Weekly News Wrap-Up (August 24 - August 28)

Long-Term Care Association Mourns Death of Kennedy (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 27, 2009)
Among those honoring the memory of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died late Tuesday, was the long-term care community.

Half of Americans Could Catch Swine Flu, Healthcare Workers Still Reluctant to Get Vaccinated (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 26, 2009)
Slightly less than half the population of the United States could become infected with the H1N1 flu this fall and winter, according to a presidential panel. That trails findings that healthcare workers are still hesitant about receiving the H1N1 vaccine.

New CMS Rule to Eliminate Section of MDS, Revise RUGs (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, August 25, 2009)
A controversial new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid rule will recalibrate Medicare case mixes under the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) system. Specifically, it will eliminate a section of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and change the RUG classification process for short-stay residents.

The National Advisory Board (NAB) was Invited to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Summit to Present “Declaration for Independence” and Discuss State Long Term Services and Supports Programs
Four members of the NAB told an audience of legislators from across the country that the NAB’s Call to Action to transform our health care system to address long term services and supports was about people, not programs. Len Kirschner, Rob Sweezy, Jane Woods and Chuck Graham spoke to the National Conference of State Legislators on a panel entitled “Transforming the Systems of Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities.” The panel was moderated by Senator Renee Unterman (GA) who also serves as the Chair of NCSLs Human Services and Welfare Committee.