Adult day services representatives in South Carolina recently landed an outstanding opportunity to educate the public about adult day services when they were invited to appear on a television broadcast.  Barbara Wright, owner of Helping Hands and Hope Bridge, and Coretta Bedsole were invited to appear on Lt. Governor McConnell’s weekly television show broadcast on SC Educational Television. This unique opportunity educates policy makers and the public about the benefits of adult day. Please take some time to review the interview and consider how you can make a difference in your community.

http://www.scetv.org/index.php/this_week_state_house/entry/march_7_2013_adult_day_care/

(Used with permission of SC Educational Television)

Join us in Washington, DC, on April 15-16, 2013, for the annual public policy event as we approach federal leaders about the importance of adult day services.  Learn more at http://www.nadsa.org/public-policy/nadsa-capitol-hill-day-april-2013/.

A proposed rule change has been introduced by the Veterans Administration that would implement the VA’s authority to use Medicare procedures to enter into provider agreements with extended care services such as Adult Day Health Centers, home health and hospice.  Under this proposed rule, VA would be able to obtain extended care services for veterans from providers who are closer to veterans’ homes and communities.

View the proposed rule in the Federal Register at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-13/pdf/2013-02993.pdf

Comments must be received by the VA on or before March 15, 2013.

Written comments may be submitted by email through http://www.regulations.gov; by mail or handdelivery to Director, Regulations Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 273–9026. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ‘‘RIN 2900–AO15, Use of Medicare Procedures to Enter Into Provider Agreements for Extended Care Services.’’

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Schoeps, Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care (10P4G), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 461–6763. (This is not a toll-free number.)

             The Medicare Adult Day Services Act of 2012 (H.R. 6476) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, September 24, 2012 by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA).

If passed the legislation would:

• Expand Medicare beneficiaries care options by adding skilled nursing, rehabilitation and social services in an Adult Day Services Center;

• Provide opportunity to improve outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries at a reduced cost;

• Enable working caregivers to continue to work while their loved ones receive skilled services to recuperate from an acute illness with the flexible hours of a Medicare Adult Day Services Center;

• Allow patients who qualify for home health services or nursing homes under Medicare to use adult day care as an option for care;

• Not expand eligibility: it simply allows qualified patients to choose adult day services;

• Save Medicare dollars because it would pay adult day care providers 98% of the home health rate while adding more choice to Medicare recipients;

• Require the Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center to meet the standards of nationally recognized accrediting agencies;

• Require the Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center to comply with all applicable state and local building and fire codes;

• Require that services in a Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center be ordered by a physician who approves the plan of care;

• Allow a Medicare certified home health agency to operate a Medicare Certified Adult Day Services Center if they become certified and follow the regulations for the program.

Representative Sanchez introduced a previous version of the Bill in 2009 which garnered support of 98 co-sponsors, and other 100 national and state consumer and provider organizations.

Thirty-five members of the National Adult Day Services Association from 15 states will make 60 visits with members of the U.S. Congress today to increase the visibility and awareness of adult day services.  This is the first annual Capitol Hill visit event sponsored by the national organization.  Members gathered last night for dinner to network and learn about the many exciting opportunities in this growing service sector.

States represented among the attendees include the following:  Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.  Many thanks to Public Policy Co-Chair Peter Notarstefano who was a key leader in organizing the event and to the Alaska Adult Day Services Association and Wisconsin Adult Day Services Association for sponsoring scholarships for the event.

Make a Difference to Advance Adult Day Services – Join us in Washington, D.C.  March 26-27, 2012

Schedule:

March 26^th, 2012

6:00pm Join us on Monday evening for networking. We will be gathering to meet each other, share ideas and dine together. Dinner costs will be each person’s responsibility.

March 27^th, 2012

8:30am to 12:00pm  Breakfast, Public Policy Education Session (location TBD)

                        Presenters: Congressional hill staff policy leaders

Noon to 5:00pm Congressional Hill visits-NADSA will provide assistance with scheduling meetings with Congressional staff/members of Congress.

Registration:

$99 per person (includes Tuesday breakfast, briefing and training at Capitol, Metro pass, written resources, appointment scheduling arranged with your legislators)

Click here to learn more about hotels and transportation.