lately? – june 2019 what have we done for you · mcknight’s long-ter m care news and skilled...
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What Have We Done for YouLately? – June 2019
Here’s an overview of our work for you in June 2019.
LAUNCHED 3 BIG INITIATIVESLeadingAge launched 3 big initiatives in June. Two of those initiatives came to life after months of
planning and preparation, and our third new initiative heralds a host of good things to come for
LeadingAge members later this year.
LeadingAge Member Survey: On June 6, we launched the long-awaited LeadingAge Member
Survey after months of planning that involved sta� from across the LeadingAge organization, state
a�liates, and a variety of members who helped test the survey before it was sent to all members.
The survey initiative, which closes on July 7, will produce a host of meaningful data that
LeadingAge and its members can use to conduct data-driven planning and decision making. But
remember: the higher our response rate, the better our data will be. So, check your inbox today
and complete the survey as soon as you can.
Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit: LeadingAge CAST convened its highly
successful Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit this month in Baltimore, MD.
Participants heard from impressive keynote speakers and attended sessions on such topics as
person-centered payment models, managed care partnerships, interoperability, telehealth,
cybersecurity, and medication management. They left the gathering much better prepared to
incorporate technology into key areas of organizational practice and decision making.
OUR STORY | JUNE 26, 2019 | BY GERALYN MAGAN
Annual Meeting Registration: LeadingAge o�cially opened registration for the 2019 Annual
Meeting & EXPO. The meeting, our biggest event of the year, takes place Oct. 27-30, 2019 in San
Diego. Over the next few months, we’ll continue planning for this must-attend annual event,
which will be even better if you are there.
RAISED OUR VOICE ON CAPITOL HILLLeadingAge had 2 opportunities in June to reinforce our commitment to nursing home quality.
Special Focus Facilities: Our �rst opportunity came when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) issued a list of 400 nursing homes designated as special focus facilities (SFF). For
the �rst time, the list includes homes that have been “candidates” for the SFF designation as well
as those that have actually received the designation. The list came in response to an inquiry from
Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey (D) and Patrick Toomey (R).
LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan responded by releasing a statement, featured in
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and Skilled Nursing News, asserting that LeadingAge supports
e�orts to increase ease of access to information regarding long-term care providers. In addition,
Sloan made it clear that “the best way to promote improvement is to increase attention on and
enforcement of care standards on the nursing homes that need it most—those that do not meet
care standards under OBRA.”
OIG Audits: When the O�ce of Inspector General (OIG) released 2 audits addressing the
identi�cation, reporting, and investigation of incidents of potential abuse and neglect of
vulnerable populations, Sloan released a statement, in response to media reports, which
a�rmed LeadingAge’s long history of support for quality nursing home care.
“LeadingAge has long recommended, as OIG does in these reports, the importance of and the
need for continued training by CMS of state survey agencies,” said Sloan. “In addition to meeting
the standards of and following the care practices mandated by OBRA … many of our members and
state associations have initiated programs to prevent harm to older adults in the course of
caregiving and to enhance the quality of care.”
Medical Expense Deduction: We also joined over 50 other consumer and aging services
organizations in sending letters to the House and Senate supporting H.R. 2073 and S. 110. This
bipartisan legislation makes permanent the 7.5% threshold for the medical expense deduction. The
current threshold of 10% was set, over our objections, as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of
2017. We have an open call to action to help members and residents urge their representatives to
support this issue.
PROVIDED THOUGHT LEADERSHIPLeadingAge team members o�ered their expertise on several pressing issues in the �eld of long-
term services and supports (LTSS) during June:
RELEASED VALUABLE RESOURCESLeadingAge released a number of resources in June to help members carry out their work.
Robyn Stone, co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, served as a
facilitator and steering committee member for the Vision 2025 Symposium. The goal of the
symposium, co-sponsored by LeadingAge, was to start work on developing 25 “robust” college-
based programs by 2025 that will o�er senior services management training to potential future
leaders in our �eld.
Stone also co-authored articles on the home-based workforce for the June issue of Health
A�airs.
Aaron Tripp, vice president of reimbursement and �nancing policy, assessed the new Patient
Driven Payment Model (PDPM) during the �rst annual Skilled Nursing News summit in
Chicago.
Brendan Flinn, director of home and community-based services, commented on the new rule
to update and modernize requirements for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
(PACE) in Home Health Care News.
©LeadingAge 2019. All rights reserved.
Learning Hub: The LeadingAge Learning Hub released several new educational tools this month,
including:
LeadingAge CAST: A new CAST case study describes how Asbury Methodist Village and CAST
Supporter Connected Living used innovative voice and smart home technologies to enhance
resident engagement and sta� e�ciencies.
Mental Health Training Tools: This video series provides important information aging services
professionals can use to manage complex situations that may arise when interacting with
individuals living with mental illness.
Are You Clinically Ready for PDPM?: This webinar is designed to prepare members for the
approaching deadline for implementation of PDPM.
Hazardous Medications: Delivery to Disposal: This webinar details how EPA regulations and
USP800 guidelines will a�ect the handling of hazardous medications in LTSS settings.
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