National Assisted Living Industry News
OSHA Safe Resident Handling Program in Wausau Aug. 2
Workers' compensation and resident safety are important issues for every provider. Along with a broad array of providers, advocates, insurance carriers and others, the local office of OSHA has worked to develop a program on enhancing the safety of your caregivers in working with residents. "Creating a Safer Environment: A Value Added Program for Resident Care" is being presented on August 2 at the Stoney Creek Inn in Mosinee, near Wausau. This full-day program will feature a number of presenters on safe resident handling, as well as vendors and other resources.
Registration is $60 and includes breakfast and lunch. The program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 888/682-7144 ext. 4940 with questions or to register. If you would need to travel the night before, a block of rooms has been available at the Stoney Creek Inn for $62; call 800/659-2220 for details.
Federal Requirement to Verify Citizenship and Identify of Medicaid Recipients
On June 21, WALA received a memo from DHFS Secretary Nelson on the new federal requirement to verify citizenship and identify of Medicaid recipients. As you can see, DHFS could not move until they received guidelines from CMS, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This makes the July 1 deadline very close.
WALA will let you know as we hear more
"Is Decreasing Census Keeping You Up At Night?"
ALFA will be presenting a teleconference on increasing your census on Wednesday, November 9th from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. (CST). Hear how best-selling author Traci Bild of Dynamic Performance and Julie Callender of Bethesda Adult Communities led a year-long transformation that brought Bethesda over $2 million in increased revenues. Learn how developing a sales management strategy can decrease your vacancies and increase your revenues. For registration information, e-mail dbush@ewala.org or call 608/442-0375. The cost is $95 for ALFA members and $150 for ALFA non-members
WALA and ALFA Respond to Katrina
WALA supports ALFA's efforts to help assisted living residents impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Please encourage your management and residents to help those in need-we have sent a $500 donation to start the ball rolling. ALFA has guaranteed that 100% of the funds they collect will help displaced assisted living residents.
Health Alert - Contaminated Mouthwash
The Centers for Disease Control has issued
a public health alert for alcohol-free mouthwash distributed directly to
hospitals and long-term care providers, which
has been found to be contaminated with pneumonia-causing B. cepacia bacteria.
The mouthwash was manufactured for Medline Industries of Mundelein, IL and
distributed in 2 and 4 oz. bottles alone or as part of a "personal
hygiene hospital admission kit."
If you have any of this mouthwash, check the 7- or 8-digit lot number stamped
on the bottom of each bottle. Suspect lot numbers include 0503*** through 0508***
and 0503**** through 0508**** (asterisks represent any digit). The complete advisory
can be viewed on the CDC website at http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/
CMS Medicare Part D Toolkit Now Available
A free toolkit from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is now available with specific information for assisted living and long-term care providers on the Medicare Part D changes that will take effect in January. It includes relevant dates, data about formularies and details about dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid. WALA and ALFA are recommending that all of our members take advantage of this free resource.
The toolkit can be downloaded at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/provtoolkit.pdf
OSHA Holding Statewide Meetings on Workplace Injury
Kim Stille of the Madison OSHA office will be holding brainstorming sessions across the state on health care worker injuries.
ALFA
Please see the Assisted Living Federation of America's (ALFA's) website for more national assited living information.