AHCA Requests Provider Feedback - The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has developed a short survey for all Medicaid providers.  Read more about this and other general news by clicking on the General Alert page below.

Other General News:

• House Budget Chairman Identifies Guiding Principles to Address Growing Budget Deficit
• Senate Creates Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability

 FAHSA General Membership Alert Page

Bill Introduced to Limit Number of New Home Health Agencies - As expected, a proposed committee bill (SB 7012) to restrict increases in the number of newly licensed home health agencies has been introduced for consideration by the Committee on Health Regulation.  Before the holidays, the Committee (chaired by Sen. Jeff Atwater) held a hearing on uncontrolled growth in the number of home health agencies and alleged fraudulent activity.  Associated Home Health Industries of Florida does not feel the proposed bill goes far enough.  The association, which represents home health agencies, is pushing for a moratorium on new agencies. 

This week, the Senate Committee on Health Regulation held a workshop on the proposed bill. FAHSA's COO Erwin Bodo testified in support of the bill. He also thanked the chairman for including a provision in it for FAHSA to help retirement communities that want to open a home health agency to serve their residents.

The proposed bill would do the following:

·         Restrict the number of monthly home health agency licensure applications that AHCA may approved to five for each geographic area in service areas 1 through 9; four for geographic area 10 (Broward County); and three for geographic area 11 (Dade and Monroe Counties).  At FAHSA's request, a provision was added to provide an exemption for a home health agency that is part of a retirement community if the agency is used exclusively to serve its own residents.  This is a small but important concession. The limit on new home health agency licenses expires on July 1, 2011. 

·         Require a surety bond of $50,000 or other equivalent means of security for each new home health agency.

·         Delete a provision allowing an administrator and a director of nursing (DON) to manage or direct nursing services for a maximum of five licensed home health agencies.  However, an administrator or DON may manage or direct nursing services at two home health agencies with identical controlling interests if the agencies are located within the same service area and within an immediate contiguous county.  In addition, if the home health agency is part of a retirement community, an employee of the retirement community may administer or direct nursing services for the home health agency and up to a maximum of four other entities licensed under Chapters 400 or 429, F.S.

·         Prohibit a home health agency from operating for more than 30 days without a DON and requires notification of AHCA within 10 business days of the termination of service of a DON.

·         Prohibit a home health agency from providing staffing services to other home health agencies or nurse registries.

·         Increase the amount of fines.

·         Create a fine if a home health agency provides services without charge to an assisted living facility or adult day care center in return for patient referrals.

·         Direct AHCA to review the process, procedures and contractor's performance for prior authorization for home health agency visits that are in excess of 60 visits.

SPB 7012 is a first draft.  It will probably change as a result of information presented to Health Regulation Committee members this week.  Regardless of what happens, one thing is for certain -- licensure of new home health agencies is sure to be limited for the next few years.  If your organization is contemplating opening a home health agency, the time to do it is now.

To view the bill, please go to Online Sunshine at:  http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ and click on flsenate.gov; under publications click on proposed committee bills, then scroll down to S 7012.

Proposed Property Tax Amendment Does Not Affect "Homes for the Aged" Exemption - What the Amendment Does - FAHSA has not taken a position on the property tax relief Constitutional Amendment (Amendment 1) that will appear on the January 29th ballot. It's important to recognize that the amendment does not affect the "homes for the aged" or continuing care retirement community ad valorem property tax exemptions that are authorized in state law. Read about this and the issues below in the latest Nursing Home Alert, NH 08-02.

Other Nursing Home Issues

·         No More User Fees on Nursing Home Survey Revisits

·         Final IRS Form 990 Reflects AAHSA Recommendations

·         Appropriate Use of Anti-Depressants by Nursing Home Residents

·         AAHSA Releases New Life Safety Code Update

·         Unprotected Openings in Corridor Walls

·         REMINDER: DON'T FORGET TO POST THE NURSING HOME GUIDE AND WATCH LIST

FAHSA Nursing Home Alert Page

FAHSA's Preferred Business Associates Program (PBAs) -- A list of PBAs can be found by on the FAHSA Web site www.fahsa.org and selecting Preferred Business Associates from the left side menu bar or clicking on the FAHSA Preferred Business Associates Page hyperlink. FAHSA members can also use the on-line directory to search for PBAs by specialty.

FAHSA members may use the Job Mart services at no charge. A nominal fee of $25 will be charged to nonmembers.

Your Job Mart advertisement will be displayed on our Web site for approximately three months. The FAHSA Link is published weekly and distributed to our membership which is comprised of nursing homes, CCRCs, HUD housing, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and companies/firms.

To reserve advertisement space in our Job Mart program, please complete the application and fax it to FAHSA at (850) 671-3790 or E-mail Erin Steele at esteele@fahsa.org

FAHSA is pleased to tell you about the FAHSA Group Purchasing Organization (GPO).  The GPO program further enhances the value you receive from your membership and is required for us to be in compliance with Medicare Safe Harbor requirements The FAHSA GPO program, in conjunction with the AAHSA, Care Purchasing (CPSI), and FMS Purchasing and Services (FMS) GPOs offer you the opportunity to save daily purchases from over 200 vendor partners.  To view these vendor partners please click on the Preferred Business Associated Guide and go to pages 22-25.

FAHSA members participating in these programs are saving from seven to 50% off list prices.  In addition to these savings, your participation allows FAHSA to receive non-dues revenue based on your purchases.  This revenue assists FAHSA to provide the educational programs and advocacy you expect while keeping membership dues' to a minimum.

There is no obligation or commitment on your part to participate in the FAHSA GPO programs. This is simply a value added member benefit. Our program is also not exclusive; you can belong to one or all three GPOs.  We simply ask that you look at all of the FAHSA programs and decide the best savings for you. 

We have three (3) Enrollment Agreements and ask that you complete one or all and fax the completed enrollment to the GPO at the number listed on the form. Click below to obtain the enrollment form. 

1. AAHSA Enrollment Form
2. Care Purchasing Enrollment Form
3. FMS Purchasing & Services Enrollment Form

If you are already enrolled in one of the GPOs, you are still required to complete a new enrollment form in order to have the FAHSA GPO covered under the Medicare Safe Harbor Laws.

If you have any questions, please call Julie Copeland, Vendor Relations Coordinator or Janegale Boyd, President/CEO (850) 671-3700.  Thank you for your continued support of FAHSA.