A Life Services Network Publication June 7, 2010 Jason Speaks, Editor THIS WEEK Medicaid Provider Payment Update LSN recently got an update from HFS on the status of Medicaid provider payments. Nursing Facilities: Another $9.2 million in vouchers for April services paid last week, which brings payment for April services into group 3. Expedited Nursing Facilities: Vouchers for groups 1-2, April services are paid. HFS has sent April service voucher for expedited groups 3-7 to the Comptroller’s Office and those should pay shortly. Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs): April services for SLFs paid 5/28 from the Health Care Provider Relief Fund. Vouchers for Feb services were sent to the Comptroller’s Office on 3/29; vouchers for March services to Office on 4/28. Expedited SLFs: Paid for April services as of 5/28. LSN will continue to get the latest payment updates from HFS. Stay Tuned! AAHSA Washington Update AAHSA recently updated LSN on activities from Washington. Medicaid/ Housing/ Doc Fix/ RUGs IV fix Update: AAHSA expects a vote in the Senate this week on the “extenders” bill, H.R. 4213, which contains the 6-month extension of the increased federal Medicaid match (FMAP), new funding for the National Housing Trust Fund, prevention of a cut in nursing homes’ Part B therapy reimbursement (related to physician payment schedule) and correction of the RUGs IV effective date. The House was unable to pass this package as one bill, so they passed the doc fix separately and left the FMAP increase hanging in limbo. AAHSA is pushing for the Senate to pass the package in one piece, but it is going to be a close vote, as concern is growing on the Hill over the federal budget deficit and voter perceptions of it. AAHSA is working the phones on their end to gain Senate support for the package and understands that this process is dragging on longer than originally thought it would. AAHSA is asking members to Contact Congress using materials they have developed, click here (http://capwiz.com/aahsa/issues/alert/?alertid=15061651 ). AAHSA needs contacts to be made to U.S. Senators now. Fiscal 2011 Budget and Spending Update: With all the concern over the federal deficit, Congress has been unable to bring itself to adopt a budget plan for the next fiscal year, and it appears increasingly unlikely they will do so. Since passage of a budget usually precedes allocation of pots of money to the appropriations “cardinals”, the fiscal 2011 spending process has yet to really get off the ground. The House usually tries to have all of its bills well in hand by the July 4 recess, now a mere four weeks away. The Senate, in turn, has a lot on its plate – confirmation of a new Supreme Court justice, a big energy bill (think Gulf oil spill), a remaining supplemental appropriations bill for our two wars, and a defense authorization bill, to name just the top agenda items. Not only is it fast closing in on the July 4 recess, but there are only eight weeks left for legislative activity before the August recess. When Congress returns in September, they will be in session only a few days before recessing again for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. And it is likely that Congress will stick with the planned early October adjournment date because of heightened concern in both parties over the midterm elections. What this means: the regular appropriations bills covering aging services have even less of a chance than they usually do for consideration as separate legislation. Member programs, normally covered by the Transportation/HUD and the Labor/Health and Human Services bills, will likely be funded under an omnibus spending bill, probably passed in September before fiscal 2011 begins October 1. That’s the best case scenario, which would give at least some chance of increased funding. Worst case, funding will come under a continuing resolution, which would leave funding at this year’s levels for housing and Older Americans Act programs (Medicare and Medicaid are not dependent on annual appropriations). LSN will continue to get the latest updates from Washington. Stay Tuned! State Senate Still Awaits to Get the Needed Votes to Complete Fiscal Year 2011 Budget! The Senate and House adjourned recently failing the get the needed votes in the Senate to borrow $4 billion to pay for the state pension system and emergency budget powers for the the Governor to keep state government afloat for another year. Senate President John Cullerton has stated that he wants to call the Senate back into session in the next few weeks if he could find the votes to pass the pension bill. So at this point in time it is not clear when the Senate would be returning to Springfield to try to pass a borrowing plan for the pension system or vote to delay the payments. Most insiders feel that the Senate will return in the next few weeks but if the Senate takes no action, the state would automatically make the pension payments, taking billions of dollars away from state services and programs. LSN will continue to keep you posted on these developments and report the latest details as they become available. Choice Neighborhoods FY 2010 NOFA Pre-Notice Posted HUD has posted its Choice Neighborhoods FY 2010 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Pre- Notice on their website ( http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/cn ) to give potential applicants guidance before the NOFA is released this summer. Entities eligible to apply for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) competitive grants are local governments, public housing agencies (PHAs), nonprofits, and for-profit developers applying jointly with a public entity. There is $65 million available for the pilot year of the program. CNI’s goal is to transform extremely poor neighborhoods into functioning, sustainable mixed- income neighborhoods with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation, and access to jobs. CNI grants will primarily fund the preservation, rehabilitation, and transformation of public and HUD-assisted housing. The program builds on the success of HOPE VI with a broader approach to concentrated poverty. Grant funds can be used for resident and community services, community development and affordable housing activities in surrounding communities, and multifamily or single-family property disposition, including the conversion of these properties to affordable housing. The program will also implement rent and work incentives to help public and HUD-assisted housing residents access jobs and move to self-sufficiency. ALFA Calls on TV Show to Fight Ageism ALFA called on the producers of NBC’s Saturday Night Live to use comedian Betty White’s upcoming appearance to combat hurtful stereotypes about the elderly. In a letter to SNL producer Lorne Michaels, Richard Grimes, Presidents and CEO of ALFA asked Michaels to help fight ageism and negative stereotypical portrayals of the very old in the show which was to be hosted by the popular and beloved 88 year old comic actress. Richard Grimes, the president and CEO of ALFA, asked Michaels to use the show’s influence as an arbiter of popular culture to show that seniors are as bright, engaged and able as Betty White. ``The fastest growing demographic are those over 85 years old with most as vibrant and active as Betty White,’’ wrote Grimes in a letter. ``Yet, these seniors are often portrayed as useless and witless by the mainstream media thus serving to perpetuate ageism in America—an “ism” that robs seniors of choice, dignity, independence and quality of life. ‘’ ``Over the years, your cadre of brilliant comic writers have helped shape the popular culture and attitudes about other “isms” in America. What a great opportunity for your current team to help re-shape attitudes towards elderly seniors—and in doing so—contribute to overcoming ageism in America,’’ he wrote. The assisted living industry is built upon a philosophy of care which believes that every senior citizen deserves the right to live with independence, dignity, privacy and choice regardless of frailty and impairment. Assisted living communities provide assistance in the activities of daily life which allow seniors to retain control over their lives and age in place. ALFA advocates for informed choice, quality care and accessibility for all Americans needing long term care and fights restrictive policies which take away choice from seniors and their families. Click here to access the full letter. (http://www.alfa.org/alfa/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=1247&SnID=1658278346 ) FTC Delays Enforcement of Red Flags Rule Until Jan 2011 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has delayed the compliance deadline for the red flags rule to Jan. 1, 2011. Congress will now have more time to consider legislation that would affect those covered by the rule, which includes nursing homes and healthcare facilities. The rule requires “creditors” and “financial institutions” that have “covered accounts” to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs to help identify, detect, and respond to “red flags” that could indicate identity theft, according to the agency. A number of medical groups recently filed a lawsuit in a Washington D.C. court seeking exemption from the rule. Groups Target Seniors’ Wishes Several organizations nationwide, including Seniors Have Dreams Too (http://www.seniorshavedreams.org/ ) and Second Wind Dreams ( http://www.secondwind.org/ ) focus on granting wishes for the nation’s seniors. Modeled after the high-profile Make-A-Wish Foundation for sick children, wish-granting groups for seniors raise funds and arrange for everything from family reunions to piano lessons. Seniors Have Dreams Too, for example, has a presence in several states. Among the largest such groups is the Twilight Wish Foundation, which has granted more than 1,300 wishes in 35 states since its inception in 2003.