IALFA Board Meets and Sets 2008 Agenda

The newly elected IALFA Board of Directors recently met and confirmed their big three goals for the year. They are (in no specific order):

1. Medicaid Waiver-work with State of Indiana and appropriate departments to improve the initial enrollment/approval process for providers and participants.
2. Health Facility Administrator license for Residential Care Administrators-to develop/revise rules for appropriate training for Residential Care communities
3. Increase Membership-to create new ways of “telling our story” and sharing the value of IALFA membership to nonmembers to assist them in advocacy, networking, and operations

Aging-in-Place Rule

The board also discussed the proposed change to Rule # 410 IAC 16.2-5-0.5, Residential Care. Members may remember that this rule was proposed by the Health Facilities Council and approved by the executive board. It has been in the rules promulgation process since early 2007. Eventually a notice will be posted for a public hearing to be held regarding the proposed rule. In the meantime, IALFA members have the ability to respond to the proposed rule. The board has sent a letter of concern about the rule as written. IALFA supports residents’ right to choose where to live. Unfortunately, this rule is written so that free-standing Residential Care Facilities would not be allowed to support a resident to age-in-place with certain skilled care needs. The rule would only allow aging-in-place with certain health conditions if the Residential Care Facility (RCF) is located near a Comprehensive Care Facility (CCF). We do not understand this logic because regardless of location, all Residential Care Facilities operate under the same rules.

IALFA concerns include the following:

• The proposed rule assumes some kind of available or extra staff the free-standing RCF cannot obtain.
• There is an implication, due to the location near a CCF, that CCF staff may be borrowed, or leave the unit to go to the RCF.
• There is an assumption that a free-standing RCF would not obtain the appropriate care staff for residents (yet the rules require appropriate staff regardless of proximity to a CCF).
• Does this mean the current building codes for CCF are not necessary?
• How close in proximity must the RCF and CCF be? Attached? Same hallway? Same land? Same address?

These and other reservations regarding the rule should be voiced to the Department of Health. You may address your comments/concerns to Terry Whitson, Assistant Commissioner, Indiana State Department of Health, 2 North Meridian Street, #5A, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Phone: 317-233-7022, Fax: 317-233-7053, Email: twhitson@isdh.in.gov or send to Becky Carter, IALFA Executive Director exdir@ialfa.org. to forward.