2016 Highlights and a Look at the Year Ahead

2017-logo

Happy New Year! As we welcome 2017, lets take just a second to remember some of the highlights of 2016.

News and Highlights from 2016

Negotiated 2017-19 contracts

  • Contract includes an average of a 16% rate increase
  • Mileage for medical transportation
  • Increases for specialty contracts
  • Direct request for ETR
  • Funding for community integration
  • More

Cost reporting Survey

  • Working with members, the Council began to measure actual costs and expenses incurred by adult family homes. This data will serve as a baseline for future negotiations and expectations. More

Managed Care Settlement

  • Nearly $50,000 in back payments collected for AFHs underpaid by DSHS and the PACE program.  More

DDA Respite

  • Secured a nearly 33% increase in funding for AFH’s providing respite care to eligible DDA residents.

Fighting DSHS in Court

  • The AFH Council continues our legal fight to require DSHS to negotiate rates that include automatic add-ons for two-person assist, awake staff at night, trip fees while transporting residents, behavior add-ons for certain classifications and an increased rate for homes serving a higher Medicaid  percentage. More

DDA Proviso Stakeholder

  • Through a legislative advocacy the Developmental Disabilities Administration is working with AFH operators to develop rules, assessments, and packages of services appropriate for homes specifically serving DDA eligible residents.

Legislative testimony

  • Adult Family Home Council staff routinely meets with key legislators and provides expert testimony about the impact of rules and funding for adult family home operators and the long term care system in Washington.
  • Testimony was provided on AFH rates and fees, training barriers, regulatory oversight and more
  • More

Letter to ALTSA re: Website

  • DSHS began posting enforcement actions on the DSHS adult family home locator.  This was done in accordance with RCW 70.128.280(6). However the same RCW requires DSHS to obtain stakeholder feedback.  They did not.  The current process they use is confusing, misleading, not helpful to the consumer, and potentially damaging to the adult family home. We believe the department is in violation of the statue and must come into compliance.  Our letter to DSHS leadership is available here

WAC review

  • By stepping up and making their voices heard, members of the Spokane chapter of the Adult Family Home Council presented multiple concerns to DSHS leadership at a chapter meeting.   As a result DSHS agreed to a full and comprehensive review of the rules in WAC 388-76. This review will include RCS staff and AFH providers.  Your input is requested.  More

Courses and Services Provided

Legal Issues workshop – Members got expert advice from attorneys and employment specialist on common issues facing AFH providers. The training included 6 CE hours, was free for members, and offered in 7 locations around the state.

2016 Fall Conference – Nearly 400 participants in the annual conference heard from DSHS, RNs, Doctors, Attorneys, Activity Specialists, and more over 2 days earning 12 CE hours while networking with providers and business partners from all across the state.

Expanded Forms Library – Members may have noted the growth in our online resources.  Our online document library has grown in the number of forms and the categories of information available.

One on One Assistance – Hundreds of Adult Family Home Council members contacted the office for one on one assistance.  Questions range from care, training, hiring, regulations, referrals, resources and more.  We love directly helping our members.

Prepared Appeals for Members – Members who have received citations have sent them to our office for review.  When appropriate we will advise members about appeal rights, and help prepare the proper documentation, resources, and strategy for an appeal.

Attended Informal Dispute Resolutions – Council staff will attend the IDR with members.  In this role the council will act as an advocate and assist in sharing the relevant facts of the case as needed.

Provide Consultation with Council Attorney – When a provider has a situation that may require some legal guidance, the council has utilized our attorneys to provide consultation on specific issues.

Create Facility Based Trainers – Members who would like to offer training to their staff can apply to be a facility based trainer.  Council staff assists members in the paperwork and registration of each home as is requested.

Offered 1000s of Hours of Free CE – Through our partners at Cornerstone Training, local chapter meetings, curriculum supplied to facility based trainers, and various workshops and conferences; the Council has provided thousands of hours of free CE to AFH operators and their staff.

Development of marketing tools – The Council is continuing to develop tools to help spread the word about the adult family home option.  Including sharing vacancies, listing in local resource guides, meeting with known referral sources

Organizations and Associations

What’s Next?

At the Council we take our commitment to our members very seriously. We are constantly seeking ways to hear from our member about how we can grow and expand our service.  A few of the highlights for next year will likely include:

  • Funding contract
  • Improve Training/Hiring
  • Improve Initial Licensing
  • Fair Regulatory Environment
  • Expand Information and Resources for Members
  • Engage in Local Marketing and Public Awareness
  • Expansion of Marketing Efforts
  • Live our mission
  • Serve our members

 

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