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WALA News for February 26, 2004

1. MEDICAID COMPROMISE
2. WALA CONFERENCE ONLINE REGISTRATION
3. FISH SEMINAR- DEJA FISH ALL OVER AGAIN
4. SALES AND MARKETING INTENSIVE
5. BQA's SUE SCHROEDER RESIGNS
6. PHARMACY SOCIETY CONFERENCE
7. ALFA CHICAGO CONFERENCE

Last Fax Blast on Jan 23, 2004

1) Medicaid Compromise

Governor Doyle, Assembly Speaker Gard and Senate Majority Leader Panzer reached a compromise on Medicaid on February 25. Approximately $123.5 million of the $175 million generated from the bond restructuring will be used to offset the $400 million Medicaid shortfall. This means that the Medicaid program continues to have a shortfall of $277.5 in this biennium.

Assembly Bill 909 is the bill that has been introduced that represents this agreement. The Joint Finance Committee was scheduled to meet and pass the bill on February 25 and the Assembly will pass the bill on the floor soon after. The Senate was expected to vote on the bill so the Governor can sign it into law immediately.

This bill will fund Medical Assistance for the elderly, address funding shortfalls in the Office of the State Public Defender and state district attorneys, and eliminate the state's current budget deficit.

The agreement reached on Wednesday includes the following terms:

• Increase bonding by $175 million for refunding of general obligation debt.
• Reduce GPR debt service by $175 million in 2003-04 and increase GPR debt by $8.75million in 2004-05.
• Transfer $123.5 million in 2003-04 from the general fund to the medical assistance trust fund.
• Increase the private bar appropriation of the Office of the State Public Defender by $4.0 million in 2003-04 and $5.2 in 2004-05.
• Increase the appropriation of the District Attorneys by $1 million in 2003-04.
• Eliminate the $32 million gross, general fund deficit for 2003-05.

2) Conference

Remember that the discount registration for the WALA 2004 Spring Conference ends February 27. As you saw in many stories about the conference, in the postcard you just received and in the buzz we are hearing in the industry, it will be quite a three-day event! Need more information? Go to Conference Central and get everything you need to know or call the WALA office for a complete agenda. If you are a vendor, we must inform you that we are totally sold out of exhibit space, but we do have sponsorship opportunities that will allow you to get the word out about your product or service. Call the WALA office.

We even added a way for YOU to have a voice. Play BOARD BINGO on Wednesday and tell WALA what you think about a wide variety of issues. The WALA Board will use your information to plan new programs, training, and legislative initiatives for you and your staff. And every bingo you get gives you a chance to win apple pies - homemade by A L residents - and the grand prize of a 27" TV/DVD/VCR combo.

We wish to encourage all of you to attend the optional Provider Roundtables by regulatory category (AFH, CBRF or RCAC) on Tuesday, March 23. The agendas for those roundtables are posted on the website so that you can see which topics the group leaders feel need to have group discussion. In addition, we especially want to encourage Adult Family Homes to attend, as it is difficult for you to get to a meeting of your peers. WALA will waive the registration fee for AFHs (only) for that session.

As you know, you can now register for ALL of the conferences and seminars that WALA produces directly online!

3) FISH Seminar

Deja FISH All Over Again - The FISH folk who presented the FISH seminar are back - by popular demand! And if you missed them the first time, you'll want to be part of the fun on their second tour - that last FISH was thiiiiiiiiiis big! Join the Assisted Living Foundation of Wisconsin in welcoming "FISH II: Bigger and Fishier" on Friday, April 23, 2004 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. You can register online and we secured a discount room rate so you can spend the weekend with your family in the Dells! Learn about FISH while your kids swim in the waterpark!

The FISH gurus themselves, Joel Moyer and Jeff Carlson of Harbor Senior Concepts, have successfully implemented the FISH program in their assisted living facilities statewide. So get your pole and come a'fishin' but remember the discount registration ends April 1st (no foolin!). Comments from last year's attendees are on the website.

4) Sales and Marketing Intensive

WALA presents the sales and marketing event of the year! Join us for the ALFA/WALA Sales & Marketing Certification Program, May 11-13, 2004 at the Olympia Resort & Conference Center in Oconomowoc.

Mari Jo Grace of Grace Management and Rae Schweer of Alterra Healthcare will show you how to make your marketing stand out above the competition, generate those extra sales, and keep your facilities full!

Each of the three Sales and Marketing classes can be taken individually or in combination. However, to take the final examination and obtain national certification by ALFA, you must complete all three classes.

• Marketing Intensive - On Tuesday, May 11, our dynamic duo will present the Marketing Intensive.
• Sales Intensive - On Wednesday, May 12, we come at you again, this time with the famous "Ask, then ASK Again" Sales Intensive.
• The Advanced Sales and Marketing Intensive on Thursday, May 13 is a fun, and interactive program using case studies to address typical marketing challenges. After learning the techniques from the other classes, here is your chance to hone those skills.

The entire agenda is on the WALA website where you can also register directly online. Discount registration ends April 27. Last year's attendees told us we must present this course again.

5) Sue Schroeder Resigns

Sue Schroeder, the Director of the Bureau of Quality Assurance, called me in mid-February to let me know that she has decided to resign from BQA. She feels she has faced some strong challenges, has done major reorganization but misses the direct care level. She currently has no formal plans.

WALA believes that her leadership in restructuring the Assisted Living section so it oversees ONLY the AL world has been a major improvement for care in AL. We have invited her to join us at the WALA conference to say a few words if she wishes on Thursday, March 25 when Kevin Coughlin of BQA will speak about the new survey process. She will consider our invitation and her current plans are to leave in July 2004. She hopes that with this much notice, she will have some time on the job with her replacement..

Good luck, Sue. We have disagreed about things over the last 5 years, but you have always been fair and had the interests of the "consumer" in your heart. We wish you the best. (Note to AL providers - keep her in mind if you have a role for someone of her talents and breadth of experience!)

6) Pharmacy Society Conference

The 2004 PSW Spring Senior Care Conference will be held on April 7th at the Country Inn, Waukesha. The theme of the Conference is "Sculpting Heath Care for the Elderly". The topics that will be highlighted at this Conference include the revised Beer's criteria for 2003, pneumonia, nutrition in the elderly, a Medicaid forum and a Medicare drug benefit overview.

The program is open to all health care professionals and caregivers involved with the elderly or with patients under institutionalized care. Interested individuals can view the brochure and register for the meeting by visiting the PSA web site. Any questions regarding the program can be directed via e-mail to rickh@pswi.org or to the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin at 608/827-9200.

7) ALFA Chicago Conference

Great education also at the ALFA's 2004 National Conference & EXPO Chicago, May 5 - 7. Register Now! Easy online registration at http://www.alfa.org or call 800-258-7030 for more information.

WALA IS YOUR ALFA!

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