• Schedule of upcoming topics, as well as language and images to be used for marketing purposes. Sessions are generally scheduled 6-12 months out.
• Access to all upcoming calls and recorded calls for the full calendar year which the state affiliate subscribed
• A report of callers who tuned in after each session (report will provide phone numberand location, not name).
• State affiliates will take responsibility for marketing these opportunities to their members

https://www.leadingagemaryland.org/page/HousingHappenings

• Reduce  the frequency that LTC facilities are required to conduct a facility assessment.
• Allow LTC facilities the flexibility to streamline their compliance and ethics programs.
• Reduce the requirements for individuals responsible for the compliance and ethics program and
• Reduce the frequency for the compliance and ethics program's review.
• Increase flexibility by providing that those who have performed as the director of food and nutrition services for a minimum of two years by allowing them to continue doing so without obtaining additional certification. Newly hired directors of food and nutrition services or those with less than two years of experience would need to complete, at a minimum, a course in food safety and management.
• Allow facilities greater flexibility in tailoring their Quality Assurance Program Improvement (QAPI) program to the specific needs of their individual facility by eliminating prescriptive requirements.
• Update Informal Dispute Resolution (and independent process) by adding timeframes on process, and increased provider transparency.

• Not require that a resident or his or her representative sign an agreement for binding arbitration as a condition of admission to, or as a requirement to continue to receive care at, the facility.  This must be explicitly stated in the agreement to ensure.  This ensures that no resident or his or her representative will have to choose between the resident obtaining the skilled nursing care he or she needs and signing an agreement for binding arbitration.
• Ensure that the agreement is explained to the resident or his or her representative in a form and manner that he or she understands, including in a language that he or she understands, and that the resident or his or her representative acknowledges that he or she understands the agreement.  These two requirements ensure that the arbitration agreement is transparent and the resident or his or her representative understand what he or she is agreeing to.
• Ensure that the agreement provides for the selection of a neutral arbitrator agreed upon by both parties and a venue that is convenient to both parties.  These requirements helps to ensure that the arbitration process is fair to both parties, especially the residents.
• Ensure that the agreement does not contain any language that prohibits or discourages the resident or anyone else from communicating with federal, state, or local officials, including Federal or state surveyors, other federal or state health department employees, or representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. This protects the resident and his or her representative from any undue influence by the LTC facility to not discuss the circumstances surrounding a concern, complaint or grievance.
• Retain copies of the signed agreement for binding arbitration and the arbitrator's final decision for 5 years after the resolution of any dispute resolved through arbitration with residents, and make these documents available for inspection upon request by CMS or its designee.  This will ensure that CMS will be able to obtain information on how the arbitration process is being used by LTC facilities, and on the outcomes of the arbitrations for residents.