Adviser Winter 2020 Accomplishments Final | Page 4

2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In spite of the unprecedented challenges created by the COVID-19 emergency , LeadingAge New York and its members achieved several legislative , regulatory and policy victories in 2020 . We also helped members navigate major change through education , technical assistance and business solutions . Among our 2020 accomplishments are the following :
• Advocated for improved access to and funding for PPE , testing and staffing for long term care providers during the COVID-19 emergency .
• In collaboration with LeadingAge National , successfully advocated for private-pay AL access to funding under the federal CARES Act Provider Relief Fund .
• Advocated for direct care workforce development through funding for social supports , apprenticeship and mentorship programs and certification flexibility for direct care workers .
• Successfully opposed a retroactive repeal of the Emergency or Disaster Treatment Protection Act , protecting health care providers from retroactive liability for actions taken during the COVID-19 emergency .
• Fought off nurse staffing ratios for nursing homes .
• Obtained a further extension of the waiver from electronic prescribing for nursing home residents .
• Successfully advocated for more reasonable approaches to COVID-19 staff testing , family visitation and other quality-of-liferelated services in nursing homes and ACFs .
• Achieved adoption of a long-awaited change to DOH regulations providing a new option for medication administration for ACF residents under hospice care .
• Actively participated in various DOH workgroups and discussions on provider financial reporting , public need methodologies , value-based payment and nursing home and MLTC quality .
• Convened a member workgroup on proposed personal care regulations , participated in discussions with DOH and other stakeholders and submitted extensive written comments to DOH based on workgroup input .
• Provided extensive written comments opposing a federal proposal to limit state Medicaid financing structures for nursing homes and hospitals , which was ultimately rescinded by CMS .
• Developed and submitted to DOH recommendations to institute virtual home health aide and personal care aide training programs .
• Established quarterly meetings with high-level HUD representatives to enable information sharing between HUD and members .
4 LeadingAge New York 2020 Accomplishments