Supporting the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.

S 2337/HR 3363 - Discussion of and support for Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act that would make private long-term care insurance available through employer-sponsored flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans and update and add consumer protections. S 1070/HR 1783 Elder Justice Act/S 1577 Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 - Support for both pieces of legislation, strategy for how they might both move forward this year, bill markup, background for score on S.1577. S 2708 Caring for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Provisions related to increasing the number of professionals trained in geriatrics or gerontology, etc., providing input on legislation and encouraging offices to cosponsor the bill. Discussed draft legislation to make changes to Medicaid HCBS, including the Medicaid state plan option, spousal impoverishment, Medicaid Transformation Grants, etc. S 3230 Empowered at Home Act - Lobbied to adjust budget neutrality requirement in waivers to include costs in both Medicare and Medicaid. HR 7110/S 3604 Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act - Lobbied for FMAP funding. HR 5613 Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Supported this legislation, particularly provisions related to placing a moratorium on seven harmful Medicaid regulations. HR 6331 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - Discussed need to strengthen low-income programs by raising asset limits and streamlining rules, and to keep premiums affordable for all beneficiaries, and promote e-prescriptions in medicare. S 2408/HR 4296 Medicare Electronic Medication and Safety Protection (E-Meds) Act of 2007- Supported provisions related to requiring e-prescribing in Medicare Part D, at first by providing incentive payments to providers who do and after 2011 lower payments to providers who do not. S 2641 Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act - Lobbied in support of the bill and to increase co-sponsors; criminal background checks for LTC employees; nursing home quality and proposed five star rating system cms; poor performing nursing homes, family caregiving initiative, nursing home compliance guidelines, Home Health CAHPS, LTC Partnership Program (under Medicaid data reporting requirements), status of Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demonstration, Prepare to Care for use in innovative employer caregiving programs satellite broadcast, LTC Quality Alliance. HR 2642 - Lobbied for inclusion of Medicaid Regulation Moratoriam in Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008, and on supplemental appropriations bill. To build support and obtain sponsors for Medicaid Family Caregiver Assessment Demonstration proposal (no Bill). S 2838/HR 6126 - Lobbied to support the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act and oppose amendments to weaken the bill. Discussion and input on legislation to improve the health/LTC workforce and support family caregivers (no bill). Advance directives and end-of-life care, education of the public about these issues, portability, and other issues relating to advance directives (no bill). S 1577- Support for Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S 1577) and marking up the bill; provided feedback and in testimony. HR 7114/S3613 Independence at Home Act/Chronic Care Coordination - Feedback on and support for legislation to provide chronic care coordination services to certain Medicare beneficiaries. S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2007- Support for Medicare premium protection and modifications to Medicare Savings Programs/Part D Low-Income Subsidy. S. 3118 Preserving Access to Medicare Act - Lobbied in opposition to Grassley-McConnell bill - All provisions related to beneficiary access and Medicare improvements, including e-prescribing. S 3101- Urged support of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to help improve Medicare. Green Houses and culture change in LTC facilities, person centered care and medical homes - testimony and input on draft bill - no bill number. Lobbied for appeal notices for Medicare beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans (no bill). S 1102 Part D Equity for Low-Income Services - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS. HR 1536 Prescription Coverage Now Act - Lobbied for legislation to increase Medicare Part D LIS asset limits. HR 5702 End-of-Life Care Advance Directive Promotion Act - Discussed ideas for end-of-life care legislation and how to help ensure patient wishes are respected; Advance Directive Promotion Act. Provided feedback on draft legislation regarding physician orders for life sustaining treatment. S.334 - Discussed long-term care broadly and including it in health care reform, including the Healthy Americans Act. Discussed voting in LTC facilities, such as nursing homes, current status and law on the issue (no bill). S 3327 - Provided input and support for the Empowered at Home Act to make improvements in Medicaid HCBS; LTC insurance tax incentives and consumer protection improvements and a caregiver tax credit. Invitations and information about a solutions forum on balancing of state LTC systems. HR 3363/S 2337 - Discussed consumer protections for LTC insurance, premium increases and claims denials, support for family caregivers including assessment, consumer complaints and support for the LTC Affordability and Security Act. HR 6033 - Discussed provisions of Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act. H.Con.Res 133 - Provided input on and support for new LTC Awareness Week resolution. LTC - General discussion of LTC, home and community based services, family caregiving, chronic care, workforce, quality and financing options.(no bill) CMS - Lobbied on the Medicare Medical Home Demo implementation.