined Federal Campaign

#10552

Thank you for your support!


What do you have planned for Resident's Rights Month?

Residents' Righs Month is two weeks away!  Spread the word about this important month, plan an event to celebrate and honor residents, check out our theme-specific resources, and read and share entries from the Resident's Voice Challenge.

Let us know about your RRM plans! Email info@theconsumervoice.org with details.


Calendar of Events

Wednesday, September 20: Disaster Preparedness and Response: The Special Needs of Older Americans, 9:00am ET, Dirksen Senate Office Building 562

Tuesday, September 26: Aging & the Immune System: Rethinking Vaccines for Older Adults, 12:00pm ET, Webinar from US Department of Health & Human Services

October: Residents' Rights Month

November 5-8, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA


Join the conversation and follow us on social media!

Last Week's Most Popular Post:

Friday, September 15:
The tragic deaths of 8 nursing home residents in Florida remind us of the vulnerability of long-term care facility residents and older adults needing care and services in their own homes.

Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:

Thursday, September 14:

Have you seen the updated agenda for our conference in November?


Long-Term Care Resources & News

  • Aging in Community segment of the Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor’s TV show "Advance Rhode Island" featuring State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Kathleen Heren


Read past issues of The Voice here.


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About The Voice

The Voice is a weekly e-newsletter, published by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, please unsubscribe below. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to info@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2017.

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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. Consumer Voice's mission is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports.


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