The Lead August 20, 2020 - LeadingAge Illinois

Nursing / Rehabilitation:
Nursing Homes to Receive Shipment of N95 Masks

Assisted Living:
HHS Funding Update
Member Spotlight: Carriage Crossing Senior Living

Affordable/Subsidized Housing:
LeadingAge Responds to Executive Order on Evictions
LeadingAge Illinois HUD Member Regional Conference Calls

Home and Community-Based Services:
OASAC Annual Report to be Submitted to Illinois General Assembly

Technology:
COVID-19 Social Connectedness Supplemental Funding Bill Introduced

Other:
Medicare Care Compare Webinar
IDPH Issues Travel Guidance
New LeadingAge Program to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Aging Services
Illinois Long Term Care Ombudsman to Issue Guidance
Personal Protective Equipment Update
Your Support Needed for the LeadingAge Illinois PAC

Top Stories:

CMS Announces Resumption of Routine Surveys
Continuing efforts to reintegrate survey activity, CMS announced further expansion of survey activity and guidance around enforcement activity on a press release and policy memo on August 17. This expansion follows previous guidance released on June 1 and is a departure from the plan for nursing homes first introduced in the Reopening Recommendations released on May 18.

Effective immediately, this survey expansion applies to all provider types including nursing homes, home health, and hospice providers. The information that follows below is specific to nursing homes. For information regarding survey and enforcement activities for non-long-term care, please refer to QSO-20-35-ALL.

Including the survey activity previously outlined on June 1, state survey agencies will conduct the following activities:

Complaint investigations triaged as immediate jeopardy (IJ), non-IJ-high, and non-IJ-medium (new),
All onsite revisit surveys as specified in the State Operations Manual, Chapter 7,
All annual recertification surveys,
Special Focus Facility (SFF) and SFF candidate surveys.

This directive for the expansion of survey activity is to be begin as soon as feasible, meaning as soon as the state survey agencies have appropriate staffing and personal protective equipment (PPE).

When survey activity was suspended in March, this also included the suspension of pending enforcement activity (with the exception of unremoved IJs) such as the accrual of Denials of Payment for New Admissions (DPNAs) and per day Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs). Providers pending enforcement were also permitted to delay submission of their Plans of Correction. All providers must now submit Plans of Correction and this new guidance from CMS outlines how states and regions should resolve suspended enforcement actions.

First, CMS has expanded authority for desk reviews of Plans of Correction. The state survey agency will contact providers who have not submitted a Plan of Correction. Plans of Correction for citations issued between March 23 and May 31 must be submitted within 10 calendar days. Desk reviews will now be permitted for all citations except for IJ citations that have not been verified as removed or corrected to a lower level of noncompliance. An onsite revisit will still be required for these citations. Additionally, state survey agencies will be permitted to add to the next on-site survey any clinical areas of concern for which a citation was previously cleared through the expanded desk review process. For citations issued after June 1, Plans of Correction must follow normal timelines and on-site revisits are authorized according to Chapter 7 of the State Operations Manual.

For enforcement remedies that were imposed prior to March 23:

If the provider was given notice of the enforcement remedy (DPNA or CMP) prior to March 23, the remedy will accrue from the date of notice through March 22 or the date of substantial compliance per an accepted Plan of Correction, whichever is earlier. CMS will inform nursing homes of the amount and proceed to collection.
If the provider was not given notice of the enforcement remedy prior to March 23, remedies must be imposed according to the Immediate Imposition of Remedies and will accrue from the start date of the CMP and continue through March 22 or the date of substantial compliance per an accepted Plan of Correction, whichever is earlier. CMS will then proceed to collection of the CMP. The Immediate Imposition of Remedies does not allow for the retroactive enforcement of a DPNA.

For enforcement cycles during the prioritization period March 23 – May 31, CMPs will be issued for citations at G-level and higher. IJ citations will receive a per day CMP that accrues from the date the IJ existed until the IJ was verified to be removed by on-site visit. For actual harm citations, a per instance CMP will be imposed.

For enforcement cycles beginning after June 1, enforcement processes will follow the State Operations Manual; however, for per day CMPs when noncompliance began during the survey prioritization period, the per day CMP will accrue effective the date of survey entrance.

For CMPs that were due during the prioritization period (March 23 – May 31), CMS will re-issued the CMP Due and Payable notice with a collection date of 15 days after the notice. The 35% reduction of CMP will be applied for providers who did not file an appeal.

What This Means for Providers:
Survey activity will resume, despite few if any providers being in phase 3 of reopening. Note that infection control surveys will continue and it is likely that we will also see more strike team visits on top of this resumed survey activity.

Plans of Correction must be submitted and nursing homes must prepare to resolve pending enforcement remedies. CMS notes that any provider who may have difficulty allocating resources to develop and implement a Plan of Correction, including staff, materials, or funding, due to a current outbreak of COVID-19 should contact the state survey agency and/or CMS regional office to request an extension on submitting a Plan of Correction.

TNA Program to Expire September 18
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) informed the associations in our meeting this afternoon that the Temporary Nurse Assistant Program (TNA) will expire on September 18. The program was created by rule for 150 days. IDPH did say that if a TNA starts a CNA training course within 45 days after September 18, they can still work in the facility. We will be discussing this issue with the Department and keep you updated.

Provider Relief Fund Application Process Phase II Deadline is August 28
HHS has changed how it refers to some of the payments under Provider Relief. They are now referring to Phase I of General Distribution as the payments that went to Medicare providers in April. Phase II – General Distribution is what is happening right now through the application process.

HHS updated their FAQs with new information including an expanded list of who is eligible to apply for the Phase II funds. This process is open to the following Medicare providers:

Medicare providers who missed the June 3 deadline to apply for second payment by submitting their federal tax return and revenue loss information
Medicare providers who’ve experienced a Change in Ownership in 2019 or 2020 under Medicare Part A & received no Medicare FFS in 2019.
Medicare providers whose total General Distribution payments are not equal to 2% of their annual patient service revenue – NEW
Medicare providers who previously rejected General Distribution payments and want to reapply – NEW

HHS noted in their FAQs that providers who are part of organizations that received a Phase I – General Distribution payment are no longer prohibited from applying for funds under Phase II. This opens the door for some Medicaid providers who have not yet seen provider relief fund dollars to apply. All providers who seek funds under Phase II must apply through the Provider Relief Fund Application and Attestation portal by August 28.

Governor Announces Region Four Mitigation Measures
Governor Pritzker announced at a press briefing on Monday that beginning Tuesday, August 18, Restore Illinois Region 4 has been put under additional mitigation measures due to high COVID-19 positivity rates in the region.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a reminder, based on the reopening guidance that took effect on August 14:

Any long term care facilities that have already advanced to CMS Phase 3 must suspend indoor visitation and off-site outings immediately. Outdoor visitation may continue.
Any long term care facilities that have not yet advanced to CMS Phase 3 are not eligible to move to Phase 3 of reopening until 14 days after tiered mitigation in the region is lifted. Specifically, that means that any plans to begin indoor visitation must be suspended until that time. Outdoor visitation may continue.

The Governor reported that for three days in a row, Region 4 had exceeded an 8% positivity rate, which triggered the stricter mitigations. If the positivity rate is still at 8% after 14 days, more mitigations will be put into place. If positivity rate falls below 6.5% after 14 days, the region moves back into Phase 4 of Restore Illinois.

If you have any questions, please contact Ruta Prasauskas, Vice President of Health Services.

IDPH Announces New Medical Administrator
Dr. Avery Hart told LeadingAge Illinois and the other associations during a meeting Tuesday afternoon that his role as the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) clinical consultant ends this week. His role will be picked up by Dr. Catherine Counard, the new Medical Administrator for the Office of Health Protection. She has worked in public health for 16 years. She started in Cook County and for the last 11 years has been at the Municipal Health Department in Skokie, where she is the Health Director. Dr. Counard, like Dr. Hart, will have an active role in the twice per week meetings we have with IDPH on COVID-19 issues.

HFS COVID Payments Update
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) reported at a meeting with LeadingAge Illinois and the other associations on Tuesday that they are getting closer to the first allocations of CARES Act funding for nursing homes and supportive living providers. They took another step forward by selecting a third party vendor (Ernst & Young) to calculate the payments to providers. LeadingAge Illinois again requested that the Department continue to meet with the Governor’s office on the issue of insurance company denials of employee testing claims and develop a solution. We will continue to update you on the status of these issues in upcoming editions of The Lead.

IDPH Schedules August COVID-19 Webinars
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is hosting webinars to provide COVID-19 updates and answer questions from long-term care and congregate residential settings.

Recording of August 13 Webinar

Recording of August 14 Webinar

Recording of August 19 Webinar

Slides from August 19 Webinar

Webinar attendance is limited. If you cannot register or get in, email Michael Moore.

IDPH will be recording the webinars and sending out the links of the recordings.

CLA Tool Helps Track COVID-19 Economic Relief Expenses
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) has an innovative tracking tool to help health care organizations record COVID-19 economic relief spending. Now, organizations can arrange spending in accordance with the compliance and reporting initiatives.

Testing Update
Illinois hit a milestone this week with a single-day testing record and made a significant announcement on a new type of testing. We have that and more in this week’s testing update.

By the Numbers:
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced their single-highest testing number in 24 hours this week, when they tested over 50,000 on Tuesday. They have completed nearly 3.5 million tests in total.

Cases:
IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike announced yesterday at the Governor’s press briefing that Illinois now has nearly 212,000 COVID cases since testing began. There have been over 7,800 deaths. “I am concerned that we have grown numb to these numbers,” said Director Ezike. She urged Illinoisans to do the three W’s: Wear your face covering, Watch your distance and Wash your hands.

Illinois’ Saliva Testing Given FDA Emergency Use Authorization:
Yesterday afternoon, Governor Pritzker announced that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to run their saliva-based COVID-19 tests at their CLIA-certified lab. At this point, the university said the tests would cost about $10 each. “This puts the University of Illinois and Illinois on the cutting edge of testing innovation as a national player,” said the Governor.

The Governor said that this testing is less expensive, faster and uses less raw material than traditional testing. “It is one of the least expensive and potentially most effective on the market,” said the Governor. “It has game changing implications for statewide testing and at the national level. The potential here is enormous.” The State is working to deploy this to more public universities and is exploring rolling this testing out in K-12 schools and long term care facilities. We will closely monitor developments with this testing and request updates in our twice per week meetings with IDPH.

Antigen Testing Guidance:
The CDC has released guidance on antigen testing. Guidance provides information on use of tests and interpretation of results, and seeks to clarify some of the questions LeadingAge had around false negatives and testing of asymptomatic individuals.

Testing Resources
We continue to track resources for testing to provide to our members. We will keep you updated on legitimate information we receive. Here is a look at some of the information and resources we have gathered to date (we will keep a running list updated in the newsletter):

Acutis Diagnostics Inc.
Paul Jaskowiak
Sales Specialist
219.508.6206 (Cell)
844.522.8847 (Support)
631.532.1680 (Fax)
Provides testing, supplies and results

Aegis Sciences Corporation
Brent Branneman
800.533.7052
Provides testing, packaging and results ($100 each test)

Ammon Analytical Laboratories
800.533.7052
E-Mail
Test kits shipped to site. Fedex or UPS used to send samples back to lab.

Curative Labs
Email
Offers PCR testing and antibody testing

LabCorp
Services Offered: PCR testing, Courier services
Email

Mayo Clinic Labs
800-533-1710
E-Mail

Reditus
Pekin, Illinois
Phone: 469.498.0222
Services Offered: PCR Testing and courier services available

StarLab Corp
Richard Felicelda

Strategic Lab Partners
Products and Pricing
Order Form
Does not include lab processing.

Tempus
Chicago, Illinois
Services Offered: PCR testing, Shipping is available to and from the sites
Phone: 833.514.4187
Email

Nursing and Rehabilitation:

Nursing Homes to Receive Shipment of N95 Masks
According to LeadingAge contacts on the Supply Chain Task Force, N95 masks will be sent to the more than 3,000 nursing homes that report on the NHSN that they have a low supply on-hand. They believe they can ship them in the next 10-14 days. In addition to sending masks directly to nursing homes, they will also direct several million masks to hot spot areas through commercial distributors. Of course, this is good news, but LeadingAge continues to advocate for a comprehensive, national approach to addressing PPE shortages. We will seek details from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in our twice per week meetings on the delivery to Illinois homes. When you receive your shipment, please contact Jason Speaks to inform LeadingAge Illinois that you have received your shipment and tell us the condition of the product. In previous federal shipments, there has been spotty quality and sometimes insufficient numbers.

Assisted Living:

HHS Funding Update
HHS provided Argentum with an update on a recent call regarding the state of funding for assisted living providers anticipated for distribution from the CARES Act provider relief fund. The final approval for allotment of funds to assisted living providers is now with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

At this point, it appears they are considering providing funding through a similar formula to what they provided through the Medicaid distribution – 2% of gross revenue. Argentum continues to advocate for the per facility/per bed model and is also discussing with HHS the inclusion of assisted living providers in a future general distribution that would be based upon lost revenue and increased expenses.

Approval of funding could be completed within the next few weeks and Argentum continues to apply pressure with lobbying efforts to ensure the approval goes through. HHS confirmed that to date about 30% of assisted living providers have received some funds and/or have applied through the Medicaid distribution. They also confirmed that HHS now has Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) for approximately 20,000 assisted living providers; they have validated about 25% of those TINs and are continuing the process. For those who have not been validated, they will still be able to apply for funding, but since their data will need to be curated in batches, payments may take longer.

Argentum continues to work on additional outreach on Capitol Hill for the impending COVID 4 negotiated package as they further communicate the critical importance of increased funding and reasonable liability protections for the industry. There is a “skinny” COVID bill that the Senate may introduce in the next few weeks. While this bill does include the liability language, this bill will not be the vehicle for the COVID 4 negotiated package and therefore does not need our advocacy or attention.

Member Spotlight: Carriage Crossing Senior Living
As the demand for senior living grows, so too are organizations like Carriage Crossing Senior Living. Seven years after opening their first community in Arcola, the organization continues to expand.

Carriage Crossing, which actually started activity in the senior living sector in 2008, first built a community in Arcola in 2012, before adding a presence in Champaign in 2017 and then Bloomington in 2018. Owner/operator Carrie Boone continues to expand even further as the organization will open their third community in Decatur this year, with a fourth community under construction in Rochester and plans to break ground with a fifth in Mundelein later this year. The Mundelein community is the organization’s first experience outside of Central Illinois. Each community serves anywhere from 60-80 residents.

Carriage Crossing is committed to serving their communities. “We position ourselves to help seniors and their families,” said Brenda Yanosik, Chief Operating Officer. A member of the LeadingAge Illinois Assisted Living Cabinet, Brenda has served in the industry for over 12 years and plays a big role in educating seniors and their families. One of the accomplishments she is most proud of is started “Caring Conversations,” an educational series to educate seniors and their loved ones on topics such as senior living settings, the importance of having a Power of Attorney, elder law and long-term care insurance.

Another important conversation topic she covers is dementia. Partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association, the educational series covers caring for a loved one at home with dementia and how to take care of yourself when you are a caregiver for someone at home. “We know it’s tough caring for someone with dementia, and just as difficult to make the decision to find placement,” said Brenda. “We care and support the family just as much as we do the resident. Families need that. They need to know it’s a partnership and they can trust us to help them along the way.”

Brenda is a leader in the LeadingAge Illinois membership. Each year, she hosts Partners in Quality legislative visits to educate legislators on assisted living. As a member of the Assisted Living Cabinet, she helps set the LeadingAge Illinois agenda for assisted living. Her mission has always been to ensure seniors are receiving the best quality of life.

“I can honestly say it’s never once felt like a job, but rather a calling,” said Brenda.

LeadingAge Responds to Executive Order on Evictions
LeadingAge sent a letter to several federal agencies urging quick action in support of low-income residents and housing providers impacted by COVID. The President’s recently issued executive order does not extend the expired eviction moratorium, instead asking federal agencies to determine the role of preventing evictions in containing COVID-19, and to identify existing funds for temporary housing assistance. LeadingAge’s letter asks for the CDC to urgently clarify the importance of housing stability during the pandemic, and asks HUD to immediately issue evictions protections while providing financial support for housing providers. The letter builds on LeadingAge’s statement released recently, together with several other major housing organizations, asking Congress and the Administration to provide meaningful support for impacted housing communities.

LeadingAge Illinois HUD Member Regional Conference Calls
The monthly calls take place every third Thursday each month and include members and staff from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri. The calls feature important updates from Linda Couch, vice president of housing policy and Juliana Bilowich, director, housing operations and policy at LeadingAge, Washington, D.C. To RSVP, contact Jason Speaks.

OASAC Annual Report to be Submitted to Illinois General Assembly
The Older Adult Services Advisory Committee (OASAC) Annual Report is in official draft form and the Illinois Department on Aging (DoA) indicates the report will be sent to the Illinois General Assembly this month, per Illinois law. The report, which we will share in The Lead when released, will include updates on the committee’s work on rebalancing initiatives and home and community-based services. LeadingAge Illinois is represented on the committee by appointed members Jason Speaks of LeadingAge Illinois, John Larson of Cantata Adult Life Services and Sherry Barter Hamlin of Voyage Senior Living.

COVID-19 Social Connectedness Supplemental Funding Bill Introduced
A federal bill (S.4477 – Strengthening Social Connections Act of 2020) to provide emergency supplemental funding to programs that strengthen social connectedness and address the negative health effects of social isolation in the Older Americans Act (OAA) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Technological solutions to increase social engagement would be eligible for this funding.

The bill would appropriate the following:
• $80 million for the HCBS supportive services for older adults, with a focus on activities to prevent and mitigate the negative health effects of social isolation, which may include activities addressing the investments in the purchase of technology.
• $18 million to enhance outreach to older adults and provide technical assistance to help aging services providers, nutrition providers and community groups, and Area Agencies on Aging, reduce the negative health effects of social isolation and loneliness among older adults.
• $6 million to address the health effects of social isolation on minority aging populations.

LeadingAge and CAST support the legislation and are monitoring its progress.

Medicare Care Compare Webinar
CMS has scheduled a webinar on August 24 from 1-1:45 p.m. on Medicare Care Compare. CMS is making changes to help people with Medicare find information about health care providers and services, as part of the eMedicare initiative to modernize and personalize experiences with Medicare information. Care Compare on Medicare.gov standardizes 8 existing compare sites to offer users a more streamlined compare experience, improving their ability to find information about providers, including nursing homes, home health agencies, and hospices. This webinar will preview Care Compare to give partners an opportunity to learn about it before CMS launches it on Medicare.gov. While this is a preview, CMS will continue to make improvements based on ongoing feedback. Register for this webinar. Space is limited.

IDPH Issues Travel Guidance
On Monday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) rolled out a travel map to serve as a resource for making the best decisions when traveling. It lists what areas have higher risks of COVID-19. States with COVID-19 case rates of 15 per 100,000 or greater (shown in purple color) are at higher risk for travel than those lesser case rates (shown in blue color).

New LeadingAge Program to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Aging Services
Sign up for an information session on LeadingAge’s NEW Summer Enrichment Program, launching summer of 2021. During the 10-week program, undergraduate and graduate students of color can advance toward leadership positions in your organizations, LeadingAge state affiliates, and at the LeadingAge national office. Summer interns will complete a substantive project within one of these organizations, work with mentors to hone their leadership skills, and take part in a variety of leadership development activities. Now is the time to ensure you’re budgeting for this important opportunity. Learn more!

Illinois Long Term Care Ombudsman to Issue Guidance
Kelly Richards, State Long Term Ombudsman from the Illinois Department on Aging (DoA), plans to issue guidance to Ombudsmen this week on ombudsmen access during reopening. She previewed the guidance and an Ombudsmen self-assessment checklist form during a meeting Tuesday morning. LeadingAge Illinois was a part of the discussion along with member Sherry Barter Hamlin, CEO of Voyage Senior Living. The guidance is in draft form, but we want to give you a preview of what it may look like.

Ombudsman Guidance Preview (official guidance to be released this week):

Are Ombudsmen considered “visitors” in the re-opening guidance?
No, Ombudsmen are not to be treated as visitors. The Reopening guidance released by the Illinois Department of Public Health on August 7 clarified that representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program fall under “state-authorized personnel.” As such, per page 7 of the guidance, “The Department grants authorization for entry to state-authorized personnel. They should not be classified as visitors. All such individuals must promptly notify facility staff upon arrival and follow all screening protocols established by the facility. Facilities must grant resident access to an Ombudsman regardless of which tier of mitigation the facility falls.

Can an Ombudsman enter a facility?
At this point, the decision as to whether an Ombudsman should enter a facility needs to be done on a case-by-case basis. Until the Office releases further guidance, Ombudsmen are expected to get permission from the Office prior to making the visit inside of a facility. The following questions are examples of what the Office may ask when an Ombudsman seeks permission to enter a building:
• What is the reason for making an indoor visit?
• What is the status of COVID-19 within the building?
• What are the logistics for making the indoor visit?
• What is the community spread of COVID-19?

Once an Ombudsman has been given permission to enter a building, the Ombudsman must complete the self-assessment checklist and submit to their immediate supervisor.

What precautionary steps should Ombudsman take prior to conducting an indoor visit?
• Evaluate personal health for symptoms of sickness, including monitoring of temperature. If sick the ombudsman should not visit.
• Verify with each facility in their area, what phase the facility has reached.
• Ask each facility for details on their screening process for staff and outside contractors. Ask for times when staff are available to do the required screening for entry. Note: The ombudsman should use professional judgement on whether to inform the facility when they plan to visit.
• Gather the necessary PPE for personal use at the facility. Ombudsmen should not expect the facility to provide them with PPE. Facilities have a limited supply which is needed for them to provide resident care. Visits shall not occur unless the ombudsman has the necessary PPE.

Can an Ombudsman visit a facility that has COVID positive residents and/or staff?
The fact that a facility is in an outbreak status does not necessarily rule out the ability for an Ombudsman to make an indoor visit. In general, Ombudsmen are encouraged to do outdoor or window visits if a facility is in an outbreak status. However, there may be extenuating circumstances where the Office would allow an indoor visit in spite of a facility having a positive case.

Can an Ombudsman meet with a COVID positive resident?
The fact that a resident has tested positive for COVID does not necessarily rule out the ability for an Ombudsman to conduct an indoor visit with that resident. In general, Ombudsmen are encouraged to work with a positive resident by phone or through a window visit. However, there may be extenuating circumstances where the Office would allow an indoor visit with a COVID positive resident.

Do Ombudsmen need to be tested for COVID-19? If so, how frequently?
Ombudsmen are not required by the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to be tested for COVID-19. This may change. Exposure to COVID-19 can occur at any time with the possibility of contracting the virus. Symptoms may or may not be present. Thus, initially the screening which evaluates the possible exposure of the Ombudsmen through their activities should be sufficient.

Can an Ombudsman visit with residents who can’t social distance?
In general, Ombudsmen should only visit residents when physical distancing can be maintained. However, there may be exceptions when a resident is cognitively unable to grasp the concept of physical distancing. As with all visits, a discussion should be held with the Office prior to making a visit. If the Ombudsman anticipates an issue with physical distancing, it should be part of the discussion. It may be possible for the Ombudsman to use additional PPE in order to keep both the resident and the Ombudsman safe when visiting with a resident who can’t maintain the physical distance of six feet.

What should an Ombudsman do after completing an indoor visit?
The Ombudsman should sanitize their hands and wipe down any items carried into the building with a disinfecting cloth.

Richards also reported that she will send a letter to regional ombudsman to present to any facilities that give pushback on allowing ombudsman to have indoor visits. It will state that the IDPH guidance does not classify ombudsman as visitors and they are representatives from the state that are allowed to have indoor access for visits.

Personal Protective Equipment Update
The LeadingAge Illinois and Value First team continue to work to keep you updated on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and items needed for the reopening phases in your communities. We encourage you to continue to work with your trusted food, medical, and janitorial distributors for your supply needs. However, we are also aware our “normal” channels may still be working to catch up with demands and realize that allocations are still in place. The following vendors have all been vetted for your use. See this letter from LeadingAge Illinois/Value First.

Your Support Needed for the LeadingAge Illinois PAC
It is imperative that we participate in the political process and ensure LeadingAge Illinois always has a seat at the table when legislative decisions that impact providers and the residents they serve are being negotiated. One way to ensure that access is through your support of the LeadingAge Illinois PAC. Your support is greatly appreciated.