Rate increases at provider’s discretion – MAINTAINED
Needed to raise rates mid-year due to the larger than expected liability or workers’ compensation insurance increases?  CALA has twice defeated legislation that would have limited rate increases to once a year, regardless of increases to your cost of providing services!
 

Authority to charge a preadmission fee – ACHIEVED
Charge a community fee?  Thanks to CALA, an attempt to limit such fees to $150 was defeated.   Preadmission fees remain permissible as long as full disclosure takes place!
 

Significantly reduced licensing fee increases – ACHIEVED
Licensing fees are going up this year, but at a much smaller rate than originally proposed. Thanks to CALA's advocacy, the increase is $5.8 million over all CCLD programs rather than the originally proposed $27 million increase.
 

Eliminating the exception requirement for restricted conditions – ACHIEVED
Frustrated spending staff time and resources repeatedly applying for exceptions you’re always granted?  Tired of the delayed admissions because you still haven’t heard back from the department?  Because of CALA’s advocacy, criteria for caring for a resident with a previously restricted condition will be part of the regulations, thereby eliminating the need for an exception.  
 

Authority to call hospice nurse instead of 9-1-1 under certain circumstances – ACHIEVED
Think it’s crazy to be required to call 9-1-1 for a hospice resident with a DNR only to have the emergency responders lecture you about inappropriate use of their resources?  Because of CALA’s advocacy efforts, you now have the option of calling the hospice nurse instead.
 

Authority to accept a new resident who is already receiving hospice – ACHIEVED
Troubled by rules that make residents stop hospice care in order to be admitted to your community?  Thanks to CALA’s partnering with the hospice association, you can now admit a resident who is already receiving hospice care. 
 

Binding arbitration allowed in admission agreements – MAINTAINED
Included an arbitration clause in your admission agreement at the suggestion of your liability insurance carrier?  Without CALA, such clauses would have been made illegal.
 

Allow for adaptable units rather than fully accessible units – ACHIEVED
What would it have cost you to make all your units fully handicapped accessible instead of adaptable?  By defeating legislation that would have imposed the less flexible standard, CALA saved you money that you’re probably spending on enhanced resident services, staff recruitment, employee benefits, etc.
 

Opportunities for positive PR - ONGOING
CALA continues to provide opportunities for positive public relations by sponsoring Assisted Living Week and building a coalition to sponsor Health Care Decisions Week. The Assisted Living – Innovations In Quality program also serves to champion the best of the best in assisted living. 
 

Technical Assistance – AVAILABLE                          
Who do you call when you’re having trouble navigating the Department of Justice criminal background check process or when you have a concern about a decision your LPA has made?  CALA staff provide personalized assistance with regulatory compliance and help navigating the State bureaucracy. 
 

Legal Updates – AVAILABLE
Wondering about legal issues relating to motorized carts, arbitration agreements, DSS appeal process?  These are just a few of the issues CALA’s legal counsel has addressed recently in the CALA Bulletin and at CALA conferences.
 

Education and Networking – AVAILABLE
Need CEUs?  Looking for information on the latest operational issues – ranging from Alzheimer’s care, to human resource management, to marketing, to activity programs?  CALA’s statewide conferences and regional workshops give you both!