Posted by Genevieve Gipson NNCNA (152.163.197.209) on August 12, 2001 at 19:13:11:
See below - keep scrolling down for the info on the listening sessions.
I will try to keep you posted on these listening sessions - would like as many of you as possible to attend any that are close to you - and be prepared
to testify. We will talk about how to write Position Statements at the 4th Annual National Leadership Conference for NAs on Sept 30-Oct 1, 2001 in
Washington, DC.
As soon as we get any info on dates and sites for the listening sessions, we will pass this on. Keep watching this message board.
Genevieve Gipson RN MEd RNC
National Network of Career Nursing Assistants
____
July 26, 2001
NATIONAL LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN RESOURCE CENTER
TO: State Ombudsmen and Others
FROM: Janet Wells
SUBJECT: CMS "Listening Forums"
Tom Scully, Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), announced this week that as part of a new "culture of responsiveness," CMS will launch a series of open "listening forums" across
the country. A release from the CMS press office says the purpose of the forums is "to hear directly from physicians and health care providers on the
day-to-day workload effects of the rules we develop." However, a separate statement issued by Scully says the forums will also hear from "seniors who
rely upon Medicare and Medicaid for their healthcare needs."
Scully also announced the formation of seven "Open Door Policy Committees" haired by senior level staff within CMS that will meet monthly with national organizations "to serve as principle po ints of contact for providers and beneficiaries." The nursing home committee has been given heightened attention over the other six: Scully himself will co-chair it
with Ray Scheppach, the executive director of the National Governors Association. Scheppach is the only non-CMS official heading a policy committee. NCCNHR is asking Scully for a formal invitation to participate in the meetings, which will be open to the public.
The third part of the initiative is the designation of "in-house expert teams" within CMS to "think innovatively about new ways of doing business
that will reduce administrative burdens and simplify our rules and regulations." The in-house teams will include information from the listening forums in considering ways to reduce so-called regulatory burdens.
Under intense pressure from the nursing home industry, CMS is already considering ways to decrease current survey and enforcement requirements, including reducing the fre quency of surveys in "good facilities." When the listening forums are announced, it will be critically important for nursing home residents and their advocates to attend in force with case studies and other information that support the need to strengthen enforcement - not to weaken it. Participants should also ensure that there is press coverage of consumers' perspectives.
NCCNHR will provide information about the forums when we receive it.
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