LeadingAge Illinois eNews

The Lead February 16, 2021

Top Stories:
From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO:
2021 LeadingAge Illinois Legislative Tracker
IDPH COVID-19 Webinars for Long Term Care and Congregate Settings
Vaccine Education Resources for Staff, Residents, and Families

Life Plan Communities/CCRCs:
Partners in Quality Virtual Visit Held with Park Place, Rep. Mazzochi

Assisted Living:
Join Argentum, LeadingAge Illinois in Standing with Seniors
Assisted Living Update

Nursing and Rehabilitation:
December Nursing Home Infection Control Incentive Payments from Provider Relief

Other:
Member Spotlight: Hickory Point Christian Village
Two New Senators Appointed to ILGA

Top Stories:

From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO:
Right now, the U.S. House and Senate are working on the next COVID-19 relief package. The Senate is meeting now to craft their legislation and they have the opportunity to add some key pieces that are missing from the House bills that are needed for aging services providers. Negotiations are currently happening and your U.S. Senators need to hear from you today.

We need the House and Senate to work together to pass a more comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill. Adding these key provisions to the Senate version of the COVID-19 relief bill will add funding for provider relief, affordable housing programs and services, Wi-Fi access to combat loneliness and isolation, and needed funding for rescue and recovery from the pandemic. Please contact Congress today. 

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2021 LeadingAge Illinois Legislative Tracker
The 2021 LeadingAge Illinois Legislative Tracker is now live on our website and will also appear in each edition of the Lead. The tracker will be updated weekly and as needed. There have been about 2,000 bills introduced so far and several hundred more anticipated as session gets into full swing. Additional bills will be added to the tracker as we review incoming introductions. When your time allows, please check the tracker and provide any feedback on bills that pertain to your organization. Your feedback assists in developing the association position on legislation and with discussions we have with legislators and legislative staff on issues. You can submit comments and questions to Jason Speaks.

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IDPH COVID-19 Webinars for Long Term Care and Congregate Settings
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to hold weekly webinars on COVID-19 for Long Term Care and Congregate Settings. There are important updates and information shared on each webinar pertinent to LeadingAge Illinois member settings. There is also a Q&A during the sessions. Most webinars go from 1-2 p.m. Slides and recordings of the webinars are sent to participants afterwards and they will also appear in the Lead.

Register for the upcoming webinars:

February 19

February 26

There are high numbers of participants on each webinar, so if you have trouble getting in, email Michael Moore at IDPH. 

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Vaccine Education Resources for Staff, Residents, and Families
In order to encourage maximum vaccination participation, we are providing you with education and resources you can use with your staff, residents, and families. We will continue to provide updated resources as we have them.

The COVID -19 vaccine is now available, but vaccination along with following the CDC’s recommendation to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19 and stopping the pandemic. There are many questions regarding the vaccine and below are resources that you can share with staff, residents and families. The internet has various amounts of information regarding the vaccine; please make sure it is from a credible source.

  • V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination and reminders of when your next dose is due. Based on your responses, the CDC may reach out to you to get more information.

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Life Plan Communities/CCRCs:

Partners in Quality Virtual Visit Held with Park Place, Rep. Mazzochi
Last week ended with a late afternoon Partners in Quality Virtual Visit involving Providence Life Services-Park Place of Elmhurst and State Representative Deanne Mazzochi (R-47th District; Westmont), assistant minority leader.

Scott Studebaker, vice president of ministry and advancement at Providence Life Services, provided the representative with a background on the overall organization.  Providence was started in 1914 and has communities in three states and services 1,500 residents. The organization annually participates in the Partners in Quality program throughout their Illinois communities.  Scott also serves as Chair of the LeadingAge Illinois Public Policy Committee.

Beth Welch, executive director, Providence Life Services-Park Place, has been in the industry for over 25 years and like Scott has been very involved in advocacy efforts with LeadingAge Illinois.  She is a member of our CCRC Cabinet. “This is my life work and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve always worked for nonprofits my entire career,” said Beth. Beth told the story of Park Place, including experience of her staff and residents throughout the pandemic.  Her experiences included testing, vaccinations, and visitation among other issues.

In the over 90-minute meeting, Rep. Mazzochi had several questions and comments on the issues presented. We discussed the issues we have with the recently passed HB3360, which provides for the sweeping allowance for recovery of prejudgment interest (9%) in actions brought to recover for personal injury.  She argued against the legislation.

The representative also discussed issues with low Medicaid reimbursement, something Scott has discussed with legislators at the state and federal level over the years.  “This is such a critical issue, when it comes to reimbursement rates,” said Rep. Mazzochi.  She committed to staying in touch with LeadingAge Illinois staff and members in her district.

If you would like to take part in the Partners in Quality Virtual Visits program, contact Jason Speaks.

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Assisted Living:

Join Argentum, LeadingAge Illinois in Standing with Seniors
U.S. Congress is now in the process of considering the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief proposal. This legislation, being considered through a budget-reconciliation vehicle that only needs simple majorities in each chamber and may be passed exclusively with Democratic-votes, may be the only comprehensive COVID-19 relief legislation advanced by Congress this year. Additional but likely smaller and narrower-in-scope bipartisan packages may also be considered throughout the year.

The package only contains one reference to long-term facilities, which provides only $1.8 billion for testing, PPE, and vaccines across all congregate settings—to include prisons, jails, detention centers, long-term care facilities, psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities, intermediate care facilities, and other settings providing care for individuals with disabilities. We believe this is extremely short-sighted, both in terms of total funds allocated and the broad definition of congregate care.

The Energy and Commerce Committee voted down a proposed amendment to add $35 billion to the Provider Relief Fund (PRF). Argentum’s priority is two-fold:

  • Advocating for an additional $5 billion in funding for senior living facilities to be included in the package particularly given the numerous challenges in disbursing funds to providers due to the broad agency discretion in earlier legislation.
  • Encouraging specific inclusion of senior living facilities in other measures of the legislation such as funds set aside for “public communications regarding the vaccine,” and to “detect, diagnose, trace and prevent the spread of COVID-19,” which offers a potential opening for senior living to secure funds for PPE and testing.

In addition, based on Argentum’s analysis and an official report by the Government Accountability Office, they believe there is $20-30 billion of unallocated funds remaining in the Provider Relief Fund, and they are requesting these funds be disbursed immediately to provide the much needed financial relief for member communities. Based on conversations with HHS, Argentum anticipates most if not all Phase 3 funds will be distributed over the coming weeks into mid-March.

Argentum continues ongoing outreach to lawmakers and their staff, including those in leadership, and believe there are still opportunities for senior living to be included in this package and future more targeted legislation.

Call to Action:
Argentum has launched local media and grassroots campaigns targeting key members of Congress in their districts and continues to reach DC-based influencers through our Standing With Seniors digital campaign. We encourage your participation in these efforts. There are still several steps in this process before a final package is considered by President Biden, and lawmakers need hear our message from as many sources as possible, including:

Thank you for your advocacy and leadership!

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Assisted Living Update
Today’s LeadingAge Illinois Assisted Living Update Includes:

  • Assisted Living Cabinet Holds Monthly Meeting
  • Legislative Update
  • Partners in Quality
  • Data

Assisted Living Cabinet Holds Monthly Meeting:
We started the week with a morning Assisted Living Cabinet Meeting.  Since the onset of the pandemic, Diane Oremovich (Peace Village), cabinet president has held monthly cabinet meetings to check-in with members, receive important updates, and share best practices.  Monday’s meeting include members sharing survey and vaccination experiences, as well as updates from LeadingAge Illinois.

We also would like to welcome our two new Cabinet Members, Douglas Armstrong, senior vice president of regulatory affairs and quality at Belmont Village, and Jeanne Hansen, senior executive director at Belmont Village-Geneva Road.  If you have any questions related to the cabinet, contact Ruta Prasauskas.

Legislative Update:
The 2021 LeadingAge Illinois Legislative Tracker is live on our website.  We will continue to add legislation of interest, in particularly legislation that impacts assisted living providers.  Of the approximate 2,000 bills that have been introduced so far this early session, SB191 specifically mentions assisted living.

This legislation is still in the assignments committee and has yet to be assigned to a substantive committee.  It was also introduced in a previous legislative session and failed.  This bill would amend the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act and the Nursing Home Care Act to:

  • Direct assisted living establishments and facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to institute written policies and procedures regarding the acceptance of personal gifts from a resident or the family member of a resident.
  • Require assisted living establishments and facilities to include in all employment contracts a provision that prohibits acceptance of a monetary gift from a resident or the family member of a resident, which shall also notify the employee of the need to enter into a repayment agreement to recoup the value of any gift accepted by staff from a resident or the family member of a resident that is not returned promptly.
  • If the employee agrees to and signs the repayment agreement, the assisted living establishment or facility shall be permitted to withhold up to 15% of the employee’s wages per paycheck, or a higher amount from the employee’s final compensation, until the employee has paid back the full value of the monetary gift.

If you have any feedback or questions on this legislation or bills listed on the tracker, contact Jason Speaks. 

Partners in Quality Virtual Visits:
So far in 2021, we have had 15 Partners in Quality Virtual Visits with members and their legislators.  Over half of the visits have included assisted living members.  We continue to schedule more visits which allow members to tell their story and share experiences during the pandemic and urge support of aging services providers.  If you would like to take part in the Partners in Quality Virtual Visits Campaign, contact Jason Speaks.

Data:
As of this month, there are now 522 assisted living establishments in Illinois with 14 more pending licensure.  There are 26,371 units.

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Nursing and Rehabilitation:

December Nursing Home Infection Control Incentive Payments from Provider Relief

The December incentive payments started arriving in bank accounts February 12. If you receive Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments and are uncertain what they are for (e.g. Phase 3 vs. Incentive Payment), you can call the Provider Support Line at 866.569.3522 to obtain further information. In addition, LeadingAge has identified a new contact within HHS responsible for PRF and are in the process of setting up a meeting to ask about these incentives and other PRF issues that have occurred before and since the transition of administrations.

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Other:

Member Spotlight: Hickory Point Christian Village
Hickory Point Christian Village in Forsyth, a Christian Horizons community, offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and their Grace Point Rehab Community that opened in 2017.

Laurie Brown, executive director, has been at Hickory Point for over 12 years.  She started in the industry over 25 years ago as a Human Resource Director at another organization. “I knew day one this was my calling and I would spend my life dedicated to seniors and hoping to provide the best care possible with having the best staff available,” said Laurie. “I have been blessed to hold numerous positions in my prior organization that I spent 13 years with and now this one that I have been with for the last 12 years with.”

She started her journey with Hickory Point in 2008, serving as Executive Director of the Assisted Living. Laurie has since been a regular at LeadingAge Illinois events and activities and has annually hosted her legislators as a part of the Partners in Quality program.

She is proud of her organization and proud of her team at Hickory Point.  “Some of us have been working together for the last 25 years. We have had ups and downs over the years and have endured so many changes, but the team works hard and demands quality,” said Laurie.  “We have had the opportunity to touch so many families over the years.  However, their impact on us has been much greater and helped to shape us to who we are.”

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Two New Senators Appointed to ILGA
The Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) has two new members recently appointed in the Senate.

Senator Doris Turner (D-48th District; Springfield) replaces Andy Manar, who resigned to become a Senior Advisor to the Governor. Turner is a longtime Springfield City Councilperson and former Sangamon County Board member. She’s the first ever black Senator from the county.  Manar annually took part in the Partners in Quality program as well as hosted members in his Capitol Office. LeadingAge Illinois is working to develop a relationship with Sen. Turner right away.

Senator Michael Simmons (D-7th District; Chicago) replaces Heather Steans, who resigned to spend more time with family. Steans was heavily involved in Medicaid and long term care issues. Simmons formerly worked for the Obama Foundation and is the first ever Ethiopian-born, LGBT Illinois Senator. We will also work to educate Sen. Simmons on aging services.

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