Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) will be contracting for the
Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program in State Fiscal Year 2013, effective July 1,
2012. See attached job description program details.

Interested parties must compete for a contract in a Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
Only one applicant will be selected to provide services within Lewis, Mason and Thurston
Counties. Contracts are awarded on a state fiscal year, with an annual option to renew up to three (3) additional years, at the discretion of LMTAAA. The parties to an awarded contract are LMTAAA and the contracting entity.

LMTAAA is an Equal Opportunity Agency. Veteran, minority and woman-owned businesses are encouraged to apply. LMTAAA reserves the right to reject any or all submittals and to waive irregularities.

See announcement memo for more detailed information.

To be considered, a completed RFP Response must be received no later than February 17, 2012. Interested parties may request an RFP packet by calling (360) 664-2168.

Announcement

The Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) will be contracting for supportive services provided to family caregivers funded by the Older American’s Act Family Caregiver Support Program and State Family Caregiver Support Program in 2012.  Services will be provided in Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties.

LMTAAA is conducting a non-competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify qualified providers of:

1) Out of Home Respite Care;

2) Level 3 (Skilled Nursing) In-Home Respite Care; and

3) Family Caregiver Counseling Services

Respite Care services relieve unpaid family caregivers by providing temporary care or supervision to adults with a functional disability. Out of Home Respite Care providers may include nursing homes, adult day care or adult day health centers, hospitals, and licensed residential care facilities such as boarding homes, adult family homes and assisted living facilities.  Nursing homes providing Respite Care must be licensed and comply with WAC 388-97-1880.  Adult Day Services must comply with WAC 388-71-0772 through 388-71-0076.

Level 3 In-Home Respite Care is provided only by a licensed health practitioner (LPN or RN) in the care recipient’s home.  LPNs or RNs contracted for this service may be employed by a home health agency or as sole proprietors.

Family Caregiver Counseling provides individual emotional support, mental health intervention and improved coping skills for the family caregiver.  Counseling services are short term and solution-focused and include identifying the caregiver’s personal strengths and abilities and affirming their efforts.  At a minimum, providers must be licensed in the state of Washington as one of the following:

• Mental Health Counselor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Clinical Social Worker
• Psychologist

This procurement is a non-competitive process. Services will be provided by several vendors at a rate established in the contract and clients will have the choice of vendor. The RFQ will require each applicant to provide information demonstrating minimum qualifications. Those applicants who submit RFQ Responses demonstrating minimum qualifications shall be awarded a contract. Contracts are awarded on an annual basis, with an annual option to renew up to three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of LMTAAA.

LMTAAA is an Equal Opportunity Agency. Minority and woman-owned entities are encouraged to apply. LMTAAA reserves the right to reject any or all submittals and to waive irregularities.

Interested entities may request a Family Caregiver Support Services RFQ packet by calling (360) 664-2168. Completed RFQ responses are due to LMTAAA on January 23, 2012.

There are three area codes that if you call any number in that code area,  you will get charged large sums of money on you phone bill.  So far the we have seen $70.00 charges for just few seconds of phone time.

The scam starts when a caller leaves a message that you have won a prize and to call the number for more information.  When you call the area code the person stalls you as long as they can which causes the cost to rise.

This scam has been around for a while and there have been reports of phone bills up to $1200.00 for one call.  In the past the caller would claim that one of your relatives is injured and needs help.  They ask you to call the number.  When you call you are again stalled as long as they can and put you on hold for an extended period of time while they “transfer” the call to your relative.

So far there are three area codes to watch out for.  They are 809, 876 and 284.  The area codes are out of Jamaica and seem to be set up just for the purpose of the scam.  They use collection agencies in the US to collect on the bill and they will affect your credit if the bill is not paid.

Google Maps

NEW ADDRESS:

628 W Alder Street
Shelton, WA 98584

According to reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from flu and pneumonia-related causes involve people aged 65 years and older. Flu and pneumonia shots can decrease the rate of hospitalizations and deaths from these diseases.

Flu and Pneumonia Resources 2011

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

A Public Hearing is scheduled to review the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging proposed 2012-15 Area Plan to provide aging and long term care services in Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties.

The Public Hearings will be:

• 10:00 a.m. on September 16, 2011 at the Mason County Senior Activities Association, 826 Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA 98584
• 2:00 p.m. on September 16, 2011 at the Lewis County Courthouse, 351 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA
• 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 2011 at the LMTAAA Olympia office, 4419 Harrison Ave NW, Olympia, WA

Written comments or questions may be addressed to:  Dennis Mahar, Director, LMTAAA, 4419 Harrison Ave NW, Olympia, WA  98502.  If hearing impaired or limited English speaking, please contact Julie Dasso-Moore at the Area Agency on Aging office at 360-664-2168 to arrange for interpretive services.

Contact the Family Caregiver Resource Manager in your area.

OLYMPIA – Legislation passed during this year’s regular legislative session will help state Medicaid clients affected by a budget cut that eliminated coverage of frames, lenses and contacts from the medical assistance program this year.

Under the new law, Airway Heights’ Correctional Industries Optical center, which has been the manufacturer of vision hardware for the Medicaid program – will continue to make the items that are prescribed by Medicaid providers. The Spokane center now will charge the doctors for the actual cost of producing the glasses, and the doctors will be able to pass that same charge along to the clients.

The legislation presumes neither eye doctors nor the center will make a profit on the transactions. Prices are expected to range around $20 for a pair of glasses.
The bill, SSB5352, was originally sponsored by Senators Jim Honeyford, R-15, Debbie Regala, D-27, and Dan Swecker, R-20. It passed both chambers unanimously and was signed by Governor Gregoire on April 18.

The vision benefit budget cut was one of several cuts affecting benefits for clients of the Medicaid program ages 21 and older. Others included elimination of coverage for hearing aids and other hearing hardware, and limiting the adult dental benefit to emergency treatments for pain, infection or trauma. Persons with developmental disabilities were exempted from the original cut in the dental benefit, and the final legislative budget directed Medicaid to also restore the benefit for pregnant women later this summer.
None of the cuts affected children’s benefits, which are generally protected under federal Medicaid law. The cuts also did not change coverage of eye or hearing exams for adults. Those remain covered by Medicaid.

Medicaid clients who are interested in obtaining new eyeglasses should talk to their optometrist, ophthalmologist or primary care provider for a referral to an eye doctor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Jeffery Thompson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Health Care Authority/Medicaid 360-725-1612
• Gail Kreiger, B.S.N., Medical Benefits/Clinical Review, Division of Healthcare Services, 360-725-1681
• Sharon Michael, Communications, Health Care Authority/Medicaid 360-923-2764

2011 Emergency Preparedness Expo

Where: St. Martin’s University, Marcus Pavilion & Worthington Center

When: October 29, 2011 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Contact: Vivian Eason at 360-786-5243 or easonv@co.thurston.wa.us

• All-hazards Preparedness Information
• Preparedness Demonstrations
• Vendor & Information Booths

Download a flyer.

*UPDATE 7-6-11*

• All of the SFMNP checks have been distributed for Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties.

The SFMNP provides low-income seniors with $40 in SFMNP checks to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from authorized farmers’ markets and roadside stands. Additional resources in the form of nutrition educational materials including recipes, nutrient values, food preparation and storage information are also provided.

Visit the page for eligibility, forms, and distribution schedule.