| September 18, 2008 |
Vol 15, Issue
39 | |
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FAHSA
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| Welcome to
this week's edition of the FAHSA Link.
FAHSA Welcomes Beverly
Gregory -- Beverly Gregory recently joined the FAHSA
staff as our Public Policy Analyst, replacing Bonnie Sniffen
who retired after 10 years of outstanding service to FAHSA.
Bev, a graduate of Florida State University and the Center for
Biblical Studies, will be providing clerical and technical
support to the public policy staff by tracking proposed
legislation and regulations and assisting with communication
to members. She is a great addition to our public policy
team.
Bev lives in Havana with her husband Ervin
on their family farm. She has four adult children. Prior
to joining FAHSA, she worked for the family business and held
a number of positions, including counseling adult victims of
domestic and sexual violence and teaching chemistry, physics,
and biology. She is active in prison ministry and enjoys
gardening.
Please join with us in welcoming Bev
to the FAHSA family.
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| ALF News |
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Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Rule
Workshop Held -- On September 10, the Department of
Elder Affairs (DOEA) held a rule workshop on proposed changes
to 58L related to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
The rule workshop was reopened from a year ago at FAHSA's
request. The draft rule makes changes to confidentiality
and disclosure of information, access to information by local
ombudsmen, conflict of interest, complaint procedures, and the
annual administrative assessment by local ombudsman. Click here to
read the draft rule. It also references two forms
including a revised administrative assessment form.
The draft rule is very similar to another version that
FAHSA commented on last November. Our main concerns then and
now relate to the Local Ombudsman Council members duplicating
the role of state surveyors. The assessment form, although
modified slightly based on our recommendations, still focuses
on clinical areas of care that a volunteer does not have the
expertise to evaluate. The current assessment form, which some
members have questioned, would be preferable. FAHSA expressed
a number of concerns with the proposed changes. Click here to
read the proposed
changes. |
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District and Membership
News |
James L. Humbles Retires from Advent Christian
Village - After 36 years of service, with the last 12
being President/CEO, James L. "Jim" Humbles, retired as of
August 31, 2008, from Advent Christian Village (ACV). He
has successfully led a team of more than 490 staff members
serving the interests of more than 800 residents. Jim's
credo has been "Never be satisfied; keep striving for
improvement." It is a credo that has served him well, as he
brought about many innovative programs and services to ACV
throughout the years including Carter Village Hall, the Adams
Emergency Services Center, Kite and Wackerlin Lodges at Camp
Suwannee, Lake Aquilla, and the Copeland Medical Center.
In addition, 109 resident homes were constructed, and several
buildings were renovated during Jim's tenure. He also
spearheaded many advances to services including the
introduction of the rehabilitation department and ACV's Home
Care Agency. ACV earned accreditation by CARF-CCAC and
the Good Samaritan Center was listed in Consumer Reports as
one of the top 10% nursing homes in the state.
Jim has been a tireless advocate for aging
services, and in 2002, he won FAHSA's Executive of the Year
Award for his many years of dedication and exemplary service
to the many retirees, children and staff at ACV. We wish
Jim and his wife the best in their retirement.
Congratulations Jim!!!
Taylor Care Center Celebrates 25 Years -
Taylor Care Center is celebrating 25 years of service in
caring for the elderly in Jacksonville. The public is
invited to attend an Open House Celebration on Saturday,
September 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Taylor Care Center,
6535 Chester Avenue, Jacksonville. "Taylor Care Center
has grown into one of Jacksonville's leading facilities
providing care for the elderly with a 5-star rating from the
Agency for Health Care Administration," said John Barber, CEO,
Taylor Residences.
Taylor Residences is
sponsored by Samuel C. Taylor Foundation, a private nonprofit
organization that provides housing and services for more than
700 seniors in its apartments, assisted living facilities and
rehabilitation/nursing
centers.
FAHSA Calendar of
Events |
| Education News |
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Register for FAHSA's Regional Meeting Webinar
-- Plan to attend FAHSA's fall Regional Meeting
Webinar on September 23, 2008. To register, click on the
FAHSA's calendar of events page.
AAHSA Annual Meeting and Exposition -
AAHSA's annual meeting, One Voice, is scheduled for October
12-15, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. There's still time to
register by clicking on AAHSA's Web site.
More than 500 exhibitors, 250 educational programs, and
an evening with the Queen, Aretha Franklin are some of the
featured highlights.
Upcoming
Educational Events:
- September 23, 2008 - FAHSA's Fall Regional Meeting - by
Webinar
- September 26, 2008 - IMAX TRACs Audio Call featuring
Bonnie Wilpon
- October 13-16, 2008 - AAHSA's Annual Meeting,
Pennsylvania Conference Center, Philadelphia, PA
- October 21 -Webinar: Risk Management, NeverEvents
featuring Susan Bugg and Jan Ferguson
- October 29-30 - FAHSA's Board of Trustees Meeting, The
Tradewinds, St. Petersburg
- November 13 - Webinar: Bridging the Gap:
Understanding New Wireless
Technology
FAHSA Calendar of
Events |
| General News |
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Fight for Tax Reform Not Over -- The
Florida Supreme Courts decision last week to uphold a lower
court's ruling to remove Amendment 5 from the November ballot
does not put an end to tax reform efforts. Governor Crist, who
lent his support to Amendment 5, has plans to revisit the
issue after hurricane season. In addition, the high
court's ruling may energize a citizen initiative to get
another tax-limiting amendment on the 2010 ballot. The
proposal sponsored by Cut Property Taxes Now would cap
property taxes at 1.35 percent of the highest taxable value of
a home, business or other piece of real estate. Republican
members of the House of Representatives have also been quoted
in the press as favoring a strict limit on increases in local
government spending. No doubt tax reform will continue to be
the focal point of policy makers during the 2009 legislative
session and beyond. Appellate Court
Upholds Arbitration in Long-Term Care Admission -
McCumber Inclan secured a victory on behalf of the enforcement
of arbitration clauses in long term care admissions
contracts. Read the opinion by clicking
here. Other General
News
- SBA's Disaster Loan Program Could Save Your Business
- To Evacuate or Not to Evacuate
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Housing
News |
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S. 2736 -
There's Still Time - Please Contact Senator Martinez's Office
-- Please contact Senator Martinez's
office and ask him to cosponsor, S. 2736, the Section 202
Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2008. This
bill was introduced in the Senate on March 7, 2008 by U.S.
Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI). If passed, this bill will make
numerous changes to HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for
the Elderly Program. The changes are designed to help foster
the preservation and rehabilitation of existing Section 202
properties. The measure is similar to a bill (H.R. 2970)
passed by the House of Representatives in
December.
FAHSA's Affordable
Housing Workshop a Complete Success -- This week,
more than 225 participants gathered in Jacksonville for
FAHSA's 25th Annual Affordable Housing, Service Coordinator,
and Home and Community-Based Services Workshops.
Jacksonville's Mayor, John Peyton, welcomed the group and
thanked them for visiting Jacksonville. For more information,
read this week's Housing News, HUD
08-14.
Other Housing News
FAHSA Housing Alert
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| Legislative News |
State Reserves Tapped to Offset Budget
Deficit -- This week, the Legislative Budget
Commission unanimously approved the transfer of $672
million from a state stabilization reserve fund to offset a
portion of a projected $1.47 billion budget deficit for
the current fiscal year that ends June 30, 2009. Some of the
remaining shortfall is expected to be made up with savings
from a request by Governor Charlie Crist to state agencies
under his jurisdiction to cut four percent from each of their
operating budgets. The action is a stopgap measure recommended
by Gov. Crist until state economists update their revenue
forecast in November. Any permanent spending cuts would
require legislative approval. The deficit in the $66 billion
budget has been caused by lower-than-expected tax and revenue
collections because of the economy. Amy Baker, the
Legislature's chief economist, told the commission the state
is facing "a structural imbalance" with spending
needs increasing faster than state revenues.
Anti-Arbitration Legislation Moves
Forward in US Senate -- Last Thursday, the Senate
Judiciary Committee approved S. 2838 (by Senator Mel Martinez-
Florida), legislation to ban pre-dispute arbitration
agreements in nursing home contracts. While the bill could now
come before the full Senate, it has not yet been scheduled for
floor consideration. The anti-arbitration bills (there are
several, all directed at consumer contracts) are driven by a
very stubborn belief that consumers should not be forced into
arbitration and denied their day in court despite the fact
that most people never sue or go to
court. |
| Nursing
Home News |
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Watch Your E-mail for the New Surveyor Guidance for F-Tag
441 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS), Center for Medicaid and State
Operations/Survey and Certification Group just released the
first draft revised Surveyor Guidance for F-tag 441 Infection
Control. Please note that they have collapsed all of the
Infection Control F tags (F441- F445) in this one F-tag 441
with this revision. The draft document was developed in
an effort to update the Surveyor Guidance providing specific
information to assist surveyors in making appropriate
deficiency determinations under this F-tag. It includes
interpretive guidelines, investigative protocols, and severity
determinations.
Rule Workshop Held on Nursing Home
Regulations -- On September 16, the Agency for Health
Care Administration (AHCA) held a rule workshop on proposed
changes to 59A-4.Many of the proposed changes, including a
proposed respite care rule, have been under consideration for
several years and were discussed in previous rule workshops
and hearings. Read more on these changes and other news in
this week's Nursing Home Alert, NH
08-33.
Other Nursing Home
News
FAHSA Nursing Home
Alert Page
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| Preferred Business Associates
News |
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 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.
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| Job-Mart |
| FAHSA is pleased to provide an opportunity for
you to advertise your "position wanted" or "position
available" through the FAHSA Link newsletter and on our
Web Page.
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
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FAHSA's Group Purchasing Organizations
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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.
- AAHSA Enrollment
Form
- Care Purchasing Enrollment
Form
- 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. |
Copyright 2008 -- Publication of the
Florida Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
(FAHSA).
- FAHSA Chair: Alma Ballard
- FAHSA President/CEO: Janegale Boyd
- Managing Editor: Gail Matillo
Copyright
Information: Copies of the articles and other information in
this publication may be noncommercially reproduced for the
purpose of educational or scientific advancement. Otherwise,
no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including
photocopying, microfilm and recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without the written permission
of the editor.
Correspondence: Should be addressed to:
Editor, 1812 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. For
telephone inquiries, call (850) 671-3700. Or E-mail FAHSA at
info@fahsa.org. © 2008 FAHSA. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this
correspondence is not intended as a substitute for legal
advice. Please discuss any information gathered from this or
any other FAHSA publications with your legal counsel in the
context of your particular situation before implementing any
new policies or procedures.
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