WALA News for Oct 17, 2008
- A Special Request from Alfred Johnson
- HFS 83 UPDATE
- ALFA Members Can Help Promote Long-Term Care Insurance Awareness
- DHS Proposes Facility Fee Increase in the 09-11
- Biennial Budget Summary and Intro to the Assisted Living Medication Management Initiative Website
- Ethics of Disaster Preparedness
- BAL announces "Starting Up an AFH" Webcast
1. A Special Request from Alfred Johnson
The Director of the Bureau of Technology, Licensing and Education within the Division of Quality Assurance, Alfred Johnson would like you to participate in an emergency preparedness pilot project with CMS. You will find a recruitment document that CMS developed on the the WALA website under breaking news.
Wisconsin is one of the three states that are participating in an emergency preparedness pilot project with CMS. Currently we are seeking providers (assisted living, nursing homes, hospitals, mental health centers) that would be interested in participating in this project.
Please send the recruitment document to Alfred Johnson if you are interested in participating as soon as possible. If there are questions, please contact Alfred Johnson at the below information.
Alfred C. Johnson
Director Bureau of Technology
Licensing and Education Division of Quality Assurance
(608) 266-2055
2. HFS 83 UPDATE
As you know, the rewrite of HFS 83 in now available to review on the WALA website. As of this moment, there are no planned public hearings which mean it is possible the rule could be promulgated yet this fall. We will keep you updated- details on the WALA website.
3. ALFA Members Can Help Promote Long-Term Care Insurance Awareness
Educational presentations reach out to residents, families, and communities
As you know, the mission of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) involves advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all Americans needing assistance with long-term care. Part of this mission involves public education, and ALFA has identified a new opportunity to help educate the public about the benefits of long-term care insurance, which can help finance future long-term care needs.
November is National Long-Term Care Insurance Awareness Month, and to promote awareness about this important coverage option, ALFA has partnered with the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) to provide in-community educational presentations that explain the benefits of long-term care insurance and the role it can play in helping to finance assisted living.
As a WALA and /or ALFA member, you can host one or more free, educational presentations in your communities for residents' family members and friends as well as the larger community. You'll have the opportunity to showcase your residence(s) while providing a valuable service.
The goal is to schedule 50 or more presentations during November, and ALFA encourages your involvement to help educate residents, their families, and your surrounding communities about this important coverage option. Presentations will be conducted by an AALTCI representative and are educational only - they will not pitch or attempt to sell their products - only inform.
For more information about setting up presentations in your communities, please contact Maribeth Bersani at mbersani@alfa.org, which will provide you with more details on the joint initiative and work with AALTCI to set up the presentations. Letter from Rick Grimes of ALFA
4. DHS Proposes Facility Fee Increase in the 09-11 Biennial Budget
Note the fee increases below. Please let WALA know your opinion about this proposed increase by calling 608/288-0246 or emailing at info@ewala.org.
| Provider | Current Fee | Proposed Fee (27% increase) |
|---|---|---|
| Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) | $306.00 | $389.00 |
| CBRF Beds | $39.60 | $50.25 |
| Adult Family Homes | $135.00 | $171.00 |
| Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC) | $350.00 | $445.00 |
| RCAC Apartments | $6.00 | $7.60 |
| Adult Day Care | $100.00 | $127.00 |
*Note: All fees are biennial except of RCACs, which are annual
5. Biennial Budget Summary and Intro to the Assisted Living Medication Management Initiative Website
Please visit and view DQA memo/08-024 Summary of Wisconsin's Assisted Living Medication Management Initiative Workgroup Activities and Introduction of the Assisted Living Medication Management Initiative Website
*This is a major resource and initiative. WALA strongly encourages you to review these documents.*
6. Ethics of Disaster Preparedness
The State Expert Panel on the Ethics of Disaster Preparedness has produced a series of six brochures to help health care organizations and their staff to have a greater awareness of the ethical issues that will arise during a disaster and also more realistic expectations of what to expect from the healthcare system in a disaster. [More on this topic.]
7. BAL announces "Starting Up an AFH" Webcast
"Starting Up an AFH" Webcast is now available onnline.
This webcast is now mandatory for all new facilities wanted to be licensed AFHs in Wisconsin. You must watch the webcast and turn in a certification of completion with your application to BAL.
