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December 20, 2016

New Fact Sheet on Importance of Revised Nursing Home Regulations for Nursing Home Residents

Consumer Voice and Justice in Aging have released a new fact sheet entitled "Why the Recently-Revised Nursing Home Regulations are Vital for Nursing Home Residents."  After four years of work from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), newly revised federal nursing facility regulations were released in September, and most provisions went into effect on November 28.  These revised regulations provide critical consumer protections.  This fact sheet provides an overview of some important new revisions and how they protect long-term care consumers.  Stakeholders and policymakers can use the fact sheet to better understand the role the revised regulations have in improving nursing care, including an increased focus on addressing a resident's needs and preferences.  Read the fact sheet here.

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CMS Releases FAQs on Medicaid Beneficiaries in HCBS with Exit-Seeking Behavior

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released FAQs cocerning Medicaid Beneficiaries in Home and Community-Based Settings who Exhibit Unsafe Wandering or Exit-Seeking Behavior.  These FAQs give states and stakeholders guidance on how to protect individual choice and adhere to the requirements of person-centered planning for those individuals with dementia and who exhibit unsafe wandering and exit-seeking behaviors.

In the FAQs, CMS highlights that "person-centered planning, staff training and care delivery are core components of provider operations to meet HCBS requirements while responding to unsafe wandering or exit-seeking behavior in an individualized manner."  Read the FAQs here.

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Justice in Aging Webinar on Addressing Dementia Care in HCBS Settings

Join Justice in Aging for a webinar on Wednesday, January 11th at 1:00pm ET entitled "Addressing Dementia Care in HCBS Settings." The webinar will present promising practices in HCBS delivery for settings supporting individuals living with dementia, with special focus on strategies for addressing wandering or exit-seeking behaviors. The webinar will include a discussion of how the federal and state governments are addressing the provision of supports to individuals living with dementia in the process of bringing states into compliance with the 2014 federal HCBS regulations. The material presented will be useful for advocates, service providers, and others with an interest in HCBS and dementia care. Register here.

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CMS Releases Person and Family Engagement Strategy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have released the CMS Person and Family Engagement (PFE) Strategy.  The CMS PFE Strategy is a guide for the implementation of person and family engagement principles and strategies throughout CMS programs.  It is meant to expand awareness and practice of person and family engagement by providing specific, actionable goals and objectives. The Strategy emphasizes including the patients voice in policy and program planning and effective communication and partnered decision-making with patients, families and caregivers.  Learn more here.

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Training from Social Security Administration for Those Who Serve Vulnerable Adults and Seniors

The Social Security Administration has released "Interdisciplinary Training for those who serve Vulnerable Adults and Seniors." The training is meant to provide further insight, broaden community awareness, educate members of the public, and provide key resources related to the growing incidence of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.  The training was initially developed so representative payees have key information to assist them, but it can also be useful for all those who work with or assist vulnerable populations.  Access the training here.

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Webinar for Long-Term Care Ombudsmen on Medicaid Managed Care

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is hosting a webinar on Medicaid managed care for State and local long-term care ombudsman on Wednesday, January 11 at 3:00pm ET.  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. Register here.

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ABA Commission on Law and Aging Receives Elder Justice Innovation Grant

The American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts, received an Elder Justice Innovation Grant from the Administration on Community Living.  The project will provide funding to state courts to establish, expand and enhance Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS).  It will also provide technical assistance to state WINGS, including help with strategic planning, outcome measurement and data collection.  For more information, click here.

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CMS Issues Memos on Fire Safety in Long-Term Care Facilities

CMS has issued two recent memos regarding fire safety.  The first memo clarifies the automatic sprinkler system installation requirement in attic spaces in long-term care facilities.  The final rule published in May adopted codes that require all existing and newly constructed health care facilities to be equipped with a supervised automatic sprinkler system.  The use of fire retardant treated wood is allowed to be in a facility in a concealed or attic space without the installation of an automatic sprinkler system, provided that it meets certain conditions.  Read the memo here.

The other memo states that CMS has adopted the 2012 Life Safety Code and the 2012 Health Care Facilities Code.  If the fire safety evaluation system (FSES) is being used to demonstrate compliance with the fire safety requirements, the version of the FSES found in the 2013 edition of the Guide on Alternative Approaches to Life Safety, National Fire Protection Association 101A must be used.  For more details, read the memo.

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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:

Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations - Find resources, webinars, fact sheets, implementation timeframes, and more on the Consumer Voice webpage

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In this Issue

New Fact Sheet on Importance of Revised Nursing Home Regulations for Nursing Home Residents

CMS Releases FAQs on Medicaid Beneficiaries in HCBS with Exit-Seeking Behavior

Justice in Aging Webinar on Addressing Dementia Care in HCBS Settings

CMS Releases Person and Family Engagement Strategy

Training from Social Security Administration for Those Who Serve Vulnerable Adults and Seniors

Webinar for Long-Term Care Ombudsmen on Medicaid Managed Care

ABA Commission on Law and Aging Receives Elder Justice Innovation Grant

CMS Issues Memos on Fire Safety in Long-Term Care Facilities


Spotlight on Educational Resources


Combined Federal Campaign

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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)

November 8-11, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA


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Older Americans Month 2017 theme is "Age Out Loud" What it means to age has changed; celebrate what getting older looks like today.


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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 © 2016.

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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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