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Here's what YOU can do to support assisted living in Wisconsin!

Long-Term Care Providers Urged to Contact Committee Members to Oppose Passage (March, 2008)

Senate Bill 283, relating to the care and treatment of persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia was voted upon by the Senate Committee. An amendment to the bill was introduced that would exempt hospice from the bill. It will also require the DHFS to create standards for staff training and staffing levels and standards for security at the adult family home, residential care apartment complex, community-based residential facility or nursing home.

The amendment has been characterized as a compromise; however none of the concerns of the long-term care provider associations have been dealt with. Assisted living providers and skilled nursing facilities have opposed the bill and the new "Krusick" amendment.

This Alzheimer care legislation deserves more research and input to find the best solution. The bill and the amendment as currently drafted fail to identify specific problems and solutions.
The language contained in SB-283 and AB-493 is so broad that it is impossible for the various stakeholder organizations to come to a compromise agreement in only one 1- hour meeting. A committee taskforce or a "Legislative Council Study Committee" should be created to promote a responsible legislative solution.
There are many issues surrounding dementia care, including provider liability issues that this legislation should consider. Unfortunately, neither the bill nor the new amendment deal with provider liability issues related to caring for Alzheimer patients.

HFS 83 Rewrite (Nov 27, 2007)

ATTENTION CBRFs: The HFS 83 Rewrite is now available and the clock is ticking for your opinions on the proposed changes. Now that the hearings for the rewrite of HFS 83 are scheduled, it is critical that you read the proposed rule to determine its impact on the assisted living industry and your own operations. As a WALA member, your dues support our efforts on your behalf. We encourage you to read WALAâ€™s position on the changes, including our recommendations for ways to meet Administrator qualifications if they do not have at least 60 hours of college credit, as proposed.

As you can see in the list of HFS 83 hearings dates and places, the public hearings on the HFS 83 rewrite begin December 7 and are scheduled for mid December in the five BAL regions. The purpose of the hearings is to give you, the public, a voice on the proposed rule and any changes you may wish to make. The rewrite had been a four+ year collaborative effort and WALA has been at the forefront of this process for you.

Joint Finance Committee to vote on Budget Provision Impacting RCAC providers. (May 16-18, 2007)

The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Finance Committee will be voting this Thursday, May 17, 2007 on a new policy provision that would expand the statutory definition of "long-term care facility" to include residential care apartment complexes (RCACs), as it relates to the authority of the BOALTC to provide ombudsman services.

In addition, the Joint Finance Committee will also be considering another motion to assess a new $12 per year per apartment fee on RCACs to provide funding for the Ombudsman program expansion to RCACs.

The Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA) opposes this policy expansion is requesting WALA members with RCACs to contact your state senator and assembly representative as soon as possible and ask that this provision be removed from the budget bill.

WHAT YOU CAN DO (it's easy and will only take a few minutes)

- Look up your state senator and state assembly representative
(To find your Legislators click on: http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/)

- Call and Send an E-Mail to your state senator and assembly representative.

MESSAGE:

I OPPOSE expanding Ombudsman program to include Residential Care Apartment Complexes (RCACs). Please Vote for Alternative #4: "Delete Provision" (Paper #161)

Unfortunately, this budget provision would create the perception that an RCAC is more like an institution, rather than what they are today - a home-like setting where elderly and disabled individuals choose to live independently.

When RCACs were created by the Legislature in 1995 - the Legislature intentionally did not give Ombudsmen the authority to enter RCACs. The Legislature that created RCACs had intended for RCACs to be "home-like settings" for residents with independent lifestyles.

This policy provision would change the fundamental nature of RCACs as being independent home-like settings. This provision would treat RCACs and the residents they serve as an institutional setting, which was never the intent of the original legislation.

Unlike other "long-term care facilities":

RCACs were created to be independent home-like settings, not institutions.
RCAC residents live comparatively independent lifestyles.
RCAC residents maintain private, independent apartments, and receive assistance in the form of supportive, personal, or nursing care for less than an average of four hours per day.
RCAC residents tend to be less dependent on their caregivers, and possess more privacy and personal independence than nursing home residents or individuals being served in a community living arrangement that is staffed around-the-clock (such as a CBRF).

If you are represented by a member of the Joint Finance Committee, please call him or her. Members are:

Sen. Russ Decker (D-Weston): 608/266-2502
Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay): 608/266-5670
Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee): 608/266-5810
Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar): 608/266-3510
Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona): 608/266-9170
Sen. John Lehman (D-Racine): 608/266-1832
Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills): 608/266-5830
Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon): 608/266-0751
Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson): 608/266-1526
Rep. Dan Meyer (R-Eagle River): 608/266-7141
Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale): 608/266-8590
Rep. Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake): 608/266-8530
Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford): 608/267-0280
Rep. Robin Vos (R-Racine): 608/266-9171
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison): 608/266-8570
Rep. Pedro ColÃ³n (D-Milwaukee): 608/267-7669

If you are not represented by a member of Joint Finance, please call the co-chairs, Sen. Russ Decker (D-Weston, 608/266-2502) and Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson, 608/266-1526). Additionally, call your own local legislators.

ACTION ALERT - Stop RCAC Ombuds Expansion, Support LTC Funding

NOW IS THE TIME to make your voice heard on the 2007-09 State of Wisconsin biennial budget. The Governor has proposed extending the Ombudsman program into RCACs, which WALA opposes. WALA is also part of a broad coalition of long-term care providers supporting a 5% rate increase in ALL long-term care programs, including COP and Medicaid Waiver. In order to make our goals happen, it is absolutely crucial for you to contact your legislators.

RCAC Ombudsman Expansion

WALA opposes RCAC Ombudsman expansion because we believe it erodes the line between RCACs and more regulated settings like CBRFs or Adult Family Homes. The RCAC model was established in 1995 to give consumers a choice. RCAC residents have their own kitchens, are able to control who enters their home, and enter into care and risk agreements themselves.

5% Across-The-Board Increase For Long-Term Care

The 5% increase is important because providers have seen their rates frozen since 2001. Although Family Care will eventually expand statewide, many parts of the state will not see the program in place for up to five years. Our direct caregivers and those we serve cannot continue to "try and survive" without giving up the standards of quality care we all believe in.

What To Do

We need you to call legislators and let them know how important it is to take RCAC Ombudsman expansion out of the budget, and how crucial it is not to leave providers and consumers in the lurch while we wait for Family Care.

If you are represented by a member of the Joint Finance Committee, please call him or her. Members are:

If you are unsure who represents you, visit http://waml.legis.state.us to look up your legislators or call WALA at 608/288-0246.

What To Say

When making calls, be polite and brief. Legislative staffers need to know two things: who you are and what you want them to do. Identify yourself and the facility/company you represent. In a few sentences, describe the action your legislator should take and why they should do it. We want them to remove the RCAC Ombudsman expansion by deleting Sections 73 and 1768 of the budget bill and support a 5% across-the-board increase for long-term care.

Example:

"Hi, this is Jane Provider of Sunrise Glade Assisted Living in Schofield, Wisconsin. I would like to ask Senator Decker to take out the Governor's proposal to expand the Long-Term Care Ombudsman into Resident Care Apartment Complexes, which is in sections 73 and 1768 of the budget bill. RCACs are very different from other kinds of assisted living, and this expansion proposal is inappropriate. I'd also like Senator Decker to support a 5% across-the-board increase in funding for long-term care programs. We can't wait five years for Family Care to get up and running."

The staffer should then ask for your address. Give both your facility/company's address and your home address.

If the staffer has questions about what you're asking, have them call WALA at 608/288-0246 for details. Be sure to thank them for their time.

Once You Are Finished

In order for us to track calls, please e-mail Daniel Bush at dbush@ewala.org or call 608/288-0246 and let us know which legislators you have contacted.

Take Action To Support Assisted Living-Make These Calls NOW!

Also...

Invite candidates to meet with residents

It's a fact that seniors vote, and most candidates would jump at the chance to meet and greet with them in your facility. Not only does it raise the profile of your facility and your residents in their mind, but it makes a great activity program as well! A list of all candidates registered with contact information is available on the State Elections Board website.

Help residents get registered to vote

Although we do have same-day registration in Wisconsin, it will make things much easier if residents are registered in advance. They will need to have available acceptable proof of residence, which can include a photo ID or a copy of their lease/contract. You can find registration information and forms on the State Elections Board website.

If they are going to vote absentee, you will need to have them registered and request an absentee ballot by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before the election.

Drive residents to the polls

Facilities with transportation capability should organize trips to the polling place on election day -- in fact, most do so already. This is another great way to provide an activity for your residents.

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