IHCA
Benefits of Membership

Education
Membership in IHCA-ICAL/AHCA provides vital information regarding current regulations as well as best practices. Over 100 hours per year are offered through our educational sessions at workshops and convention.

Lobbying
Membership in IHCA-ICAL/AHCA pays for staff in Boise and Washington DC to advocate for higher reimbursement and for regulations that make sense. IHCA-ICAL and AHCA are also aggressively working on TORT reform and staffing.

IHCA-ICAL Goals for 2006

  • Protect Medicaid funding for AL, ICF/MR's and SNF's!
  • Follow all pertinent legislation. Create an independent IDR system for ICF/MRs.

Accomplishments in 2005

  • Successfully fought to maintain Medicaid reimbursement!
  • Conducted AL & MR/DD tracts at convention and at workshops.
  • Had the best attended convention in the history of IHCA-ICAL.
  • Helped correct the horribly broken assisted living survey system.
  • Created AL AIT program for assisted living administrators in training.

Accomplishments in 2004

  • SNF- ICF/MR daily reimbursements have not been reduced!
  • Conducted ICF/MR tracts at convention and at workshops.
  • Had the best attended convention in the history of IHCA-ICAL (to the best of our knowledge).
  • Participated in the Assisted Living Workgroup to address the horribly broken assisted living survey system.
  • Introduced a nurse staffing video to each of the nursing schools in Idaho.
  • Passed state initiative encouraging CMS to allow deemed status

Accomplishments in 2003

  • Tort Reform - (Board of Directors of Idaho Liability Reform Coalition)
    • Caps Non-Economic Damages
    • Caps Punitive Damages
    • Changes burden of proof for punitive damages from "Preponderance of the evidence" to "Clear and Convincing Evidence"
  • Created IHCA-ICAL Quality Award.
  • Maintained SNF Medicaid reimbursement.
  • Forced Board of Nursing to change policy regarding Canadian Nurses.
  • Created first ever Social Services Curriculum (40 Hour) Social workers.
  • Created a nurse recruiting video.
  • AHCA helped acquire two year moratorium on Therapy Caps.
  • AHCA helped acquire over $1.2 billion to SNF Medicare rates.
  • AHCA helped acquire paid feeding assistant rule.
  • IHCA-ICAL helped design the feeding assistant program in Idaho.
  • IHCA-ICAL designed a 40 page QI tool to help facilities avoid five of the most common survey citations.

Accomplishments in 2002

  • Created an Activity Director Curriculum that meets state guidelines.
  • Passed Concurrent Resolution in the Legislature requiring a plan to address the nursing shortage.
  • Started a Telehealth program via ISU Institute of Rural Health to broadcast classes at convention and workshops to IHCA-ICAL members in their own communities.
  • Began an Independent IDR process that is working well.
  • AHCA influenced CMS to delay RUGS refinement - delayed $1.5 billion in Medicare cuts.
  • Working on restoring 100% of cuts.
  • Established a Quality Improvement Committee to work with H&W to improve surveys.
  • With several holdbacks (totaling nearly 10% for most agencies) the state Medicaid rate was not reduced.
  • Passed legislation requiring a Medicaid recipient who sues a provider to turn the profits of the settlement/lawsuit over to Medicaid.

Accomplishments in 2001

  • Through a two year aggressive and multi-faceted campaign AHCA was able to restore $5.5 billion to SNF's that was cut through the Medicare PPS system.
  • AHCA was able to get a SNF TORT reform law passed in Florida. Florida's liability insurance rates were driving up the rates for the entire nation.
  • IHCA-ICAL was able to eliminate the sunset clause in the Idaho State Legislature that would have required every SNF in Idaho to have a licensed social worker.
  • IHCA-ICAL was able to pass a Deemed Status concurrent resolution through the Idaho State Legislature. We are now pursuing it with CMA (was HCFA)
  • IHCA-ICAL helped influence the legislature to increase the personal needs allowance that residents receive from $30 to $40 per month.
  • The Legislature passed a bill that IHCA-ICAL initiated that creates a state tax deduction for 50% of LTC Insurance premiums.