HCS Conducting CCRC Salary and Benefits Survey - Hospital and Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS) in cooperation with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) is conducting a salary and benefits survey for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The tenth annual AAHSA Continuing Care Retirement Community Salary and Benefits Report will report salary and bonus data paid to 42 exempt positions and 41 nonexempt positions. Last year’s Report contained data from 449 CCRCs. Questionnaires were mailed in late January.

Salaries and bonus payments will be reported according to state, region, revenue size, and unit size. Information on 22 fringe benefits will be reported according to region. Percent increases planned for the year 2007 will be reported separately for management, non-management, RNs, LPNs, and CNAs.

Completed CCRC questionnaires should be sent to HCS by April 6, 2007. The Report will be available in June.

Participants may purchase the survey at a reduced rate of $135, while non-participants pay $295. You may call HCS at (201) 405- 0075 or cli ck here to download the questionnaire.

Sign Up Today -- for FAHSA’s 1st Webinar on March 7, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. featuring Deb Moskowitz, Managing Partner, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., Cory Kallheim, Senior Attorney, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and a Representative from the Florida Department of Children and Families. They will provide new information about the Deficit Reduction Act and how the new plan will be rolled-out and implemented in Florida. In addition, the new January 1, 2007 federal legislation on the False Claims Act and the Whistleblowers Policy will be discussed. Register on-line now by clicking on the FAHSA’s Calendar of Events Web page.

Upcoming Workshops:

• March 7 -- FAHSA's Whistleblower and Asset Transfer Webinar (one contact hour)
• March 27 & 28 -- FAHSA's Legislative Workshop, FSU Turnbull Conference Center, Tallahassee, FL
• July 29--August 2 -- FAHSA's 44th Annual Convention and Exposition, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, FL

Dr. Douglas Beach Appointed Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs - This week Governor Crist appointed Dr. Douglas Beach of Winter Springs to serve as Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs. Dr. Beach, an innovator and risk taker, was the chief executive officer of Senior Resource Alliance (the area agency on aging for Central Florida) which is a FAHSA member. Dr. Beach has been a speaker at a few of our educational events and is familiar with the outstanding services our members provide.

Previously, Dr. Beach worked as a staff economist for Congressman David L. Hobson where he wrote and introduced major legislation promoting insurance coverage for long-term care. He also served as the Deputy Director of Programs for the Ohio Department of Aging. Dr. Beach is the president of the Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the president-elect of the Florida Council on Aging. He graduated from Kenyon College, Ohio State University and received a Ph.D. in economics from North Carolina State University.

Other General News:

• Activist Asks Lawmakers to Cap State, Local Taxes
• Commission Appointed to Review Florida's Tax Structure

Revised Certificate of Balcony Inspection Form Issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DPR) -- This week, a FAHSA housing member received a visit from a representative from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants. An inspection of the railings, handrails and balconies was conducted. The DBR representative reminded FAHSA members to make sure to fill out the new DBR form, HR-7020, which is required every three years for any property which is three or more stories or at least 17 feet from the lowest grade level to any balcony. To read the rest of this article, and other Housing news, go to the latest Housing Alert Page.

Other Housing News:

• 2007 EHCL Application and Timeline Published
• EIV Problems
• Terrorism Insurance Coverage Not Required
• Special Claims Comment Box Closed as of 2/17/07
• FAHSA’s Vacancy Report
• Question of the Week: Tenant Selection Plans

House Begins Work on Medicaid Budget -- Erwin Bodo Testifies - The legislative hearings on this year’s budget have begun in earnest this week. House Health Care Council Chair, Aaron Bean of Jacksonville opened the February 13, 2007 session of the council for public input. Over 40 individuals testified and requested a total of $911 million in additional funding. These lobbyists for hospitals, mental health groups, physicians, children and developmentally disabled interest groups and many other interested parties were told by Chairman Bean that after the base budget obligations are fulfilled, there is perhaps $25 million for new projects and enhanced funding for existing programs. For the nursing home base budget, the usual caseload and inflation increases are already considered. For other Medicaid programs, including the waivers, increases must be specifically authorized each year.

FAHSA’s COO, Erwin Bodo, testified and requested increased funding for the diversion and other waiver programs, and made a specific appeal to fund the $91 million authorized last year, but vetoed by then Governor Bush. The testimony was followed up by a letter to each council member asking them to contact FAHSA nursing homes in their districts to hear first hand what problems the Medicaid nursing home payment shortfall creates for their constituents. He also reiterated the importance of increased funding for home and community based services and other waiver programs.

Each of you can help us achieve our goal of appropriate funding by contacting your legislators and telling them how inadequate Medicaid payment rates affect the financial viability of your organization. A long list of special interest groups is lobbying for any available extra dollars. Usually it is the squeaky wheel that gets greased.

Educate Lawmakers Now About Nursing Home Funding -- Last week, nursing home members received a Call to Action by FAX and a CapWiz Advocacy E-mail Alert asking you to contact the Governor, specific legislative leaders, and your state representative and senator about the importance of re- appropriating the $91 million in increased nursing home funding that was vetoed by Gov. Bush immediately after the 2006 legislative session. According to our records, 8 nursing homes responded to the CapWiz Alert, and one sent us copies of letters they mailed directly to the Governor and legislative leaders. If you have not already done so, it is very important that every nursing home educate lawmakers about this issue. BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION - send your message now! If you mail or FAX a letter, please be sure you copy Mary Ellen Early.

Survey Tip: Clarification on Risk Management Responsibilities in Nursing Homes Related to Food Service and Dietary - With federal surveyors looking on, a FAHSA member recently received several deficiencies related to food storage, preparation, and sanitation. A few of the citations could have avoided if the risk manager had been involved in identifying and resolving potential problems with food services. The administrator was under the impression that the risk manager’s responsibilities did not apply to food service and dietary because the facility contracts with consultants to provide guidance in these areas. The DON was told by the survey team that a risk manager, even in a continuing care retirement community where food service and preparation is done for the entire campus, must be involved with all aspects of services and care that pertain to the nursing home. The survey team suggested that the risk manager should also monitor and participate in the resolution of resident complaints about food and nutrition.

If your risk manager is focusing only on nursing services, please make him or her aware that the risk management responsibility pertains to all areas of nursing home operation. Please be sure your risk manager knows that dietary and food service deficiencies are among the most common citations.

Other Nursing Home News:

• Gold Seal Rule Revision
• Verification of Licensure Status
• Proposed BONHA Rule Amendments
• Nursing Home Survey and Certification Task Force Status
• CMS Nursing Home Culture Change Regulatory Compliance Questions and Answers
• OPPAGA Report on Florida Nurse Practice Act
• GAO Report on Nursing Home Inspection Process
• Nursing Home Salary and Benefits Survey
• CMS Nursing Home Improvement Satellite Broadcast and Webcast for February 23

Camera Phones in the Workplace – Tips for your work, home, and life – brought to you by the insurance, risk management and healthcare specialists from Hunt Insurance Group, LLC to read the entire article please click here.

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 it to jcopeland@fahsa.org