Weekly News Wrap-Up (October 19 - October 23)

Nebraska Supreme Court Rules For Plaintiff In Nursing Home Arbitration Case (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, October 23, 2009)
The son of a nursing home resident who allegedly was injured because of negligence did not have the authority to sign a voluntary arbitration agreement on her behalf. As a result, he was not bound by the arbitration agreement, according to a recent state Supreme Court ruling.

House Passes Bill Exempting Certain Healthcare Facilities From “Red Flags” Rule (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, October 22, 2009)
The U.S. House of Representatives this week voted unanimously—400-0—to pass legislation that would exempt certain healthcare facilities from the “red flags” rule.

Disabled Medicaid Beneficiaries Often Have Psychiatric Illness, Multiple Chronic Conditions, Study Finds (McKnight’s Long-Term Care News & Assisted Living, October 21, 2009)
Nearly half of all Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities also have psychiatric illness. They also increasingly are being diagnosed and treated for multiple comorbidities, according to a report released Tuesday by the Center for Health Care Strategy.

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.