WALA News for July 16, 2010
1. Long Term Care Leaders Applaud Legislative Audit of Family Care
On Wednesday, July 14, 2010 a press release was submitted from WALA and other Long Term Care Associations, stating our support for the Legislative Audit of Family Care Program. View the Press Release here: http://www.ewala.org/breakingnews/blasts/2010/071410-FamilyCareAudit.pdf
2. Legislative Audit of Family Care Motion Passed
A lot of work went into obtaining the Legislative Audit of Family Care these past six months, as you may already know it passed on July 14, 2010. Many people testified on behalf of this audit. This Audit will take a closer look at the inner workings, including program coordination and management and financial solvency. More information on the scope of this audit is available at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/LAB/jcahearing.htm
To view the hearing go to: http://www.wiseye.org/
3. Statewide Public Hearing Forums- Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay Locations Set
Participate in your local public hearing forums. The goal of these forums is a way for consumers, family members, advocates and providers to tell their stories about the existing Family Care and Medicaid programs; the areas where there is significant concern; and the need to ensure adequate funding to continue to attract quality caregivers and maintain the highest purpose- maintaining quality care. The suggested theme for these Forums is “Inadequate Funding is the Greatest Threat to Quality Care�.
Madison will be having their forum on August 25, 2010 at the Alliant Energy Center from 6pm – 8pm. Our goal is to attract at least 300 attendees, so please come, support, and speak out. We are preparing for a tough budget for the 2011-2013 Wisconsin Biennial Budget. Right now the Budget is almost at an $850 Million shortfall.
Green Bay is having their forum as part of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) Annual Convention, on July 30, 2010. For more information go to http://www.cwag.org/meetings-events/
Make It Work Milwaukee, in partnership with the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, invited each of the gubernatorial candidates to meet with our coalitions for a candidate forum. The first of these forums will be with Mayor Tom Barrett on Monday, July 26th at 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st. A flyer will be available soon. They are continuing to work diligently on scheduling similar events with County Exec Walker and Mark Neumann but have not yet been successful in getting a commitment for events with the other candidates. They also hope to hold a forum in the fall with state legislative candidates.
If you have any questions about these forums please contact Sarah at the WALA office at 608/442-0375 or sbass@ewala.org
4. Update from the AL Forum
The AL Forum’s schedule (every other month, second Tuesday of the month) will incorporate Live Meeting every other month in 2011. The schedule is the following:
- January 2011 (Live Meeting)
- March 2011 (In Person)
- May 2011 (Live Meeting)
- July 2011 (In Person)
- September 2011 (Live Meeting)
- November 2011 (In Person)
There will be no breakout sessions following the Live Meetings.
To find out more about the AL Forum or to be on the Listserv go to: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/Providers/asstdLvgForum.htm
Kevin Coughlin has a new office location. He can now be reached at:
Kevin Coughlin
DQA/BAL
1 W. Wilson, Rm 950
Madison WI 53703
608/266-8598
Find more about what is going on with Family Care by subscribing to the Family Care Provider eNews. Future Family Care Provider eNews will be distributed via the Expanding Managed LTC in Wisconsin’s listserv. Important meetings in regard to Family Care and Family Care Expansion will be sent out via this listserv. To subscribe to this list, go to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/managedltc/grantees/Listserv.htm
Doug Englebert, Bureau of Technology, Education & Licensing talked about some of the developments and resources available in regard to medications and working with pharmacies:
- The APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.) has a position paper on Safe Injection, Infusion, and medication vial practices in health care. This position paper gives best practices on those topics and other resources. http://www.apic.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PracticeGuidance/PositionStatements/AJIC_Safe_Injection0310.pdf
- Doug talked about Controlled Substances and using electronic vs. verbal orders. More information on that topic is in the Newscapsule at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/PharmMarApr10.pdf
- Doug wants you to take action: Call or write your Senators about the Short Cycle Dispensing in the Health Care Reform Legislation: Part D Program. It may affect your Assisted Living and how often you need to get medications refilled. This legislation is recommending a 7 day supply, or acquiring a dispensing machine, to reduce waste, but could potentially be costly to your facility.
- The Medication Management Website (link is below) may have links that are broken or not working. Please be patient as DHS is doing server upgrades and links should be working within a month.
http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_dsl/MedManagement/asstlvgMMI.htm
Save the dates for the BAL Focus 2010, November 18, 2010 “Striving for Excellence in Challenging Times� and a Special Session on November 17, 2010, “The Art and Science of Infection PREVENTION and Control� at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Be sure to visit WALA at our booth!
5. WALA's Human Resources and Management Symposium
In a slow economy, with Managed Care dollars getting tighter and employee retaliation clams on the upswing, WALA wants to improve your bottom line by helping you manage your largest budget line item more effectively.
Join us on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 9:00am – 3:30pm at the Crown Plaza in Madison. More information will be coming soon to www.ewala.org about this one-day intensive mini-conference focused on HR and Management topics that affect our industry.
