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Volume 24 Issue 11 - February 17, 2017 #LAFL
EXPERT OPINION  VIDEO: 19 LeadingAge Florida Members & Partners Advocate for High-Quality Nursing Homes LeadingAge Florida members represented their nursing home communities with class and distinction at the Florida House of Representatives Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee meeting, Wednesday of this week.  A day spent strategizing and meeting with legislators ended with more than a dozen LeadingAge Florida members and non-members showing support, presenting testimony or providing written remarks for the record.  See below for this testimony: • LeadingAge Florida: Steve Bahmer, President & CEO • Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops: Michael McQuone, Associate Director of Health • Menorah Manor: Rob Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer • River Garden Hebrew Home: Martin Goetz, Executive Director • Solaris HealthCare: Leslie Williams, Senior Administrator • Solaris HealthCare: Jamie Weis-Jones, NHA, Administrator • St. Joseph’s John Knox Village Tampa: Lisa Lyons, Executive Director
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES House Panel Weighs in on Nursing Home Reimbursement Proposal By Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster The House Health Care Appropriation Subcommittee got the ball rolling on discussions about whether the state should change the way it pays nursing homes that accept Medicaid, with some members of the committee expressing concerns about parts of the plan.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT Another very busy week in Tallahassee – for us, and for our members. On Tuesday, your LeadingAge Florida Advocacy Team spent the day crisscrossing the Capitol Complex to meet with legislators about the Medicaid Prospective Payment System proposal. Those meetings were very productive and led to a similarly productive hearing on Wednesday before the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, which heard a presentation on the PPS plan. We were joined in Wednesday’s committee hearing by 19 members and/or coalition members, all of whom lined up to support our position in opposition to the Navigant PPS plan. Special thanks to those who joined us this week to advocate in Tallahassee: • Marty Goetz, River Garden • Don Wilson and Tyler Sununu, Westminster Oaks • Jim Polaski, Westminster Communities of Florida • Rob Goldstein and Judy Ludin, Menorah Manor • Karen Reich, Bon Secours Maria Manor • Kevin Ahmadi, Gulf Coast Village • Lisa Lyons, John Knox Village of Tampa Bay • Jules Kariher, Ascension Florida/St. Catherine Laboure Manor • John Capes, Moosehaven • Kathleen Urbanovic, CliftonLarsonAllen • Michael McQuone, Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops • Stan Weyer, Solaris Health Charlotte Harbor • David Cross, Solaris Health Bayonet Point • Tom Bell, Solaris Healthcare Plant City • Bob Pate, Solaris Healthcare • Ross Baird, Solaris Health Care Daytona Beach • Cliff Bauer, Miami Jewish Health Systems Also this week, LeadingAge Florida and our members participated in a conference call meeting of the Governor’s Continuing Care Advisory Council for a discussion of the Office of Insurance Regulation’s revised legislative proposal. LeadingAge Florida members, business partners, and other industry experts explained the many uncertainties and potential unintended consequences of the bill as it is currently drafted. LeadingAge Florida continues to oppose the bill in its current form, but we will continue working with the OIR and FLiCRA to identify targeted, thoughtful legislation that our members can support. Thanks so much for your ongoing support and engagement – we will be calling on you again for your help and expertise as the legislative session approaches.
ABOVE THE FOLD Rick Scott’s Budget Would Raid Affordable Housing Trust Funds By Michael Moline
REGULATORS! "Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives." -William A. Foster I have always liked this quote and I use it in every aspect of my life - especially my professional life. I believe quality counts.  I believe in having the best of intentions.  I believe in sincerity and I believe in effort. It is these beliefs I bring to the office with me, when I am looking for deficiencies.        I am committed to helping all LeadingAge Florida members have good and successful surveys!  Because of this commitment, I'd like to invite you to the Care Plans, QAPI, Quality Measures – Necessary Components For a Successful Survey Workshop on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at John Knox Village of Central Florida. The workshop will address common citations surrounding care plans, review new regulations for comprehensive person-centered care planning as well as review the requirements for the development of a facility assessment and quality assessment, performance improvement plan (QAPI). I hope to see you there! Reach out to LeadingAge Florida's Clinical & Compliance Specialist, Connie Cheren, RN, MSW at (678) 778-0561 or via ccheren@LeadingAgeFlorida.org. Connie is available to all members as a value-added service, paid for by LeadingAge Florida, to help answer questions before, during and after surveys! She can help nursing home and assisted living facility members improve regulatory compliance and clinical outcomes and offer suggestions about survey results and corrective plans of action.
COMING ATTRACTIONS February 22 - Maintenance & Environmental Services Workshop: This highly interactive workshop provides the most up-to-date information the maintenance profession has to offer. At this workshop, you will hear the latest information from experts, view the newest products and services from exhibitors/sponsors and network with other maintenance directors and enivronmental services staff. 22 - Final Rule: Integrating Phase 2 New Requirements of Participation (Part 2) Webinar: Self-assessment for analysis of policies and procedures, current facility practices and leadership’s role in accountability for implementation of the new requirements will be emphasized. For each requirement discussed, assessment recommendations, intervention strategies and education topics will be examined. March 7 - 9 - Legislative Days - Advocacy In Action: LeadingAge Florida’s Legislative Days give you the opportunity to meet your state legislators and advocate for the issues that matter the most to you and your residents! Numerous mission critical issues will be in play during the 2017 Legislative Session, including the systematic overhaul of Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes, the effort to preserve and ensure proper usage of the Sadowski funds, and a major reform of CCRC regulation – Chapter 651. 15 - Skilled Nursing Facilities QAPI Fundamentals Webinar: This webinar will focus on the fundamentals of QAPI and incorporating the 5 QAPI elements into existing continuous quality improvement (CQI) facility quality programs. 29 - Care Plans, QAPI, Quality Measures – Necessary Components For a Successful Survey Workshop with Connie Cheren: The workshop will address common citations surrounding care plans, review new regulations for comprehensive person-centered care planning as well as review the requirements for the development of a facility assessment and quality assessment, performance improvement plan (QAPI). 30 - Health Inspections: Analyzing 5-Star Date and Applying QAPI Principles Webinar: This webinar will focus on the Health Inspections component of Nursing Home Compare’s 5-Star Rating System. You will learn how the health inspection rating is calculated and how it impacts your overall 5-Star rating. Tips on how to analyze your data and develop plans to achieve 5-Star status will be discussed, along with application of the elements of QAPI to improve facility 5-Star Ratings and improve regulatory compliance.		April 5 - SeniorFit Wellness Workshop - Promoting Active Aging Programs for Your Residents: This workshop will help  residents stay active and healthy by promoting strength, balance, and flexibility programs. An outline of exercise techniques that can help reduce the risk of falls, a decline in function, reduce arthritic pain, improve cognitive function and promote mobility will be discussed. 19 - Healthcare Marketing: Strategies for Boosting Your Census Webinar: Learn how to bypass the typical gatekeepers of the healthcare world by targeting key referral sources directly. This session focuses on reaching adult children and referral sources utilizing digital tools and techniques such as carefully designed websites, search engine optimization, pay-for-click advertising, LinkedIn advertising, Facebook cloning, and remarketing. 26 - Staffing: Analyzing 5-Star Data and Applying QAPI Principles Webinar: You will learn how the staffing rating is calculated and how it impacts your overall 5-Star rating. Tips on how to analyze your data and develop plans to achieve 5-Star status will be discussed, along with application of the elements of QAPI to improve facility 5-Star Ratings and improve staff retention. May 8 & 9 - Infection Prevention and Control Workshop: Our expert will explain the regulations surrounding an Infection Prevention and Control Program within a long-term care community. This workshop is specifically designed to educate those having control and oversight of the Infection Prevention and Control Program. 17 - The Evolving Post-Acute Care Market: Strategies for Staying Competitive Webinar: This webinar provides an overview of the evolving landscape and offers three strategies (and an emerging fourth) to confront it head-on, protect market share and emerge among the winners. 31 - Pain: Analyzing 5-Star Quality Measures and Applying QAPI Principles Webinar: This session reviews how the measures are calculated and how they impact your overall Five-Star Quality Rating. The session will focus on best practices for pain management to improve your pain quality measures using a QAPI framework. June 21 - Pressure Ulcers: Analyzing 5-Star Quality Measures and Applying QAPI Principles Webinar: This webinar will review the pressure ulcer quality measures that impact the Quality Measure component of the Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Quality Rating system.
ADVOCACY UPDATE Legislative Committee Meeting Week in Review: Medicaid Prospective Payment System for Nursing Homes, CON, Telehealth & ARNPs Scope of Practice, and Budget Reviews
VALUE FIRST Saludos de Bobby Bernal… Hello From The Road With Value First! It all starts with the “cost study.” A cost study is a detailed apples to apples process. At Value First, we won’t try to gain your business with numbers that we can’t back up. Value First will sit across from the table with you and dive into exactly where you want to save money in four purchasing categories – Medical, Food, Office Supplies, Environmental (Jan/San) Value First will work hand-in-hand with your purchasing team to analyze your current expenses and give you line item comparisons on exactly how much you can save. For information about how Value First can help you and your community, please give me a call at (850) 671-3700. See you on the Road!
THE LEADINGLINK LIMELIGHT Free legal assistance for seniors continues at Pablo Towers
QUICK HITS— IN THE NEWS…    31st Skilled Nursing Facility Cost Comparison - Stronger Data for Benchmarking By Cory Tutledge, CliftonLarsonAllen
Ziegler Education, Research and Thought Leadership in 2017
Greystone will Lead Strategic Planning Zone at Peak Summit
Early Bird Rate Ends Today! Register Now!  2017 Legislative Days - Advocacy In Action March 7-9, 2017 Numerous mission critical issues will be in play during the 2017 Legislative Session.
VIDEO: Tampa Bay's Morning Blend: St. Joseph's John Knox Village Tampa Bay
Tele-health Bill Passes House Subcommittee By Catherine Buckler
Call to Action from Menorah Manor CEO Robert Goldstein: Stop the shift of $109 million from high quality nursing homes to lower quality nursing homes.
Register Today!  Final Rule: Integrating Phase 2 New Requirements of Participation (Part 2) Webinar Wednesday, February 22, 2017 Webinar will begin at 3:00 PM ET
Why Do We Teach CPR, But Not Caregiving?
Flying Memories: Group of Gulf Coast Village veterans reminisce at Page Field By Frank Bumb
Why I miss old people in the Workplace By Tom Goodwin
BUSINESS CONNECTION PROJECT LeadingAge Florida Business Members - Spotlight On: Management Consultants LeadingAge Florida strives to provide the highest quality of service to each of our members with the goal of increasing value for all involved.  Each week we feature business members by speciality to remind providers about the businesses available for them.  Now or in the future, we hope you will consider them for a project. • Cadbury Consulting • DSI Management, LLC • Eventus Strategic Partners • Greenbrier Development, LLC • Senior Providers Resource, LLC
BY THE NUMBERS 44 Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents
FILING CABINET QAPI & RoP Education Events: LeadingAge Florida's Weekly Educational & Professional Development Correspondence. "A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." -Thomas Carlyle Legislative Days: Early Bird rate expires Friday, February 17! At LeadingAge Florida’s Legislative Days, you have the opportunity to advocate for the issues that matter to you! Call for Exhibitors - 54th Annual Convention: Join us at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate! The exposition dates are July 17 & 18. The convention theme is Power of Purpose. Advertisement Opportunity - 2017 Membership Directory: LeadingAge Florida is pleased to announce that E&M Consulting will be the official publisher of our 2017 Membership Directory. E&M Consulting provides advertising services that build your company’s image and link your brand with buyers in the Florida aging services industry.
Copyright 2017 — Publication of LeadingAge Florida Chairman: Josh Ashby President/CEO: Steve Bahmer Managing Editor: Greg Ungru Copyright Information: Copies of the articles and other information in this publication may be noncommercially reproduced for the purpose of educational or scientific advancement. Otherwise, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying, microfilm and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the editor. The information provided via this newsletter is is provided “as is” without representations or warranties, express or implied. LeadingAge Florida makes no representations or warranties in relation to the legal information on this website.