Calendar of Events

The Public Policy committee meets to provide public policy oversight and direction for the Arizona Health Care Association. This committee will assist in advocacy on both the administrative and legislative level. The committee acts as the liaison between the AHCA membership and the state and federal lawmakers. Meetings are held the second Friday of each month at 10:30 am via conference call.

The Quality & Regulatory Committee will meet at the AHCA office, 1440 E. Missouri Ave, Suite C-102 at 9:00 am. The Quality & Regulatory committee provides leadership in quality assurance and improvement in long term care. The committee will focus on working with various levels of government, and assist members in education regarding regulatory issues on a state and national level. There will be continuing emphasis placed on the implementation of Advancing Excellence in Long Term Care. Additionally, the committee will address workforce issues, and provide a way for all nursing professional development.

The next Preceptor Certification Training will be held on Friday, September 10, 2010 in Phoenix. If interested in attending, please email Susan Bender at Bender9@cox.net or call 623-824-1207.

Day One: MDS 3.0 Coding for OBRA and PPS/Accurately Assessing Activites of Daily Living (ADLs) and the MDS 3.0; Day Two: OBRA Timing and Scheduling for MDS 3.0 PPS Timing and Scheduling for the MDS 3.0 Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) IV and the MDS 3.0 Care Area Assessments (CAAs) and the MDS 3.0; Day Three: Introduction to Medicare Part A Care Planning and the MDS 3.0 Accurately Assessing Pain for the MDS 3.0 Five-Star Rating System. For more information, contact C.A.R.E.S. at 602-466-3461; or for a copy of the registration brochure, please click here.

The AHCA Board of Directors will meet at the AHCA office, 1440 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 202 at 9:00 am. The board meeting is open to all AHCA members.

If you work in a profession that touches the lives of the elderly, disabled or chronically-ill, our seminar will enhance your ability to meet the needs of clients, their families and the ever-changing state and federal rules and regulations. The seminar will cover topics relating to clinical, state and federal health care regulations, compliance and the understanding of benefits. Topics include:

• Role of the Social Worker in LTC
• MDS, CAA's and Care Planning
• Documentation
• Behavior Management/PASRR
• Benefits and Financial Planning
• Case Management/Discharge Planning
• Psychosocial Assessments

Contact Angela Page, C.A.R.E.S., at 602-466-3461 or 800-326-7176; or email. You may also register online using all major credit cards by visiting the C.A.R.E.S. website: clinicaladvisorsllc.com and clicking on What's New.

The Conference/Education committee meets to assist in planning the spring conference and the annual conference. Speakers are suggested and reviewed; topics and themes are discussed; as well as ideas for additional training and education offered through the Association. This committee is also responsible for assisting with generating sponsorship for educational events and may assist with other education and fundraising endeavors. All members are welcome to attend.

The Arizona Health Care Foundation is a non-profit organization comprised entirely of volunteers. The funds raised by the Foundation are distributed to honor Live A Dream and scholarship recipients, and assist in the implementation of innovative long term care programs. The meeting is open to any member interested in the Foundation.

Aging Services of Arizona and the Arizona Health Care Association present a important workshop on the new RUGs IV. CMS has proposed to change the RUGs III system to a RUGs IV system. This includes a change from 53 RUG levels to 66 RUG levels. This workshop will examine these changes. We will discuss the changes in the category grouping including a separation of Special Care into High and Low sections. ADL coding changes will be reviewed. We will also review some of the most significant changes including the elimination of Section T and a new requirement to track and report different modes of therapies. Discussion will also review the financial implications of the RUGs IV system and identify what you can do to make sure you maintain adequate reimbursement. Registration is by online only. Please click here to register online. Please note that we accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards.

The Arizona Department of Health Services, Assisted Living presents "Medication Rules Review Class." The class will be held from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm on April 14, June 9, August 11, October 13 and December 8, 2010. There is no fee for the workshop, but space is limited. To register call 602-364-2639.

TIME OUT WORKSHOPS are professional growth opportunities for social workers, nurses, case managers, discharge planners, caregivers, administrators, and other professionals who care for and serve the elderly and disabled. This workshop is presented by the Kile Law Group, P.C. For a copy of the registration brochure, please click here. For more information, contact Elizabeth Mulvey at 480-348-1590 or at elizabeth@azestatelaw.com.