AHCA’s 2015 ID/DD Hill Fly-In Event Almost Here! Be Sure to Register Today

AHCA’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) Residential Services Providers annual Hill Fly-In event will occur on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at the AHCA offices in DC.  This important event is free to attend, and the registration form can be found here.  Breakfast and a boxed lunch will be provided to registrants.  Congressional speakers are being invited, a legislative update will be provided, and Hill visits will follow in the afternoon.  Further details about Hill visits are included in the registration form, and AHCA will provide one-pagers and talking points for registrants to take to the Hill. 

If you would like to attend, please fill out the registration form and email it back to AHCA’s Senior Director of Not for Profit & Constituent Services, Dana Halvorson.  You can also fax or mail it as well.  If you have any questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to let Dana know.  AHCA hopes to see you at this important event! 

One of the 2015 ID/DD Hill Fly-In Speakers

Senator Blanche Lincoln, who is the Founder and Principal of the Lincoln Policy Group, is confirmed to speak at AHCA’s ID/DD Hill Fly-In event.  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. 

She served on several Committees in Congress, including the House Committee on Agriculture, House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the Senate Finance Committee.  Senator Lincoln continues to be recognized as a national leader in the areas of agriculture, anti-hunger, aging, healthcare, international trade, taxes and energy policy.  

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 Manager of Grassroots and Member Advocacy, Michael Cowden, 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!
    

Stay on Track with the NCAL Spring Conference

Give yourself the opportunity to expand professionally by attending the 2015 NCAL Spring Conference, March 9-11, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida!  With the theme Thriving in a New Health Care Environment, the NCAL Spring Conference features two distinct tracks (Tools and Strategies) that each bring focused and tangible information to participants.  Earn up to 10.5 CEUs from the latest from experts in the assisted living profession, and network with your peers from across the country. 

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):

• A Toolkit for Long-Term Care Employers:  Increasing Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Personnel in Long-term Care Settings
• Situation Update: Summary of Weekly FluView
• National Influenza Vaccination Week
• Communications to Health Care Providers
• Influenza Training
• Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update
• CDC Flu Vaccination Pledge for the 2014-2015 Season
• Influenza Antiviral Quiz for Clinicians

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.  

Advertorial

Options for Providers of Community-Based Housing – CapGrow Partners LLC

Articles and Resources of Interest

• How Disability Beneficiaries Fared Before and After the Great Recession – Mathematica Center for Studying Disability Policy
• Social Determinants of Health – HealthyPeople.gov
• Disability Etiquette – Tips for Interacting with People with Disabilities – NDNRC
• New IRS Tool Can Help You Find a Tax Preparer – IRS.gov
• Ten Great Reasons to Visit IRS.gov – IRS.gov
• February is Heart Month – CDC.gov
• Researchers Identify 8 Signs of Impending Death – healthfinder.gov
• Health Tip: Get the Most from Exercise – healthfinder.gov
• Study: By Age 6, Some With Autism See Improvement – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Autism Speaks Putting New Focus On Adults – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Winter Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations – American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry

Legislative and Agency Corner

• White House Marks Passage Of ABLE Act – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Feds To Appeal Ruling On Caregiver Wage Protections – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Obama Budget Calls For Boost To Disability Programs – Disability Scoop, LLC
• HHS proposes path to improve health technology and transform care – HHS.gov
• Houses Passes Bill to Promote Charitable Giving – Committee on Ways and Means
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) Tax Provisions – IRS.gov

Webinars of Interest

• Stay informed and tune in to AHCA/NCAL-hosted pre-recorded and live webinars on a number of topics, including the Affordable Care Act, impacting the long term care profession. 
• AHCA/NCAL webinar:  Affordable Care Act: Clearing up the Confusion for Employers in 2015! – March 5, 2015 at 2:00 PM ET (60 minutes)
• AHCA/NCAL webinar:  What Employers Need to Know Regarding ACA Reporting and Tax Requirements – March 25, 2015 at 2:00 PM ET (60 minutes)

Personal Excellence: The BIG Decision Each Person Must Make

According to Dr. Bryan K. Williams, “No one can make you have enthusiasm.  Success, vitality, and achievement are all a direct result of it.  One of the most beautiful sights to behold is someone who is fully engaged in what they do and enthusiastic about their craft.”  “At the end of the day, however, enthusiasm is a personal choice.  Despite the best leadership practices and organizational standards, having a strong commitment comes down to each person making a personal decision about how exceptional they are going to be.”  The full blog version of the “Personal Excellence: The BIG Decision Each Person Must Make” 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

• 2015 NCAL Spring Conference – March 9 – 11, 2015
• 2015 Independent Owner Leadership Conference – March 11 – 13, 2015
• 2015 ID/DD Hill Fly-In Event – March 24, 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.  March marks, among other observances, National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Brain Injury Awareness Month.