National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: 2013 Public Policy Agenda
Goal #1: Advocate for public policies that support quality care and quality of life responsive to long-term care consumers’ needs.
The Consumer Voice will be a leader: by reducing use of restraints of all kinds by fighting against inappropriate use of pharmaceuticals, particularly on residents with dementia. The Consumer Voice will be a leader: by reducing use of restraints of all kinds by fighting against the sale and use of bed rail products that result in consumer deaths through entrapment. The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in seeking increased staff and transparency about staffing in nursing homes through support of policies that advance the 1998 Consumer Voice staffing standards, including requiring appropriate RN staffing 24/7. The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in protecting consumers’ constitutional rights by working to eliminate binding mandatory arbitration clauses in long-term care contracts and opposing proposals that would make it more difficult for long-term care consumers to seek legal remedies.
Goal #2: To develop, fund, strengthen and preserve programs, laws, and regulations that provide services for and protect long-term care consumers.
The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in advocating for reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, including amendments that preserve and strengthen elder rights, in particular the long-term care ombudsman program.
The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in fighting to preserve the Nursing Home Reform Law of OBRA ‘87 and advancing effective implementation of all long-term care provisions in the Affordable Care Act (such as the Nursing Home Transparency Act, Elder Justice Act and Community First Choice). The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in preserving and ensuring that funding is adequate for Older Americans Act, Medicaid and Medicare programs, transparency and federal and state oversight and enforcement.
Goal #3: To ensure a strong and independent long-term care ombudsman program.
The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in advocating for reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, with amendments safeguarding programs from interference and retaliation and addressing, organizational and individual conflict of interest, duties and training. The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in seeking increased funding to meet the current mandates of the Older Americans Act for the ombudsman program and for the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in seeking regulations and guidance from the Administration on Aging, as called for by the 1992 Older Americans Act Amendments, for full and effective implementation of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. The Consumer Voice will be a leader in: advocating for expansion of the long-term care ombudsman program into home and community-based services with adequate funding for full and effective implementation.
Goal #4: To advocate for the establishment and enforcement of long-term care consumers’ rights.
The Consumer Voice will be a leader: by advocating for a home care bill of rights, established in federal law. The Consumer Voice will be a leader: in seeking consumer rights and protections in all Medicaid and waiver services, as well as Medicaid managed care programs.