Long Term Care Providers to Meet with State Bimonthly

LeadingAge NY along with other long term care provider associations are now meeting bimonthly with staff of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Office of Aging and Long Term Care (OALTC). Introduced at the first meeting were new staff persons Ashley Cokgoren, Director of the Division of Nursing Homes and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) Surveillance, and Jaclyn Sheltry, Director of the Center for Aging and Long Term Care Policy and Regulatory Initiatives. Also in attendance were Adam Herbst, Deputy Commissioner, and Val Deetz, Deputy Director.

The Department is interested in opening up lines of communication with providers on a more regular basis. Adult care facility (ACF), home care, hospice, nursing home, adult day health care (ADHC), and hospital providers were in attendance.

The Department’s OALTC leadership is interested in visiting sites this summer with the intent to see facilities and agencies in operation and learn more about innovations and challenges. LeadingAge NY will be working to identify sites for DOH to visit.

The Department is also seeking ideas for training and education of providers. It is likely that they may be providing provider-specific training on the survey process, discharge process, and the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, and are open to more ideas.

LeadingAge NY will keep members abreast of news and education coming out of these regular meetings.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871