2018 LeadingAge State Night Reception

State Night was a HUGE success!  

LeadingAge New Jersey would like to thank everyone who attended the 2018 State Night Reception.  More than 170+ attended and enjoyed a delightful evening on the 37th floor at R2L Restaurant, one of the best views overlooking downtown Philadelphia.  

State Night would not have been successful without the support of our sponsors. Thank you PharmCareUSA and Value First Group Purchasing for your generosity and support.  We also gratefully acknowledge the support of our Pinnacle Business Leadership Partner, Hawks & Company!

A special thank you to our guests LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan and LeadingAge Board of Directors Chair Stephen Fleming for joining us.  

To those of you who were unable to attend, we missed you and hope to see you next year!

PHOTOS FROM STATE NIGHT NOW AVAILABLE!  
2019 Call for Presentations is now OPEN! 

L eadingAge New Jersey is seeking substantive, engaging, interactive educational sessions that are applicable across the continuum of aging services for our Annual Meeting & EXPO.  We  invite you to share your expertise in the field of aging by submitting a proposal to be a presenter!  

*Please note that we are now accepting proposals online via Survey Monkey*  

For more information, visit our website by  clicking here. 
2019 LeadingAge Golf & Tennis Classic 

SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, September 24, 2019

PHOTOS FROM THE 2018 GOLF & TENNIS CLASSIC NOW AVAILABLE!

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...
THROUGH LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND SERVICE

Through outstanding leadership, personal commitment, and innovation in services and program delivery, LeadingAge New Jersey members are leading the way in providing outstanding care and services to New Jersey's seniors.

The LeadingAge New Jersey Awards Program is a great opportunity to recognize the people in our communities who are making a difference in the lives of residents, colleagues, and their local community. 
 
This year's Awards Ceremony will take place Wednesday, December 5 at The Boat House at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, and offers award winners the opportunity to share their accomplishments with LeadingAge New Jersey colleagues, business partners, and industry leaders.
 
As you take a look at the award categories, think of your colleagues both within and outside of your organization who exemplify the spirit of these awards: 
  • Excellence in Care (Two Categories)
    • Direct Care 
    • Support Services
  • Excellence in Community Service
  • Excellence in Innovation
  • Excellence in Leadership
  • Professional Advancement
We look forward to seeing you and your staff join us on December 5 as we celebrate this year's Award Winners. 

If you have any questions please call Amy Greenbaum at (609) 452-1161.

ATTENTION: LONG TERM CARE HIM PROFESSIONALS

Wednesday, November 7, 2018
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm 
*Evening Session*

Bayshore Medical Center
727 North Beers Street
Holmdel, NJ 07733

Meeting Agenda
  • Meet & Greet
  • Overview of topics and future meetings
  • Review from NJHIMA Annual Meeting - LTC topics
  • Scheduled Educational Topic
  • LTC Roundtable
    • Discussion will be on the New Jersey Department of Health Survey Guidelines and how they specifically relate to the Medical Record Department and associated Health Information Professionals.
Registration Information
  • *1 CEU will be offered
  • Light snacks will be served
  • To register, please contact Marie Rommel at (908) 771-5709 or mrommel@ucnj.org.
  • Registration Deadline: October 25, 2018
"All Things Fair" 
2018 Fall Fair Housing Update

Wednesday, November 14, 2018
9:00 am - 3:15 pm

Monroe Village
One David Brainerd Drive
Monroe Township, NJ 08831

LeadingAge New Jersey is pleased to present the Fall Fair Housing Training: All Things Fair.  Wanda Nieves , Director of Fair Housing,  Brenda Edmonson , Chief of Compliance, and other members from the HUD/Newark Branch will present an all-day conference focusing on the following topics: 
  • Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plans 
  • Tenant Selection Plans 
  • Reasonable Accommodations and ADA Requirements
  • Other Hot Topics and New Policy Highlights (e.g., LEP, Section 3, VAWA)
  • Additional Considerations for Senior Housing (i.e., age discrimination, adult children/caretakers, mental illness)
Please note: This 6-hour training event is brought to you by FHEO and satisfies the Fair Housing Training requirement.

Audience 

  • Executive Directors, Managers
  • Front-line Executives (Asset Management, Property Management, Occupancy Specialists)
  • Facility Maintenance Professionals
  • Social service coordinators
  • All other interested staff
Registration Information
  • Registration is required.  Click here to download the Registration Form.
  • Registration Deadline: November 12, 2018

TRAIN-THE-TRAINER SEMINAR
PAID DINING ASSISTANT CURRICULUM APPROVED BY 
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

*WEBINAR TRAINING*
Friday, November 2, 2018
10:00 am - 11:30 am

OR

*IN-PERSON TRAINING*
CentraState Healthcare System
901 West Main Street
Freehold, New Jersey, 07728

Friday, November 9, 2018
9:30 am - 12:00 pm

LeadingAge New Jersey, New Jersey Hospital Association and the Health Care Association of New Jersey are pleased to announce that we have scheduled a train-the-trainer education program for the dining assistant curriculum that has been verbally approved by the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH).  DOH has given us approval to move forward with the program in which they will be a participant.

The dining assistant curriculum was designed by a clinical team made up of members from NJHA, HCANJ and LeadingAge NJ and is compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Federal Tag F-811 and 42 CFR 432.160 related to the use of paid dining assistants in nursing homes. This will be the only NJDOH approved curriculum.  The federal regulations give each state the flexibility to allow nursing homes to use dining assistants to supplement the services of nursing staff if their use is consistent with state law, and if the dining assistants successfully complete a state-approved training program. We have decided to use the term dining assistant, rather than feeding assistant, because we believe it is a term that is more aligned with person-centered care and resident dignity.

This program is intended to train the primary instructors of paid dining assistants in nursing homes. The primary instructor must be a registered nurse with previous long-term care experience and a current New Jersey license.  Ideally, the curriculum would be taught with other team members such as a registered dietitian, licensed physical, speech, and/or occupational therapist, and/or a licensed social worker.

Registration Information
Content will be the same for the webinar and the in-person sessions. There is NO fee but registration is required.  

For the webinar registration, click here.

For the in-person registration, please fill out the attached form and return to  rmercado@njha.com. A ttendance is limited to the first 70 people for the in-person session.   
News & Updates
We are committed to keeping you up to date with news, updates and information that will help you and your organization thrive.  

LeadingAge Center for Managed Care Solutions & Innovations

LeadingAge is delighted to announce the launch of the Center for Managed Care Solutions & Innovations, a new resource for all LeadingAge Members.

The Center for Managed Care Solutions & Innovations will offer a variety of resources for all members at various points in their managed care journeys including:
  • Materials to understand the basics about on Medicare Advantage, Special Needs Plans and Medicaid MLTSS
  • A detailed glossary of managed care terms and acronyms
  • Fact sheets and issue briefs on a variety of different topics related to managed care
  • Webinars and other offerings in the LeadingAge Learning Hub - Early offerings will include both basic understanding of contracting with managed care plan, how Medicaid MLTSS programs work as well as more advanced issues such as the considerations of becoming a provider-led Special Needs Plan (January 16 webinar)
  • Summaries of important articles published by researchers, noting what's relevant for our members
Take a moment to  browse the Center's tools and resources where you will find the answers to your managed care and alternative payment model questions. 

Can't find something? Send your ideas for additional content, issue group suggestions and questions to:  managedcare@leadingage.org.

Social Security COLA in 2018

LeadingAge | October 16, 2018 

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 66 million Americans will increase 2% in 2018 announced  the Social Security Administration.  

The 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 61 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2018.  Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 29, 2017.  The Social Security Act provides for  how the COLA is calculated.

Elect Income Verification Method For First Quarter of 2018

New income information is usually added to HUD's Enterprise Income Verification System (EIV) in December. For information about creating certifications for the first quarter when COLA increases are not reflected in EIV, refer to HH 4350.3 R1, C4, Paragraph 9-6.

When processing certifications with an effective date of January 1, February 1, March 1 and April 1, owners must use one of the methods below for determining the tenant's income.
  • Use the benefit information reported in EIV that does not include the COLA as third party verification as long as the tenant confirms that the income data in EIV is what he/she is receiving;
  • Use the SSA benefit, award letter or Proof of Income Letter provided by the tenant that includes the COLA adjustment if the date of the letter is within 120 days from the date of receipt by the owner;
  • Determine the tenant's income by applying the COLA increase percentage to the current verified benefit amount and document the tenant file with how the tenant's income was determined; or
  • third party verification directly from SSA when the income in EIV does not agree with the income the tenant reports he/she is receiving. (See Paragraph 9-15)
All certifications effective after April 1 must reflect the SSA benefit that includes the COLA.

Information about Medicare changes for 2018, when announced, will be available at  www.medicare.gov.

New Jersey Department of Human Services Announces Increased Wages for Direct Support Professionals

InsiderNJ | October 22, 2018

Trenton, N.J.  -  The New Jersey Department of Human Services on Monday announced wages have increased for the direct support professionals who work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them live successfully in communities.

Governor Phil Murphy and the Legislature identified $32 million in additional state and federal funding to support higher wages for the direct support professionals. The increase represents an average wage increase of about 4.5 percent.

"Direct support professionals play a crucial role in our effort to assist individuals with disabilities live successfully in our communities," said New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson. "Their dedication leads to better lives for so many New Jerseyans, which is why we're pleased to be able to recognize their commitment. We value the work of our direct support professionals and all that they do for individuals with disabilities."

Earned Sick Leave Law Goes Into Effect in New Jersey

Office of the Governor | October 29, 2018

Trenton, N.J.  -  New Jersey became the 10 th  state in the nation to require employers to provide paid time off to full- and part-time workers when its Earned Sick Leave Law went into effect on Monday.

Under the law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in May, employers must provide up to 40 hours of earned sick leave per year. Full- and part-time employees accrue paid time off at a rate of one hour of earned sick time for every 30 hours worked, or the employer can advance its employees earned sick leave at the beginning of the benefit year. 

"Finally, New Jerseyans will never have to choose whether to visit a doctor, care for a loved one, or earn a paycheck,"  said Gov. Murphy. "With this law, we will improve the lives of residents across the state, giving them the protections they deserve."

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is charged with enforcing the new law.

"As part of its enforcement role, the Department has been getting the word out to employers and employees on their rights and responsibilities under the law,"  said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. "We have fielded a lot of calls from businesses seeking to understand their obligation to employees, and from workers who have questions about how they earn sick days. We've gotten to this point thanks to the concern and action of our legislators, and because of many passionate advocates."

Permissible uses of earned sick time include: when an employee or a family member is sick, for routine medical care, to deal with issues related to domestic or sexual violence, to attend a child's school-related meeting or event, or when schools are closed due to a public health emergency.

The Center for Economic and Policy Research, which studied the impact of New York City's 2013 earned sick leave law, found that providing earned sick leave did not lead to loss of jobs, impose cost burdens on employers, or result in widespread abuses by employees, as critics had feared. Eighteen months after New York City's law took effect, 86 percent of employers surveyed expressed support for the earned sick leave legislation, according to the report. To read the report, click  here.

The Labor Department has posted answers to the most frequently asked questions about the new law on its website. To read the FAQs, click  here.

The Department has published proposed rules on how the Earned Sick Leave Law will be implemented, and will accept written comments to the proposed rules through December 14, 2018 to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Office of Legal and Regulatory Services, P.S. Box 110, Trenton, NJ 08625-0110. To read the proposed rules, click  here. The Department has scheduled a public hearing on the rule proposal for 10 am on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Labor Department's auditorium, 1 John Fitch Plaza, Trenton.

Nine other states mandate that employers provide their employees with paid sick leave. There currently is no federal paid sick leave law.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development released the required notice that must be posted and distributed to all New Jersey employees under the earned sick leave law.   The compliance date is November 29, 2018.

Additional resources will be available soon at: 

A public hearing on the draft regulations will be held on November 13, 2018. 

Current Job Openings
For more information, contact A my Greenbaum, Association Services Coordinator  at AGreenbaum@leadingagenj.org or call the LeadingAge New Jersey office at (609) 452-1161.  
Policy & Advocacy
We are your voice, advocating for you collectively and individually.  Our goal is to ensure that our members' best interests are advanced at all levels of government.  
Recently Introduced Legislation

A-4645 Bucco (R-25)
Authorizes bonus credits toward fair share affordable housing obligation for housing units occupied by veterans; permits affordable housing obligation satisfaction through veterans' set aside of up to 35 percent of fair share.

A-4658 Houghtaling (D-11)
Converts senior freeze reimbursement program into credit program.

A-4687 Timberlake (D-34)
Raises minimum wage rate to $10.10, makes additional increases over four-year period, and maintains annual cost of living increases.

S-3117 Ruiz (D-29)
Requires emergency departments to take certain measures concerning palliative care for patients.

S-3120 Greenstein (D-14)
Requires collection and reporting of information concerning crimes against the elderly and disabled.

S-3124 Stack (D-33)
Requires landlords to allow tenants to pay rent up to three business days after eviction order or lockout is executed and accept rent payments by any means.

S-3142 Turner (D-15)
Requires lobby security for certain senior citizen high-rise buildings in areas with high violent crime rates.

SCR-145 Singer (R-30); Holzapfel (R-10)
Proposes constitutional amendment to exclude military disability income from the $10,000 income limit for eligibility for the senior citizens and disabled persons property tax deduction. 
Sweeney/Diegnan/Ruiz Bill To Expand NJ's Paid Family Leave  Gains  Committee Approval

New Jersey Senate Democrats | October 23, 2018

Trenton, N.J. -  Legislation authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Patrick Diegnan and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz that would expand New Jersey's Paid Family Leave Law was approved by a Senate committee. 

The bill, S-2528, would expand the current insurance program that allows employees to take time off from work to care for a newborn or newly-adopted child, or for a sick parent, spouse or child by increasing the weekly benefit and lengthening the leave time.

New Jersey, which is now one of only six states and Washington, D.C. with paid leave, would provide some of the lengthiest leave time in the country and among the most generous benefits with the new bill.

The number of weeks of benefits would be doubled from six to 12 in any one-year time period. The length of intermittent leave would also be increased from 42 to 52 days. And the weekly benefits for all temporary disability claims, including family leave, would increase from two-thirds of a worker's average weekly wage to 85 percent of their pay, capped at 70 percent of the average weekly wage for all workers in New Jersey. The average benefit an individual received for family leave in 2017 was $540 a week.  It would increase to $689 under the new legislation. The maximum benefit an individual could receive for either FLI or TDI would increase from $638 to $842.

The legislation, approved by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, would also:
  • Expand eligibility for the program by revising the definition of "family" to include siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law and those who are the "equivalent" of family members;
  • Allocate $1.2 million from the insurance fund to help increase awareness of the program, which will help boost participation through required outreach, reporting and goals by the Department of Labor & Workforce Development;
  • Include enhanced anti-retaliation job protections for employees working for employers who employ 30 or more employees, reduced from the current threshold of 50 or more employees;
  • Allow for leave insurance for workers who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and for family members to care for these victims;
  • Reduce the tax-burden on workers with low incomes by broadening the wages on which taxes for TDI and FLI are levied from 28 times the statewide average weekly wage to 52 times the statewide average weekly wage.
Employers will not be required to contribute more to the TDI fund and employees will pay an amount comparable to what they paid for the majority of the time TDI has been in existence.
Senate Passes Vitale, Madden Bill to Improve Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare  Eligibility & Intake Process

InsiderNJ | October 29, 2018

Trenton, N.J. -  A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale and Senator Fred Madden that would provide for an improved system for eligibility determination for the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs was cleared by the Senate.
 
Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services would develop an information technology platform for use by the state, county welfare agencies, and state contractor for the purpose of intake, processing and tracking of applications for benefits under the Medicaid program.
 
The bill, S-499, would:
  • simplify the applications and eligibility determination processes to make it easier for both applicants and staff
  • standardize application of eligibility policy across the various agencies involved
  • allow for real-time tracking of application status
  • allow the rapid exchange of data relevant to applications among state and county agencies and contractors
  • provide a platform to expand the system to encompass other social service program applications and eligibility determinations as the technology permits
The bill would also require the commissioner to establish a system to evaluate the performance of all entities responsible for intake and processing of applications for the Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs, including all county welfare agencies and the state's contracted health benefits coordinator.  A system of rewards and penalties providing incentives for performance would be implemented as well.  The results of the performance evaluations would be published annually on the Department of Human Services website.
 
The bill was released from the Senate by a vote of 38-0.
Pou's Bill to Clarify Definition of Health Care Service Firms and  Homemaker-Home Health Aides Clears Senate

InsiderNJ | October 29, 2018

Trenton, N.J. -  Legislation sponsored by Senator Nellie Pou that would revise the current law to clarify the definition of health care service firms and homemaker-home health aides was approved by the Senate.

The bill, S-2773, would clarify that any firm that employs, places or arranges the placement of an individual to provide companion, personal or health care services in the personal residence of a person with a disability or who is 60 years old or older, must register as a health care service firm.

The bill would authorize the Division of Consumer Affairs to enforce the health care service firm registration, a prerequisite upon any person who operates a firm that is subject to the registration requirement, whether the operations include the direct employment of individuals, the use of an Internet website or application, or any other process or business model.

Currently there are more than 1,000 health care service firms registered in the state of New Jersey.

In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the bill would provide that a person is liable for a penalty of $500 per each day that the person continues to operate a firm without being registered as a health care service firm as required.

The bill would also clarify that certified homemaker-home health aides must work under the supervision of a duly licensed registered professional nurse, which is provided by the home care services agency that directly employs the homemaker-home health aide when following a delegated nursing regimen.

The bill was released from the full Senate by a vote of 40-0.
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