Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging
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Illinois AAA Association
Meeting Minutes
Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland

Call to Order - Vice President Barbara Eskildsen called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m.

Roll Call - the following members were present: Grant Nyhammer (01), Walter Meyers (02), Barbara Eskildsen, (03), Joanne Thomas (04), Mike O'Donnell (05), Lynn Niewohner (06), Julie Hubbard (07), Shana Holmes (10), John Smith (11), Diane Slezak (13). A quorum was established. Guests attending: Terry Steczo and Maureen Mulhull.

Minutes of the December 12, 2012 Meeting - Diane Slezak moved approval; seconded by Joanne Thomas. Motion carried.

Treasurer's Report - The Association reviewed the report from Treasurer Joy Paeth. Lynn Niewohner moved approval; seconded by Joanne Thomas. Motion carried.

Resignation of the I4A President - The Association reviewed a letter from Lynn Niewohner dated December 28, 2012, resigning as I4A President. Julie Hubbard moved to accept the letter of resignation; seconded by Joanne Thomas. Motion carried.

Election of the I4A President - Julie Hubbard moved the election of Barbara Eskildsen as I4A President; seconded by Shana Holmes. Motion carried.

Election of I4A Vice President - Mike O'Donnell moved the election of Joanne Thomas as I4A Vice President; seconded by Diane Slezak. Motion carried.

OASAC Report - Diane Slezak cited the January 10, 2013 memo from Jon Lavin, member of the OASAC Committee looking at quality assurance for long term services and supports provided to persons enrolled in Managed Care plans.

CCPAC Report - Joy Paeth attended the most recent CCPAC Meeting on behalf of Joanne Thomas. In Joy's absence, the CCPAC Report was tabled until the next I4A Meeting on March 26, 2013.

Update on Adult Protective Services - Diane Slezak and Barbara Eskildsen presented an update on draft language for the Adult Protective Services legislation. The Association discussed several issues including: the proposed registry of paid and unpaid caregivers, assessing risk levels, prosecution of substantiated cases, obtaining clear and convincing evidence, liability of providers and Regional Administrative Agencies, training for elder abuse case workers on adult protective service issues, the role of Equip for Equality, self-determination of adults, peer counseling, emergency housing, defining disability, Rule 51, determining decision making capacity, and phased approach to program implementation.

Legislative Update - Terry Steczo and Maureen Mulhull gave an update on issues to be addressed during the spring 2013 session of the 98th Illinois General Assembly.

Legislative Committee Report - Mike O'Donnell presented Minutes of the I4A Legislative Committee Conference Call on January 7, 2013.

The minutes contained the following Committee recommendation for an I4A position on the proposed adult protective services legislation:

I4A supports a bill on adult protective services that reaffirms the current Elder Abuse and Neglect Program's process of investigating reports of alleged abuse and neglect and providing services to alleged victims; and I4A is opposed to establishing a registry of perpetrators that would include unpaid family members.

Discussion followed.

The Legislative Committee recommended the following issues for the I4A Advocacy Agenda for 2013:

  1. The role of Area Agencies on Aging in Managed Care.
  2. The expansion of the Elder Abuse and Neglect Program to include Adult Protective Services for people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 59.
  3. Illinois Department on Aging appropriations for Aging Programs and Services for FY2014.
  4. Enact and fund the Pharmaceutical Assistance Relief Program with amendatory language including persons with disabilities under the age of 65.
  5. Prompt state payments for Aging Programs and Services including grant programs administered by Area Agencies on Aging, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Program, and the Community Care Program.
  6. State implementation of provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act, including managed care for persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, the expansion of Medicaid for persons with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, the Illinois Health Insurance Exchange, mental health parity, and the dissemination of evidence-based healthy aging programs and interventions.

Mike O'Donnell, Chairperson of the Legislative Committee, moved approval of the Legislative Committee Report. The motion came from a Committee and did not require a second. Motion carried.

Mike O'Donnell distributed the draft 2013 update to the I4A Fact Sheet on Services for Older Americans in Illinois. He requested that AAAs report the most recent number of veterans enrolled in the Veterans Independence Program.

Conference Call with Anti-Trust Attorney - The Association spoke via telephone with Glenn Davis, Attorney with Hepler Broom, LLC, of St. Louis, MO. Glenn Davis presented information about compliance with anti-trust laws. Glenn Davis proposed that I4A engage his services to develop an Anti-Trust Compliance Policy. After the call ended, the Association discussed the issue.

Mike O'Donnell moved that the Association authorize the I4A President to request a proposal from Attorney Glenn Davis to develop a draft policy on anti-trust compliance and obligate up to $2,000 to complete the draft policy and provide annual consultation with the Association; seconded by Grant Nyhammer. AAAs voting in favor: 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 10, and 13; AAAs opposed: 04, and 11. Motion carried.

John Smith moved that I4A not discuss managed care. The motion died for lack of second.

Proposal for Collaboration on CDSMP and DSMP - Diane Slezak presented a proposal from AgeOptions to collaborate with other Area Agencies on Aging in pursuing grant opportunities to disseminate the Chronic Disease Self Management Program and the Diabetes Self Management Program statewide. Discussion followed. The Association concurred that AgeOptions should release a request for collaborators to all Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois.

Fiscal Cliff Update - Mike O'Donnell reported that the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) passed by Congress on January 3, 2013 postponed federal sequestration until March 1. He reported that ATRA extends provisions of MIPPA through FY2013 and appropriates funding for low-income Medicare beneficiary outreach and assistance programs, including: SHIPs, $7.5 million; AAAs, $7.5 million; ADRCs, $5 million; and the Contract with the National Center for Benefits and Outreach Enrollment, $5 million.

FY 2013 GRF Payments to AAAs - Mike O'Donnell urged I4A to ask the Department on Aging on January 23 about their strategy for making state payments to AAAs for grant programs funded by GRF and other state funds for FY2013.

Managed Care Updates - Area Agencies on Aging provided updates on the implementation of the Integrated Care Program and the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative in their respective planning and service areas. Discussion followed on emerging roles for AAAs and the Aging Network including: outreach, information & assistance, benefits eligibility screening, options counseling, nutritional risk assessments for home delivered meals, advocacy, complaint resolution, ombudsman services, responding to grievances and appeals, and quality assurance monitoring.

FAST - Diane Slezak reported on the development of a Financial Abuse Specialty Team (FAST) in Cook County in response to cases of financial exploitation of older adults in cooperation with Elder Court Judge Patricia Banks.

Adjournment - Lynn Niewohner moved adjournment at 4:27 p.m.; seconded by Joanne Thomas. Motion carried.

Next Meeting: March 26, 2013 at the Area Agency on Aging for LincolnLand, Springfield, IL.


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