ID/DD Digest: March 2015

Thursday, March 26, 2015

AHCA’s ID/DD Members Storm the Hill During 2015 Fly-In Event

On March 24, AHCA’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Residential Services Providers were in Washington DC for AHCA’s annual Hill Fly-In event. Participants heard from a number of Congressional speakers, including current and former Hill staffers and members of Congress. The morning started off with a Hill update from Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ12 and pictured left), and was followed by a Congressional Hill panel. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Senator Blanche Lincoln (pictured right), who is the Founder and Principal of the Lincoln Policy Group. During her 16-year career in the U.S. Congress — first as a two-term member of the House of Representatives and then as a two-term member of the U.S. Senate — Lincoln built a reputation as a results-oriented, bipartisan legislator.

After the morning event was over, the ID/DD providers went to Capitol Hill to discuss critical issues, including Medicaid, Medicaid Provider Assessments and Medicaid Managed Care. The 2015 ID/DD Hill Fly-In issue briefs can be found here. If you have any questions relating to this event, please don’t hesitate to contact AHCA’s Senior Director of Not for Profit & Constituent Services, Dana Halvorson.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.” In his proclamation, President Reagan “invited all individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with the problem of developmental disabilities to observe this month with appropriate observances and activities directed toward increasing public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans with developmental disabilities.” He urged all Americans to join him “in according to our fellow citizens with such disabilities both encouragement and the opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Help raise awareness about this important month and issues impacting people with ID/DD through social media, in your community, and with your legislators.

2015 AHCA/NCAL Awards Program

Through the Volunteer of the Year, ID/DD Hero of the Year, and Not for Profit (NFP) Program of the Year awards programs, AHCA/NCAL honor those individuals who are dedicated to improving the quality of lives of residents and their surrounding communities.

The nomination packets for AHCA/NCAL’s 2015 Awards Program follow:

The deadline for AHCA receipt of all nominations is Thursday, May 21, 2015. Just as a reminder, whereas the Volunteers of the Year nomination form MUST be submitted by a state affiliate organization, the ID/DD Hero of the Year and the NFP Program of the Year nomination forms can be member-submitted directly to AHCA electronically. All nominations must be typed and submitted electronically this year. Faxed or handwritten nominations are not accepted. Honorees in each category will be recognized at AHCA/NCAL’s 66th Annual Convention and Expo, October 4 to 7, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas. Let the Process begin!

Have a Fiesta this Nursing Home Week 2015

“Bring on the Fiesta,” May 10 to 16, 2015, is the theme of National Nursing Home Week (NNHW). Make it a week of entertainment and education for all ID/DD professionals. The week’s focus is on “Familia, Vida, and Amor” (family, life, love). The Planning Guide and Product brochure was mailed and is also posted here.

Show how your care center, home or other setting, as part of its culture, brings these attributes to the forefront, irrespective of anyone’s age or physical and intellectual ability. Try to weave into your Fiesta a celebration of cultures, and how people of various backgrounds have a Fiesta. Seize the opportunity to attract new guests, infrequent visitors, and local VIPs to be part of the fun and share in the comradery of familia, vida and amor.

So, “BRING ON THE FIESTA!” for all to enjoy. Tell everyone to step out of their personal fast lane and have some old fashioned FUN with the folks.

AHCA’s State of the States Clearinghouse

AHCA members now have access to key Medicaid and Medicare information through the new State of the States Clearinghouse. The AHCA State of the States Clearinghouse is a one stop shop for key Medicaid and Medicare information impacting the long term care profession.

This new resource provides valuable data, including:

Overview of the demographic landscape;
State-specific nursing center occupancy and ownership breakouts;
Certificate of Need requirements for nursing centers and state licensure requirements;
State data on the cost of care for long term services and supports;
State data on the total number of Medicare enrollees;
Data on state Medicare Advantage plan enrollees and comparisons to the national average;
State and national Medicaid expenditure data;
State Medicaid rates, costs and shortfalls;
And other significant state-specific data related to payment structure, managed long term services and home and community based services coverage.

AHCA will continue to provide the most up-to-date information through the Clearinghouse and share new data/resources as they become available. Also be sure to visit the AHCA Medicaid Page to learn more about the program and to access additional AHCA members-only Medicaid resources.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Grassroots Advocacy

Renee Naylor, AHCA's ID/DD Committee Chair, encourages AHCA's ID/DD providers to participate in our grassroots advocacy efforts in 2015. AHCA would like to help you get facility tours and in-district meetings set up over future recess days. Please provide your name, facility address, and email address and we will craft the invite and send it to you to send to the Congressional office. The four brief steps for a successful facility tour visit can be found here. Please feel free to contact Matthew Smyth and Dana Halvorson who can help you with all of the logistics.

U.S. Congressional Calendars

As you are planning your visits with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C., or in your district, the Congressional calendars will be of assistance to you. The U.S. House of Representatives calendar for the 114th Congress, first session, can be found here. The U.S. Senate schedule for the new Congress can be found here. The dates in black reference the times the U.S. Senate is in session. The red dates represent when the U.S. Senate is in recess.

Social Media Strategies

Communicators and advocates from across the sector host a webinar every 3^rd Thursday of each month at 3pm Eastern to coordinate social media strategy and share ideas. During the webinar this month, we will be reviewing AHCA’s Hill issue briefs and talking points and how we can use them in social media. From beginners to seasoned social media gurus, we welcome anyone willing to learn more about these important platforms of information sharing. They’re becoming crucial in our campaigns on and off Capitol Hill. Be sure to also visit our Facebook page. Email AHCA’s Drew Thies to become involved today!

AHCA/NCAL Advocacy App

If you haven’t already heard about it, then we wanted to alert you to a great app that allows you to keep abreast of AHCA advocacy efforts. Among other things, it provides important talking points, issue briefs and features that allow you to take action. It will be useful not only to you, but serves as a great way for providers to weigh in. You can get the app by clicking on the appropriate black box below.

Download our advocacy app!

2014-2015 Flu Season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) webpage on the 2014-2015 influenza season has several materials and resources you might find helpful, including (among others):

VOR Corner

VOR, a national nonprofit organization advocating for high quality care and human rights for people with I/DD, will host its Annual Conference on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. VOR’s Congressional Initiative will immediately follow during the week of June 8, 2015. Speakers have been confirmed, and registration is now open. Details are posted at http://www.vor.net/events. If you have any questions relating to these VOR events or sponsorship opportunities, you can contact VOR’s Executive Director, Julie Huso -- jhuso@vor.net.

The Customer’s Advocate

According to Dr. Bryan K. Williams, he has “found that it is easier to be an advocate when you believe in the unconditional worthiness of each person. There are those who are only kind to people they like. Then there are those who are only kind to people they think are important. Finally, there are those who deeply believe in the unconditional worthiness of each person; regardless of the person’s demographic or socio-economic status. Be the person who renews someone’s belief in humanity. Be the person who restores someone’s hope in the power of hospitality. One of the most liberating feelings in the world is doing something special for someone and not expecting anything at all in return.” The full blog version of the “The Customer’s Advocate” article can be found here.

Dr. Williams is a consultant, trainer, and author, who focuses on the areas of service excellence and organizational effectiveness. He has spoken at numerous AHCA/NCAL events, and his passion is to serve others so they may better serve the world. Here is a link where you can see some of Dr. Williams’ book recommendations on service, leadership and personal development.

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

The National Association of Sates United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds monthly calls concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability the first Thursday of every month at 3pm EST. One of the past calls focused on resources for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers. Information about future calls, and audio recording of previous ones, can be found here.

Upcoming 2015 Events

National Task Group Sponsored Education and Training Workshop and Events – 2015
DDNA Annual Conference – April 30 – May 4, 2015
ANCOR Annual Conference – May 3 – 5, 2015
VOR’s Annual Conference – June 7, 2015
VOR's Congressional Initiative – week of June 8, 2015
Global Summit on Innovations and Health in IDD – July 27-29, 2015

2015 Health Care Observances

The 2015 AHCA/NCAL Health Care Observances Calendar can be found here. April marks, among other observances, National Parkinson’s Awareness Month and Stress Awareness Month.