AAHSA This Week | June 30, 2008
	Congress Fails to Extend Therapy Caps Exceptions Process While the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 6331, a bill that would extend the Medicare therapy caps exceptions process for 18 months, the Senate failed to get enough votes to avoid a filibuster, so the caps will go into effect July 1. The Senate will take up Medicare once again when it returns July 7. This week is the time to contact your senators and urge them to support Medicare legislation that includes extending the therapy cap exceptions process. Contact: Marsha Greenfield, (202) 508-9488.
	AAHSA Tells CMS to Reconsider Recalibration of Medicare SNF Rates   Our comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) emphasized that the proposed changes in the Medicare payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) exacerbate essential inaccuracies in the prospective payment system and will reduce needed revenues for quality patient care at a time when costs are rising rapidly. Contact: Barbara Manard, (202) 508-9447. More Money for Community Services in 2009 Spending Bill   In drafting the fiscal 2009 spending bill covering the Administration on Aging, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor/Health and Human Services/Education provided $1.478 billion, a $64 million increase from 2008 spending. We are very encouraged by this additional funding in the draft bill and will work to preserve the increases as the appropriations process continues. Contact: Morgan Gable, (202) 508-9427. Advocacy Succeeds on Medicaid Regulations   Thanks to your advocacy, Congress passed legislation to put a hold on Medicaid regulations that would cut federal funding for the program by almost $18 billion and prevent beneficiaries from getting the coordination of services they need for well-integrated care. Congratulations to all of you who participated. Contact: Peter Notarstefano, (202) 508-9406.   Last Day to Listen to CMS Forum on Nursing Home Rating System   So many of you called in to the CMS Open Door forum on the proposed five-star nursing home rating system that the phone lines couldn't handle the volume. If you were unable to listen, an audio replay (Encore) is available through the end of today. Hear it by dialing (800) 642-1687 and entering conference ID 50249977. Be sure to send your comments on the proposed system to CMS and to us. Contact: Evvie Munley, (202) 508-9478. advertisement   AAHSA CONFERENCES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES   2008 Election Season Compliance: What You Need to Know July 24, 2008 2 to 3 p.m. EDT Audio Conference AAHSA Annual Meeting and Exposition October 12-15, 2008 Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia, Pa. IAHSA 8th International Conference July 20-22, 2009 London, England     OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES   The Fifth Annual Healthcare Unbound July 7-8, 2008 San Francisco, Calif. Workforce Innovations Conference July 15-17, 2008 New Orleans, La. The Aging Revolution II September 25, 2008 Philadelphia, Pa.   Board performance is critical to organizational health, but establishing criteria can be difficult.   It may be time to re-evaluate your plan. There is a new Quality First Guideline available to help your organization improve its board recruitment plan. Contact: Maggie Flowers, (202) 508-9421. Apply for Circle of Life Award by Aug. 8   The Circle of Life Award honors innovation in end-of-life and palliative care, and AAHSA is encouraging our members to apply. Enter by Aug. 8 to be considered for next year's honors. Click here for details. Contact: Kathy Poole, (312) 422-2704.   Help IFAS Understand Your Workforce Needs and Challenges     AAHSA's Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS) is cosponsoring a survey to understand the workforce challenges that providers face and the role foreign-born workers play in their organizations. Please take this short survey about your workforce needs. All responses will remain confidential. Contact: Micah Bump, (202) 687-2258. Elderhostel Helps Your Residents Be a Part of History   Elderhostel, a new AAHSA member, has developed a program designed exclusively for AAHSA members. The new program, "Live from Mount Rushmore: The Wisdom of Our Fathers," is a seminar series that gives the people you serve the chance to explore the names and faces sculpted into Mt. Rushmore and consider how our country's founding fathers would respond to today's issues. Save your residents and clients a front row seat. Sign up today. Contact: Paul Duffy, (617) 457-5406.   AAHSA Homecoming Week Photo Album Now Online   Nearly 300 AAHSA members took part in our inaugural Homecoming Week, May 26-30. These members hosted "senior" proms, wellness fairs, open houses and Memorial Day celebrations to shine a spotlight on their community's treasures: the people they serve. Click here to visit our Homecoming Week photo album. Contact: Keesha Atkins, (202) 508-9440. AAHSA is Blogging   Have you been by our Future of Aging blog recently? We've been reporting on a variety of topics and issue. We'd love to read your comments about our posts. Contact: Craig Collins-Young, (202) 508-9485.   Stretch Your Dollars in this Tight Economy   Use the AAHSA and MedAssets Group Purchasing Program to secure your ability to save on over thousands of products and services. Send us your spending report, and we'll review it for free and tell you how our prices compare to your current pricing. Contact: Chet Chandler, (678) 248-8144. advertisement       New Opportunities Available on AAHSA’s Job Mart   Several career opportunities in aging services are now available and listed on Job Mart. Take a look. Pass along the news. If you have a job to post, consider using AAHSA Job Mart. Contact: Phillip Blackmon, (202) 508-9404. Use the downloadable form to post a job. Jobs posted in the past week (June 20 - 26): Administrator Administrator/Director-Skilled Nursing Facility - Skokie, Ill. Vice President of Health Services - Bridgewater, Va. CEO/President/Executive Director Executive Director/NHA Administrator-Dover, Del. President/CEO - Fort Dodge, Iowa Executive Director - North Branford, Conn. Executive Director, Glenwood Retirement Community - Marietta, Ohio Vice President of Operations (COO) - Southfield, Mich. Chief Executive Director - West Liberty, Ohio Executive Director - Omaha, Neb. Executive Director - Cedar Rapids, Iowa Marketing/Sales/Business Office Director of Nursing - Jacksonville, Fla. Director of Nursing - Tulsa, Okla. Assistant Director of Nursing - Newville, Pa. Directors of Nursing - Texas Project Guide - Arlington, Va. Other National Director of Hospitality - Memphis, Tenn. Director of Environmental Services - Newville, Pa. Director of Government Affairs - Topeka, Kan. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist - Seaford, Del. Review the jobs online Administrator CEO/President/Executive Director Finance Marketing/Sales/Business Office Nursing/HealthCare Other Wanted
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