On September 15, 2016, LeadingAge DC will host its Annual Meeting, Be the Difference, at the LeadingAge Headquarters.  A Call for Presentations has been posted on the LeadingAge website. Submit all proposals by June 3, 2016  Click here for more information. 

 

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District of Columbia Update

• Budget Hearings
  • On May 31st, the DC Council approved the FY 2017 budget with a few technical changes.  These changes included a $150,000 increase in the Office on Aging.  This is to be used towards senior recreational transportation and senior villages.
  • Despite advocacy efforts, there was no increase to the EPD Assisted Living Reimbursement or reinstatement of the Nursing Home Inflation Rate

• Fair Shot Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2016 
  • As introduced, this bill increases the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour in 2020 and increase the minimum wage during each successive year starting in 2021 in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. It also increases the minimum wage for employees who receive gratuities to $7.50 an hour in 2022 and to 50% of the minimum wage in each year thereafter. Learn more...
     
• Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act of 2015
  • Signed on May 4, 2016 with Act Number  A21-0385.  Transmitted to Congress, Projected Law Date is Jul 11, 2016.  As introduced, this bill requires hospitals to provide patients or their legal guardian an opportunity to select a caregiver within twenty-four hours of admission to the hospital. The hospital must record the contact information for the caregiver and consult with the caregiver at least twenty-four hours before discharging the patient.  Learn more...
     
• Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2015
  • This bill provides real property tax relief for Lots 802 and 809 in Square 2287, owned by Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. for property located at 3050 Military Road, N.W. It also requires that all real property taxes, interest, penalties, fees and other related charges assessed against the property owned, be forgiven for a period beginning with tax year 2015 through the effective date of this act.
  • LeadingAge DC Position Paper provided to DC Council
     
• The Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults Amendment Act of 2015.
  • On April 21, 2016, the Committee of the Judiciary recommended for approval by the Council.  The Committee Report is available here.  “The stated purpose of Bill 21-0326 is to amend the District of Columbia Theft and White Collar Crimes Act of 1982 and the Criminal Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults Act of 2000 to criminalize the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; to redefine vulnerable adults to include persons aged 65 and over; and to conform the enhanced protections for persons aged 65 and over.”
     
• Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care Licensure Amendment Act of 2016
  • This bill requires health profession employers, health care providers, facilities, or other health agencies to report certain changes in an employee's employment status due to alleged or actual misconduct within five days of the occurrence or be subject to a fine of not less than $10,000.
  • Click here for status
     
• Health Care Decisions Act of 2015
  • The Health Care Decisions Act of 2015 will create a MOST program in DC.  On January 8th it was published in the DC Register and tramitted to Congress.  The Projected Law date is March 15, 2016
  • LeadingAge DC will be involved in developing training for the MOST
  • Read More
     
• LGBTQ Cultural Competency Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2015
  • Continuing- education requirements for the practice of any health occupation licensed, registered, or certified now requires 2 credits of instruction on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender 26 nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression 27 (“LGBTQ”).
  • LeadingAge DC is working to develop a program to meet this requirement to be held at the Annual Meeting in September.

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Federal Update

 

CMS Proposed Rule

• On April 25, 2016, CMS published the following proposed rule in the Federal Register:  Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities Proposed Rule for FY 2017, SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program, SNF Quality Reporting Program, and SNF Payment Models Research, published in the Federal Register, April 25, 2016.  Read more

Statement from LeadingAge on the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Report: Healthy Aging Begins at Home

• The title of Bipartisan Policy Center’s report says it all: Healthy Aging Begins at Home. Research and common sense tell us that service enriched housing can slow health care costs and allow seniors to choose where and how they age.  Read more...

Survey & Certification Nursing Home Action Plan Released

• This memo announces the release of the CMS Survey and Certification Group FY 2016 to 2017 Nursing Home Action Plan.  “The Plan outlines five inter-related and coordinated approaches – or principles of action – for nursing home quality, ultimately aligning with CMS’ main goals.”  Read more...

Department Of Labor Finalizes White Collar Overtime Rule Released

• On May 18, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its final so-called “white collar” overtime rule, which will take effect December 1, 2016. As a result of the final rule, the Obama administration estimates 4.2 million salaried employees who presently qualify for the “white collar” exemption (Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees) from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will soon be eligible for overtime protection or, in the alternative, more time off should employers elect to limit their hours to restrict overtime pay.  Read more...

OSHA Releases New Workplace Injury And Illness Reporting Requirement

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to modernize injury data collection to better inform workers, employers, the public and OSHA about workplace hazards. Read more...

EEOC Issues Final Rules On Workplace Wellness Programs

• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued final rules that describe how Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) apply to wellness programs offered by employers that request health information from employees and their spouses. Read more...

Senate Bill Includes RAD For PRAC Eligibility, Funding

• After months of advocacy by LeadingAge members, the Senate HUD appropriations committee has included eligibility for HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration to include Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRACs) and provided $4 million to assist in these conversions in its fiscal year 2017 bill. Read more...

HUD Management Occupancy Reviews Resume In 42 States

• MORs have not been performed on most of the Section 8 properties in the 42 contested states (including Indiana) since 2011. But HUD has, in recent weeks, given willing PBCA’s permission to begin resuming MORs starting in as soon as they submit and HUD approves their proposed schedule. Read more... 

Fiscal 2017 HUD Appropriations Update 

• LeadingAge is very excited that both sides of Capitol Hill are getting to work on the 2017 spending bill that covers senior housing programs. The Senate is using some creative “packaging” to facilitate passage of spending bills on its side of the Hill. The Transportation/HUD bill is being paired with Military Construction/Veterans Administration and the vehicle for both is a hollowed-out version of the Transportation/HUD bill the House passed last year for fiscal 2016.  Read more...

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Resources

The Roles and Responsibilities of Not-for-Profit Boards
This Education Spotlight provides LeadingAge members information and resources on how board members can effectively fulfill their ethical, legal and fiduciary responsibilities.  Read more...

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Education and Networking

LeadingAge DC Leadership Strategic Planning

• Wednesday June 1, 2016, 9:00 am - 12:00pm
• Location: Knollwood, 6200 Oregon Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20015
• Description: Members will engage in a strategic planning exercise for the LeadingAge DC
• LeadingAge DC Members Only
• Contact Christy Kramer for more information - ckramer@leadingage.org

LeadingAge DC and Maryland Governance Symposium

• Will be rescheduled.  Stay tuned for more information

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Rules Impacting Overtime and Exemption Status Webinar

• June 16, 2016, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• Location: Webinar
• Program Description: On March 14, 2016, the Department of Labor submitted the final proposed overtime rule updates of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to the Office of Management and Budget. As a result, these updates went into effect May 18, 2016.
• Registration Fee: $50
• Register here

National Emerging Leadership Summit @ GW

• The summit is targeted toward Healthcare Administrators in Health and Aging Services who have typically been in the field for under ten years and are identified as emerging leaders. The Summit aims to increase, improve and support the profession to attract talent and future leaders by giving a voice to the next generation of leaders.  Individuals that have attended the Summit hold positions in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, rehabilitation hospitals, home and community based services and affiliated organizations across the country.
• For more information email: Christy Kramer at ckramer@leadingage.org
• Apply Here

 

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