Karen Barno

From the Desk of: Karen Barno, President/CEO, Arizona ALFA

I find it hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. Does it not seem like yesterday we were at our annual conference? Now we are preparing for our Fall Conference that this year will be a “Legal Symposium” and is at the Black Canyon Leadership conference. The Educational Events committee believed that as assisted living attracts attention with the federal government and state elected officials it was time to discuss the legal issues that arise in assisted living.

Federal Issues:

The NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) is causing many challenges for the business community. Since the Employer Free choice Act was defeated the unions have tried to work through the NLRB. The NLRB is a regulatory board that has “decided” to make public policy decisions that Congress should be appropriately making or worse, establishing public policy that is counter to the direction and wishes of Congress. It should be Congress who determine public policy in regards to workers right to a federally supervised secret ballot election when determine If they wish to be represented by a union. ALFA will continue to monitor this for its members.

Congress has also filed a bill to establish a co-pay for Home Health services. However this co-pay can be viewed as nothing more than a sick tax, falling heaviest upon the sickest, poorest and most vulnerable members of our society.

To gather additional information on these federal bills ALFA has their public policy papers posted to their website, www.alfa.org. Arizona ALFA is an affiliate of ALFA and works closely with them on Federal and State issues.

State Issues:

The Public policy committee is reviewing the 2012 Legislative agenda. The major focus areas will encompass ALTCS reductions, Elder Abuse legislation from the Attorney Generals taskforce and the rules for Caregiver Training.

The ALTCS’s committee, chaired by Karla Averill, is closely monitoring the reductions in ALTC Provider rates and exploring ways to minimize both the amount and impact of these reductions. We have also working closely with a consultant and our lobbyist to develop a plan to demonstrate to the legislature that assisted living is a less expensive, more value driven product than other long term care options.

I have been honored to be a member of the Attorney Generals Taskforce on Elder Abuse. This committee is studying many issues surrounding Elder Abuse and do plan to put legislation forward and I will let you know about the proposed legislation.

The Governors Office on Aging has also formed a Taskforce on Alzheimer’s that we are also a member and will report to our members the outcomes from that committee as well.

The fate of Medical Marijuana has yet to be determined, stand by for further information and we will continue to monitor the situation.

Finally Arizona ALFA is your association, if you have any questions or comments please call me. If there is a program, product or services you would like us to offer let me know so we can continue to serve you!

Karen Barno, President/CEO