New Jersey stopped issuing Adult Day Services licenses in 2008 after the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services found evidence of numerous providers scamming Medicaid. On April 16, the state of New Jersey issued a decision stating that the moratorium will be in place until at least Nov. 1.
Peter Notarstefano, LeadingAge's director of Home and Community-Based Services, said that it is important that the state of New Jersey prosecuted Medicaid fraud, much of which came from for-profit adult day providers. "Unethical practices hurt our elders, persons with disabilities, and caregivers, as well as the innovative adult day providers that are abiding by the law," Notarstefano said.
Roberto Muniz, president and CEO of the Francis E. Parker Memorial Home, a LeadingAge member in New Jersey, said that while the moratorium wasn't a surprise, the demand in New Jersey for home and community-based long-term care services is growing and adult day care is a cost-effective option."We are grateful that the state identified the unethical sources of fraud in adult day health services and put corrective actions in place," Muniz writes. "Now, it’s time for state officials to lift the moratorium on new adult day centers, so that more high quality adult day programs can become available."
Showing posts with label Housing and Supportive Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Housing and Supportive Services. Show all posts
6/21/12
Oxygen Concentrators: Class I Recall - Risk of Fire, Loss of Supplemental Oxygen
Nidek Medical Products Mark 5 Nuvo, Nuvo 8, and Nuvo Lite Oxygen Concentrators: Class I Recall - Risk of Fire, Loss of Supplemental Oxygen
Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products Nidek Medical Products Mark 5 Nuvo, Nuvo 8, and Nuvo Lite Oxygen Concentrators: Class I Recall - Risk of Fire, Loss of Supplemental Oxygen
Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products Nidek Medical Products Mark 5 Nuvo, Nuvo 8, and Nuvo Lite Oxygen Concentrators: Class I Recall - Risk of Fire, Loss of Supplemental Oxygen
11/1/11
DSHS & Governor Proposed Budget Reduction Options (updated 10-27-11)
Last week, Governor Gregoire outlined her 2012 Supplemental Budget proposal. In the analysis attached, we have compared the state agencies' proposals (released earlier) with the Governor's recommendations. http://agingwa.org/wp-content/uploads/DSHS-and-Governor-Budget_-Supplemental-2012-_as-of-10.27.111.pdf
Our analysis includes Medicaid coverage of services provided by boarding homes, adult family homes, adult day programs and psychiatric hospitals, health care insurance proposals for state-paid in-home caregivers (Individual Providers ~ IPs) as well as suggested cuts to specific rate add-ons for nursing homes and boarding homes.
Please contact pmontgomery@agingwa.org with specific questions or for additional assistance.
Our analysis includes Medicaid coverage of services provided by boarding homes, adult family homes, adult day programs and psychiatric hospitals, health care insurance proposals for state-paid in-home caregivers (Individual Providers ~ IPs) as well as suggested cuts to specific rate add-ons for nursing homes and boarding homes.
Please contact pmontgomery@agingwa.org with specific questions or for additional assistance.
Low Income Housing Projects Selected
The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded more than $48 million from the state’s Housing Trust Fund for 47 affordable housing projects across the state. Approximately 1,647 housing units will be built or rehabilitated. The projects will directly support an estimated 1,800- 2,000 jobs, with about 500 local jobs supported annually once the projects are completed.
For a list of those projects selected, including many which are designated 'senior' (Rockwood's Appleway Court II is one) click here: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/DesktopModules/CTEDPublications/CTEDPublicationsView.aspx?tabID=0&ItemID=10073&MId=870&wversion=Staging
For a list of those projects selected, including many which are designated 'senior' (Rockwood's Appleway Court II is one) click here: http://www.commerce.wa.gov/DesktopModules/CTEDPublications/CTEDPublicationsView.aspx?tabID=0&ItemID=10073&MId=870&wversion=Staging
Fair Housing Training - Complimentary
HUD is offering the following free fair housing training opportunities, including several via webinar:
http://www.hud.gov/local/shared/working/r10/fh/training.cfm?state=wa
http://www.hud.gov/local/shared/working/r10/fh/training.cfm?state=wa
10/19/11
Aging Services Meets with Washington's Congressional Delegation
Members and CEO Deb Murphy met with the entirety of our state's congressional delegation Monday and Tuesday of this week, expressing the urgency of their commitment NOT to pass additional Medicare or Medicaid cuts on to nursing homes, discussing the change required that would allow hospital observation stays to trigger a senior's Medicare benefits once subsequently admitted to a nursing facility for therapeutic and rehabilitation purposes and the impact to Washington state's low income seniors of providing little or no funding for the construction of new HUD 202 Senior Housing Units in FY12.
We will post a wrap-up of our visits shortly and ask for your advocacy where critical.
Special thank you to our members for spending a portion of their time during the LeadingAge Conference devoted to carrying our collective message: Anne Arakaki-Lock; Kevin McFeely; Bob Howell; Glen Melin; Nikole Jay; Paul Opgrande; Lynette Ladenburg; Laura Hofman; Dennis Malgesini and Cal Groenenberg.
We will post a wrap-up of our visits shortly and ask for your advocacy where critical.
Special thank you to our members for spending a portion of their time during the LeadingAge Conference devoted to carrying our collective message: Anne Arakaki-Lock; Kevin McFeely; Bob Howell; Glen Melin; Nikole Jay; Paul Opgrande; Lynette Ladenburg; Laura Hofman; Dennis Malgesini and Cal Groenenberg.
CLASS Act Support Waning?
Last Friday, October 14, the CLASS Act was reported to be withdrawn from further consideration by the President and Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The announcement, coming at the start of the LeadingAge 50th Annual Conference, could not have been more poorly timed given the high priority the Association has placed on this legislation.
Since then, LeadingAge has been in conversation with the Administration and CMS in an effort to better understand the rationale behind the decision and reports that there are apparently midunderstandings about the actual decision itself, the announcement content and intent as well as what, if any, next steps are needed to ensure at least some of the elements within the CLASS Act are retained in congressional action related to the federal budget.
During Aging Services meetings with our congressional delegation this week in Washington, D.C., we have continued to message the importance of the premise of the CLASS Act and its important role as a partner with the federal goverment in funding long term and community based care and services. We have been met with conflicting understandings of the status of the CLASS Act from our delegation itself but found broad support for the goals of the program.
Stay tuned for additional details as we have them.
Since then, LeadingAge has been in conversation with the Administration and CMS in an effort to better understand the rationale behind the decision and reports that there are apparently midunderstandings about the actual decision itself, the announcement content and intent as well as what, if any, next steps are needed to ensure at least some of the elements within the CLASS Act are retained in congressional action related to the federal budget.
During Aging Services meetings with our congressional delegation this week in Washington, D.C., we have continued to message the importance of the premise of the CLASS Act and its important role as a partner with the federal goverment in funding long term and community based care and services. We have been met with conflicting understandings of the status of the CLASS Act from our delegation itself but found broad support for the goals of the program.
Stay tuned for additional details as we have them.
10/13/11
Our Message To Congress: Retain The CLASS Act
The CLASS Act: A Financing Solution
Implementation of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program is one important component of a relevant, healthy long term care and supportive services system for seniors.
Implementation of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program is one important component of a relevant, healthy long term care and supportive services system for seniors.
- CLASS’ actuarial studies demonstrate it to be a sustainable and fiscally responsible way of paying for long-term care services and supports;
- CLASS is the best alternative to Medicaid financing of long-term services and supports, and allows workers to voluntarily self-insure against future risk;
- CLASS puts money into families’ pockets to pay for services when needed and in the place they call home.
Our Message to Congress: Senior Housing & Supportive Services
Access to affordable housing and supportive services for modest and low income seniors must be considered an important component of an integrated approach to a cost effective and functional health and long term care system.
Investing in HUD 202 senior housing development is a financially sustainable approach to healthy aging and health care funding policies. Congress must invest in a long term strategic plan of building new units of HUD Section 202 senior housing units.Similarly, Congress must invest in long term strategies to appropriately fund their full portfolio of senior rental assistance programs, vouchers and contracts.
Investing in HUD 202 senior housing development is a financially sustainable approach to healthy aging and health care funding policies. Congress must invest in a long term strategic plan of building new units of HUD Section 202 senior housing units.Similarly, Congress must invest in long term strategies to appropriately fund their full portfolio of senior rental assistance programs, vouchers and contracts.
10/6/11
Postponement of NLRB notice requirement!
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has postponed the implementation date for its new notice-posting rule by more than two months. The new effective date of the rule is Jan. 31, 2012, NOT Nov. 14, 2011.
http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Unions/Unions/NLRB-Poster-Requirement-Postponed/
http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Unions/Unions/NLRB-Poster-Requirement-Postponed/
10/4/11
HUD Issues Notice H 2011-25 re: EIV
Notice H 2011-25 (dated Sept. 20, 2011) clarifies obligations for provision of the 'EIV & You' brochure to current residents and applicants selected from the waiting list – along with updated info on availability of resources (in English and translation) for provision of the brochure as follows:
9/29/11
Measuring State-Level Performance of Senior Services and Supports Delivery
A recent forum, entitled "Delivering Long-Term Services and Supports: How Can States Do Better”, saw the announcement of a new 'tool' to analyze states' successes and challenges in delivering Long Term Care, Services and Supports. The 'scorecoard' is attached here: http://www.longtermscorecard.org/DataByState/State.aspx?state=WA
Washington ranks second overall among all 50 states, with particularly good scores in the areas of family caregiver support and client/resident choice of setting and provider.
Washington ranks second overall among all 50 states, with particularly good scores in the areas of family caregiver support and client/resident choice of setting and provider.
9/24/11
HUD's EIV updated instructions announced/posted
Notice H 2011-21 was posted 8/17/11 and expires 8/31/12. It replaces previous notices H 2009-20 and H 2010-10. You are urged to download this document to ensure you are utilizing the latest EIV instructions and required procedures: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=11-21hsgn.pdf
Housing Seniors in Rural America - Seattle Hosting National Conference
Join the Housing Assistance Council in Seattle, Wa on November 9-10, 2011 for Housing Seniors in Rural America: Aging in Place in a Shifting Landscape. Sponsored by the Atlantic Philanthropies, the symposium will be a candid and informative discussion on the trends and issues around housing an aging population in rural America.
The symposium will feature discussions on aging in place, resources for repairing, developing and preserving rental and homeownership units, and examples of successful practices in the field of affordable senior rural housing. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to learn and share information on ways to meet the growing needs of the elderly.
For complete information and registration materials, click here:
http://www.ruralhome.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=432:hac-conferenceseniorhousing&catid=19:events&Itemid=41
The symposium will feature discussions on aging in place, resources for repairing, developing and preserving rental and homeownership units, and examples of successful practices in the field of affordable senior rural housing. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to learn and share information on ways to meet the growing needs of the elderly.
For complete information and registration materials, click here:
http://www.ruralhome.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=432:hac-conferenceseniorhousing&catid=19:events&Itemid=41
Washington to See Delay of MORs for HUD Properties
Effective September 12, 2011, HUD Management Occupancy Reviews will be suspended in the state of Washington for 6 months.
To read the accompanying LeadingAge article, click here:
http://www.leadingage.org/HUD_Management_Occupancy_Reviews_Suspended.aspx
To read the accompanying LeadingAge article, click here:
http://www.leadingage.org/HUD_Management_Occupancy_Reviews_Suspended.aspx
Important: Carbon Monoxide Detector Rulemaking Update
Aging Services of Washington has been actively involved in securing, in a draft carbon monoxide alarm rule currently under consideration, an exemption for licensed boarding homes (assisted living) in both new and existing construction, effective JANUARY 1, 2013 FOR EXISTING DWELLINGS and retroactive to JANUARY 1, 2011 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. See below for rule language and critical details of the proposal, including its impact on non-licensed retirement apartments.
The State Building Code Council will hold its second of two public hearings on recent rulemaking related to carbon monoxide alarms on October 14 at 10 am in Shoreline, Wa. Contact jmartin@agingwa.org for information.
The State Building Code Council will hold its second of two public hearings on recent rulemaking related to carbon monoxide alarms on October 14 at 10 am in Shoreline, Wa. Contact jmartin@agingwa.org for information.
Seniors At Risk with State Agencies' Budget Cut Proposals to Governor
Governor Gregoire has asked state agencies to create proposals for cutting State spending by up to 10% over the 2011-13 biennium. If all submitted reduction proposals were to be implemented, expenditures would be reduced by an approximate $1.7B.
Aging Services has been meeting with key budget writers and leadership of the House and Senate, telling our collective stories and emphasizing the very real financial and social impacts to communities and individuals throughout the state, and in particular, the districts they themselves represent. We will of course be continuing that advocacy, with your help, with elected officials into the 2nd Special Session and beyond.
Aging Services has been meeting with key budget writers and leadership of the House and Senate, telling our collective stories and emphasizing the very real financial and social impacts to communities and individuals throughout the state, and in particular, the districts they themselves represent. We will of course be continuing that advocacy, with your help, with elected officials into the 2nd Special Session and beyond.
Elimination of Adult Prescription Drug Benefit Proposed As Budget Cut
The state's Medicaid agency has recently submitted proposed 5% and 10% budget cuts to the Governor's Office at her request, which include termination of such programs as the Basic Health plan, non-emergency Adult Dental services, Disability Lifeline and Interpreter Services.
As the majority of required services provided under Medicaid is mandated by federal law, the Health Care Authority is unable to implement a true across-the-board cut. Rather, it is a combination of state-only-funded programs and optional federal Medicaid programs. The 10% target totals $446 million; 5% totals $223 million.
Even more damaging, however, these numbers still leave the agency short of the 10 percent target by an estimated $127 million; proposed is a complete suspension of the Medicaid adult prescription drug benefit for a period of up to 18 months to cover that shortfall.
The pharmacy cut would impact about 500,000 adults – mostly seniors and people with disabilities – out of Medicaid’s 1.2 million clients.
UPDATE 10/6/2011: The Health Care Authority has indicated that pharmacy services will remain a Medicaid covered item for recipients served by ADSA. It is critical, however, that this intention is followed up with implementory statutory language. We will be monitoring this situation closely.
Several of the cuts would also adversely impact funding for small rural hospitals around the state. Proposals include a revision of the payment methodology for Critical Access hospitals and a parallel reduction to the Certified Public Expenditure program for hospitals.
Contact pmontgomery@agingwa.org for compete details.
As the majority of required services provided under Medicaid is mandated by federal law, the Health Care Authority is unable to implement a true across-the-board cut. Rather, it is a combination of state-only-funded programs and optional federal Medicaid programs. The 10% target totals $446 million; 5% totals $223 million.
Even more damaging, however, these numbers still leave the agency short of the 10 percent target by an estimated $127 million; proposed is a complete suspension of the Medicaid adult prescription drug benefit for a period of up to 18 months to cover that shortfall.
The pharmacy cut would impact about 500,000 adults – mostly seniors and people with disabilities – out of Medicaid’s 1.2 million clients.
UPDATE 10/6/2011: The Health Care Authority has indicated that pharmacy services will remain a Medicaid covered item for recipients served by ADSA. It is critical, however, that this intention is followed up with implementory statutory language. We will be monitoring this situation closely.
Contact pmontgomery@agingwa.org for compete details.
Marrying Medicare and Medicaid Funding For Innovations in Service Delivery
Aging Services of Washington is engaged with DSHS in the development of proposals to implement necessary reforms that would serve to reduce fragmentation, simplify access, improve outcomes and reduce costs for Washington's 135,000 Medicare/Medicaid dual eligible citizens.
We are urging the state to pursue innovative models of service delivery successfully demonstrated in other states; Vermont's SASH program is just one example, allowing Medicare and Medicaid funded services to be provided to seniors in their HUD subsidized low income housing apartments.
Washington is one of 15 states that received a planning grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to design model(s) of care that will improve the quality, coordination and cost effectiveness of care for individuals who are dual-eligibles. The design plan is due to CMS in April 2012. CMS will review the submitted design plan to determine whether or not implementation funding will be awarded. The state will be notified of CMS’s award intent in late summer of 2012.
We are urging the state to pursue innovative models of service delivery successfully demonstrated in other states; Vermont's SASH program is just one example, allowing Medicare and Medicaid funded services to be provided to seniors in their HUD subsidized low income housing apartments.
Washington is one of 15 states that received a planning grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to design model(s) of care that will improve the quality, coordination and cost effectiveness of care for individuals who are dual-eligibles. The design plan is due to CMS in April 2012. CMS will review the submitted design plan to determine whether or not implementation funding will be awarded. The state will be notified of CMS’s award intent in late summer of 2012.
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