President’s Report
 Maintaining Balance….easier said than done!
“Action is at bottom a swinging and flailing of the arms to regain one’s balance and keep afloat.”
– Eric Hoffer
Balancing priorities, staying in the moment while not losing sight of future responsibilities, and “day to day survival” are all rational and difficult thoughts to put into practice. It takes planning and results in trial and error. At times it even requires risk taking to ensure you remain focused on the organization’s purpose, so as to minimize expending efforts on issues that do not support your priorities.
As we move through May, we are continuing to work on your behalf to address those issues that can become distraction, while listening to you and your colleagues when issues that were once mere “distractions”, now become priorities. Here are just a few of the issues that association staff and member leadership are working to address as you focus on the providing the best care possible to the communities you serve:
- Increased efforts with HHSC leadership and MCO leadership discussing the significant and ongoing concerns that exist due to issues of increasing A/R’s and other payment issues. Earlier this year the issues were discussed with the legislature and we will continue to update them on the status of improved payments.
- Working with the Department of Aging and Disability Services in the development of an education program focused on understanding Immediate Jeopardy citations through the eyes of the surveyor scheduled for rollout in June 2016.
- Developing resource materials and educational efforts to help reduce the incidence of rehospitalizations.
- Supporting THCA Regional efforts in education outreach and meetings.
- Participating as a member of the SB304 Negotiated Rulemaking Committee for the development of criteria to stay a license revocation under the “three-strikes” rules, which is set to go into effect September 1, 2016.
- Providing testimony and background information to legislators and staff as part of interim hearings as well as preparation work in advance of the next legislative session in 2017.
- Working with member leadership, stakeholders and partners to firm up legislative priorities for 2017.
Over the next few months, with the release of the Legislative Appropriation Requests, subsequent hearings, state and national elections, Summer Conference in July, Convention in November, preparation for legislative session and other priorities that have yet to raise their heads, we will continue to work with THCA Board leadership and representatives from across the membership community on your behalf. Stay tuned, stay committed, and thank you for what you do!….Onward and Upward.
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