Tips for Reading the FAHSA Link
Welcome to this edition of the FAHSA Link.
Please note that news topics are highlighted in a brief paragraph or
two. To read the complete document related to a specific member
type, click on the link directly following the article (which will
take you to the Alerts Page for ALFs, CCRCs, HUDs, General, or
Nursing Homes) and then click on the latest ALERT. Please remember
that last year, the FAHSA Board of Trustees made the decision that
your membership dues will entitle you to access only those Web pages
that relate to the membership type your dues cover. That is, if you
pay dues for nursing home beds only then will you be able to access
all general membership and nursing home-related Web pages, but you
will be unable to access housing, ALF or CCRC topics. Suggestions/Comments
FAHSA Quick Links
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Welcome to this week's edition of the FAHSA
Link.
Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Begins Meeting
-- On the heels of a recently passed property tax reform
package, a commission empowered to revamp Florida's tax system
began meeting on Tuesday. The Taxation and Budget Reform
Commission, a constitutionally mandated body composed of
business and government leaders - 21 Republicans and four
Democrats, is empowered to place tax and budget amendments on
a ballot once every 20 years. This is the second time in
history that the commission has convened to evaluate the
state's tax structure to ensure that it is capable of paying
for the future needs of the state. The adequacy and fairness
of all taxes will be come under scrutiny, not just property
tax. The commission's chair, former Florida House of
Representatives Speaker Alan Bense, was quoted in the Miami
Herald as saying that the commission has not ruled out the
possible defeat of the proposed constitutional amendment
adopted by the Legislature earlier this month, which would
phase out Save Our Homes with a super property tax exemption.
The commission will focus on an alternative plan to be
prepared in the event that this happens, according to Bense.
Former Senate President John McKay, who is also a member of
the commission, has pushed for years for a constitutional
amendment forcing a period review of sales tax exclusions and
exemptions. It would come as no surprise if the commission
focuses as much on sales tax as it does on property tax.
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| ALF News |
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Avoid a Crisis - Verify Your Compliance with
ALF Regulations Related to Resident Elopement -
Earlier this month, the body of an ALF resident with a
history of wandering was found in a lake near the
facility in which he lived. The resident had dementia
and had wandered once before. The ALF in which he lived
is a high-quality provider, so policies and procedures
were probably in place to ensure the safety of
residents, but for one reason or another they failed.
This unfortunate incident is a reminder that ALFs
must comply with specific requirements in law and rule
(58A-5.1081, .0182, .0191, and .024, F.A.C.) related to
resident elopement.
You should have received a printed copy of FAHSA's
Regulatory Compliance Manual in March 2007 that included
our September 22, 2006 Technical Assistance Brief
summarizing rule changes that took effect on October 9,
2006, as well as copies of the applicable statute and
rule and sample policies and procedures generously
shared by FAHSA members.
The Technical Assistance Brief, the statute, and the
rule are available on the Assi
sted Living Page of the FAHSA Website. Please watch
your inbox tomorrow for a FAHSA Action Alert providing
further information on steps your organization can take
to come into compliance with the ALF Resident Elopement
Regulations.
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| Education News |
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Register for FAHSA's Annual Convention -
If you are not yet registered for FAHSA's Annual
Convention, to be held July 29 - August 2 at the Rosen
Shingle Creek in Orlando, now is the time to sign up.
Don't miss this amazing event, filled with useful
education programming, opportunities to network with
colleagues and friends, and demonstrations of the latest
and greatest technological innovations. Sign your staff
up for continuing education credits and send board
members for important leadership training that can
improve efficiency and effectiveness within your
community. In addition to our general and leadership
sessions, special tracks are available for activity
professionals, clinical professionals, housing and
service coordinator professionals, and home and
community-based services providers.
Upcoming Workshops:
- July 29 -- FAHSA's Preceptors Training
Program, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
- July 29 -- FAHSA's Strategic Visioning
Workshop, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
- July 29 & 30 - FAHSA's Two Day
Leadership Intensive: A New leadership Framework for
Aging Services, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
- July 29--August 2 -- FAHSA's 44th Annual
Convention and Exposition, Rosen Shingle Creek,
Orlando, FL
- September 18 & 19 -- FAHSA's Home
and Community-Based Services Workshop, Wyndham
Jacksonville Riverwalk, Jacksonville
- September 19 & 20 -- FAHSA's Annual
HUD and Service Coordinator Workshop, Wyndham
Jacksonville Riverwalk, Jacksonville
- October 3 & 4 -- FAHSA's Dynamic
Directions Advanced Nurse Leadership Workshop,
Safety Harbor
- November 15 - FAHSA's Maintenance
Workshop, Holiday Inn, Orlando, FL
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| General News |
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FAHSA'S Fair Housing Webinar Offers Tips for
Motorized Vehicle Use -- The use of scooters and
wheelchairs has increased dramatically within FAHSA
Communities. Last week, members participated in FAHSA's
Fair Housing Webinar and were given the following tips
for adopting rules related to the use of motorized
vehicles:
- Do not require residency on first floor.
- Do not charge a rental premium for use of
scooters/wheelchairs.
- Do not require additional liability insurance.
- Do not conduct medical screening or request
medical records.
- Do not restrict access to common areas.
But consider the following:
- Communities may require tenant to demonstrate that
he/she can safely operate the vehicle.
- Reasonable "rules of the road" that should be
observed and can be enforced include: speed limit
& right-of-way, restrictions on who may use
scooters, and procedures for storage, parking, and
recharging.
See a sample MOTORI
ZED VEHICLE POLICY.
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| Housing News |
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Technical Assistance Bulletin Available on the
Website -- Housing members received an important
Technical Assistance Brief on 6/26/07 related to
Disaster Preparedness - Elevator Usage During a Power
Outage. It is now posted to the Housing
Alert Page of the FAHSA Website.
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| Home and Community-Based Services
News |
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First-Ever Nationwide Survey of Home Health
Aides Begins in August 2007 - In August, the
National Center for Health Statistics Center for Disease
Control and Prevention will begin to collect information
on the paraprofessional aides that care for
approximately 1.5 million home health and hospice
patients across the country. The survey will collect
information from a nationally representative sample of
home health agencies and hospices via interviews with
administrators and staff. The National Home Health and
Hospice Survey will provide information needed to
recruit, retain and develop a viable in-home care
workforce. READ
MORE about the survey.
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| Nursing Home News
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Nursing Home Volunteers Needed for QIS Mock
Survey Rollout - Polly Weaver, Agency for Health
Care Administration Bureau Chief, Field Operations,
recently presented the status of the Florida's Quality
Indicator Survey (QIS) Process to the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services at the Atlanta Region IV
Provider Forum. So far, QIS surveys have been completed
in the Tallahassee/Pensacola, Jacksonville and Delray
areas. If you do not live in the areas where the new
survey training has been tested, please consider being a
volunteer for a survey. For details, read this week's
Nursing Home Alert (NH 07- 17).
Other Nursing Home News:
- CMS to Scrutinize Transfers Between Acute and
Skilled Care Settings
- CMS Guidance on Resident Wandering and Elopement
- MRSA Infection Rate Higher Than Estimated
- National Provider ID Information Delayed a Month
- How Do You Know Whether an Injury is of Unknown
Source?
- FDA Establishes Dietary Supplement Regulations
- BON Proposes Disciplinary Guidelines for CNA
Unprofessional Conduct
- New LTC Satisfaction Study Available
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| Preferred Business Associate
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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. FAHSA members can also use the on-
line directory to search for PBAs by specialty.
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| JobMart |
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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
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