
NASOP Public Policy & Advocacy
- Works to implement recommendations related to systems advocacy, program effectiveness, training, and data consistency.
- Provides Washington, DC-based public policy consultation
- Provides long-term care ombudsman policy consultation to members
- Develops positions regarding the
Older Americans Act and other laws that impact long-term care, the
interests of residents, and the long-term care ombudsman program
- Testifies before Congress and comments on critical issues for long-term care residents
- Participates in workgroups on issues
such as assisted living, guardianship, elder abuse, ombudsmen as
advocates, quality measurement, and White House conferences
- Advocates for policies that serve the interests of long-term care residents
- Keeps membership informed of critical policy issues
Advocacy Efforts
Update on national and state criminal background checks
An
amendment sponsored by Senator Herb Kohl was adopted as part of the
Senate Budget Resolution that would create a deficit neutral fund for
a 3-year extension of the pilot program for national and
state criminal background checks on direct patient access employees of long
term care facilities or providers.
March 12, 2008 Announcement by the Elder Justice Coalition
Amendment to S.Con.Res. 70
To advance excellence in America's nursing homes
February 8, 2008 NASOP
is pleased to be a new member of the national steering committee guiding the
work of the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign. We
appreciate NCCNHR Director Alice Hedt’s persistence in representing consumers
and getting the ombudsman network added to the group. The campaign presents
ombudsman an opportunity to empower consumers to be actively engaged in their
own care plan and in improving the quality of nursing homes. Joani Latimer
(Virginia – NASOP Board Member) and Beverley Laubert (Ohio – NASOP Board
Member) represent NASOP on the steering committee and will engage other members
as opportunities arise. For more information about the campaign, visit www.nhqualitycampaign.org
To improve nursing home transparency, enforcement and quality of services
To improve communication between state survey agencies and long-term care ombudsmen programs
January 2007 NASOP Letter to CMS
May 2007 CMS Response to NASOP
July 2007 CMS Memorandum to State Survey Agencies
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