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July 25, 2017

New Session Details Available for Consumer Voice Conference; Early Registration Ends July 31

You don't want to miss the plenaries and sessions at this year's Consumer Voice Conference.  Find session topics and a preliminary agenda here.
 
Look forward to sessions like:

  • Ombudsman Program Process Evaluation: Progress and Initial Data - Hear the initial findings from the comprehensive process evaluations of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Learn what has been accomplished, the next steps, and engage in a dialogue regarding Ombudsman program implementation and services.
  • Creating an Abuse Prevention Culture in Residential Long-Term Care: Vital Practices to Support and Enhance Legal Compliance - This comprehensive approach to abuse prevention in care facilities begins with fundamentals of legal compliance.  Next in focus are staffing and staff support, addressing hiring, orientation, training, and personnel issues.  Presenters discuss how staff awareness of residents’ life stories and learning to reject common ageist terms and assumptions contribute to an authentic culture of abuse prevention.  Case studies and group discussion will include tips for ombudsman work with resident and family councils and facility staff.
  • Other conference highlights include:
    • A special plenary on Capitol Hill - “30 Years After OBRA ’87: Where Are We in Achieving Quality Care in Nursing Homes?” and opportunity to set up visits to speak with your members of Congress
    • Sessions on: residents' perspectives on quality care and quality of life; the revised nursing home regulations, guidance, and new survey process;  development of quality elder care guidelines for in-home care; and much more!
    • Pre-conference intensives - "Nursing Home Satisfaction Measures: What is Their Relationship to Quality?" and "Ombudsman Volunteer Management"
Register before July 31st to get the best possible rate for the conference!

Remember to book your hotel room after registering.  Group discounts are still available. Email info@theconsumervoice.org to apply.

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CMS's Revised Interpretive Guidelines Now With Clickable Table of Contents

At nearly 700 pages, we know the new Interpretive Guidelines released by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a huge document!  That's why we've made it easier for you to navigate the different sections of the Interpretive Guidelines by adding a clickable Table of Contents on pg. 2.  
Here are instructions:

  1. Click here to download the Revised Interpetive Guidelines with the clickable Table of Contents.
  2. Scroll down to page 2 of the document.
  3. Move your mouse over the section you want to review (e.g. "Resident Rights," "Quality of Care," etc.).  You should see your pointer mouse turn into a hand with a finger.
  4. Click on the section you've selected.  The document should immediately jump to that section of the Interpretive Guidelines.

Please let us know if you have any questions or have trouble using the document.

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Oppose Pre-Dispute Arbitration in Nursing Homes: Sign on to a Letter to CMS, Send Comments

As you’ve heard, CMS has issued a proposed rule to roll back its ban on nursing home pre-dispute arbitration agreements and to allow nursing homes to require residents to sign them in order to be admitted.  This rule is unfair to residents and their families and would harm residents’ rights, safety, and quality of care.

CMS needs to hear from all of us that this proposed regulation is not acceptable!  Below are some very simple and fast actions you can take to tell CMS to withdraw the rule and restore the ban:

  1. Sign on to a comment letter that Consumer Voice, along with many other organizations, has prepared. To sign on, click here if you represent a group/organization/program.  Click here if you are an individual.  Please sign on by August 4.
  2. Send in your own comment letter.  We are providing sample comments for organizations to submit or use to create their own comments. These sample group comments can be easily adapted for use by individuals.
    • Click here to access a short version of a comment letter.
    • Click here to access a longer version.
    • Comments are due by 5:00 PM ET on August 7, 2017.
      The best way to submit comments is electronically.  Go to www.regulations.gov.  Within the search bar, enter the Regulation Identifier Number associated with this regulation - 0938–AT18 - and then click on the "Comment Now" box.
  1.   Do BOTH – sign on and send in comments.
Additional Information:
  • Read the proposed rule here.
  • To learn more about the proposed rule, click here.
  • To learn more about arbitration, visit our website

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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:

Piecing Together Quality Long-Term Care - PDF and Hard Copy - This consumer guide educates people with disabilities and older adults about their options for long-term services and supports and empowers consumers to be self-advocates for quality long-term care.

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In this Issue

New Session Details Available for Consumer Voice Conference; Early Registration Ends July 31

CMS's Revised Interpretive Guidelines Now With Clickable Table of Contents

Oppose Pre-Dispute Arbitration in Nursing Homes: Sign on to a Letter to CMS, Send Comments


Spotlight on Resources


Combined Federal Campaign

#10552

Thank you for your support!


2017 Resident's Voice Challenge

We've already received several wonderful entries for this year's challenge, but we are still looking for more!

All residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, board and care facilities, and individuals who receive care at home or in their community are encouraged to show off their creativity and express themselves by submitting essays, poems, artwork, drawings, or videos related to the theme for Residents' Rights Month 2017 "It’s All About Me: My Life, My Care, My Choices."

Learn more here.


Calendar of Events

Friday, July 28: Jackie Koenig Memorial Internship Program Fundraiser, 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Consumer Voice's DC Office, RSVP to info@theconsumervoice.org

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:

Wednesday, July 19:
Kaiser Family Foundation published a new report entitled "Nursing Facilities, Staffing, Residents and Facility Deficiencies."

Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:

Wednesday, July 19:

New @KaiserFamFound report shows nursing facility deficiencies declining; staffing still below recs from experts


Long-Term Care Resources & News



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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