Wishing You and Yours a Happy Thanksgiving from AHCA/NCAL

Submit a Presentation for the 2018 AHCA/NCAL Convention

The Call for Presentation for 2018 is open.  Complete Submission Guidelines and Information can be found here.  Presentation proposals will be accepted from September 1st through November 30th.  You can only submit through the link above. No proposals will be accepted via regular mail or email.

The 2018 AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention will be held in San Diego, CA from October 7-10, 2018.  Submitters will be notified by April 2018 as to the status of the submission.  Please hold all convention dates until you receive news of your submission status.

AHCA/NCAL 2017 Award Recipients

Each year, AHCA/NCAL recognizes the men and women who selflessly care for individuals in long term and post-acute care centers, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) residences, and assisted living communities.  Honorees demonstrate selflessness, compassion, and strive to enhance the lives of seniors and individuals with disabilities in their communities.

The 2017 AHCA/NCAL Awards recipients are:

• Hero of the Year- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Cathy Gray, Cedarcrest Center for Children with Disabilities, Keene, N.H.
• Not for Profit Program of the Year: Trinity Oaks Health and Rehab Life Enrichment, Trinity Oaks Health and Rehab, Salisbury, N.C.
• Not for Profit Trustee Award: Peter Miesburger, Maine Veterans’ Home, Augusta, Maine
• Adult Volunteer of the Year: Mike Howard, Harlan Health and Rehabilitation Center, Ky.
• Group Volunteer of the Year: Bryant Parkview Care Center Auxiliary, Bryant Parkview Care Center, Bryant, S.D.
• Young Adult Volunteer of the Year: Luke Flippo, Diversicare of Amory, Amory, Miss.

The Hero of the Year award recognizes an individual who works or volunteers in an ICF/IID facility or HCBS Waiver Homes and has shown commitment and dedication to serving people with ID/DD.  The Not for Profit Program of the Year award highlights a specific program that adds value to the care of individuals within a community.  The Not for Profit Trustee award honors a not for profit trustee committed to faithfully carrying out functions of the board and dedicated to improving the lives of frail and vulnerable individuals.  The Volunteer of the Year program seeks to honor a young adult (under 19), an adult, and a group organization that have served in a volunteer capacity for more than one year and have made a positive contribution to residents and staff of a care center.  Award recipients were honored at the AHCA/NCAL 68th Annual Convention in Las Vegas on October 18, 2017.

AHCA's Parkinson Named Top Lobbyist for 2017

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Parkinson was named a Top Lobbyist in 2017. The Hill publishes the top lobbyist list annually and noted the association's efforts to "stand guard against cuts to Medicaid and Medicare." See the full list here.

Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Takes Effect this Month

The Emergency Preparedness Final Rule, released September 16, 2016, impacts skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IIDs), but does not apply to assisted living providers.  Providers will need to comply with the final rule by November 15, 2017.  In June 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Emergency Preparedness Interpretive Guidance (IG).  AHCA members are highly encouraged to look through the guidance.  Click here for a summary AHCA put together of the IG for your use.  CMS also released the surveyor training to providers, more information can be found in this September memo.  In addition, AHCA has an Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Webinar Series.  Be sure to register for the final webinar in the series, which will be held November 21^st from 2- 3pm ET.  Finally, the AHCA Bookstore has added new resources for the rule, to access the bookstore please click here.  Please contact Erin Prendergast (SNF Providers) or Dana Halvorson (ICF/IID Providers) with any questions.

November is National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and Caregiver Action Network sets the theme for it each year.  The 2017 theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock”.  More background on National Family Caregivers Month can be found here.  AARP notes that about 40 million family caregivers provide about $470 billion annually in unpaid care to their loved ones.  According to the Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 study from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, about 3.7 million family caregivers provide care to a child under age 18 because of a medical, behavioral, or other condition or disability, and 6.5 million family caregivers assist both adults and children.

ICF/IID Reports

AHCA's Research Department has released the following June 2017 updates for use by AHCA/NCAL members:

• LTC Stats: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) Standard Health Survey Report, June 2017
• LTC Stats: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID), Facility and Resident Characteristics, June 2017

If you have any questions relating to these reports, which include important ICF/IID state and national data, please contact AHCA’s Senior Research Analyst, Kiran Sreenivas.