Member Communications

Missouri Health Care Association's website, www.mohealthcare.com provides a wealth of current information and contains a password protected section which gives members up to the date information.

Here you will find information on where the long term care issues are in the legislature. Updates will be shown on bills being introduced, where they are in the process of becoming a law, and what these bills will mean to your facility. We also monitor the regulatory activity of State Departments. New and revised government regulations are reviewed and analyzed with information being posted on our website. Many times members have the opportunity to comment on these regulations. Through your membership in American Health Care Association you will have access to updates on the national scene with the regulations and bills being introduced in Congress.

We have an archives in the member's only section which will have all of the information which Missouri Health Care Association has disseminated over the last 6 months to members. This will be extremely helpful in answering your questions on regulations and other pertinent information.

Our website is filled with information on our education sessions which will be taking place over the next two months and you have the opportunity to register on-line for those sessions. Convention and Mid-Year information is also listed on the website with the opportunity to register.

Legislation

Missouri Health Care Association stresses the importance of having an impact in the political process. We provide the latest information on the legislative session in Jefferson City which are important for your facility, patients and employees. Get involved and find out how you can help advance those issues with your elected officials. Discover how your involvement in the process can make a difference in the halls of the Capitol and in the lives of those entrusted to your care.

We will rally together with one voice to defeat the issues which harm our seniors and push the issues which help. We will frequently call upon you to contact the Senator or Representative in your district to discuss the issues and possibly to visit your facility and your residents. Get them involved in the lives of Missouri's seniors.

Criminal Backgrounds

Missouri Health Care Association has successfully implemented a program to conduct criminal background check services for its member facilities through the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Please note the following procedures being utilized by MHCA and its members.

There are three options for running a criminal background request with MHCA.

The process for background checks is as follows:

The nursing facility submits to MHCA by internet, fax or U.S. Mail the completed information on the individual's for whom they want a criminal record check to be completed.

Requests received by 10:00 a.m. each day will be taken to the Highway Patrol that same day, those received after 10:00 a.m. will be taken the following day.

MHCA then puts that information onto a disk and hand delivers it to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Generally within one or two days, the results of those criminal record requests will be made available to the Missouri Health Care Association. MHCA will then e-mail or fax those results to the requesting facility.

Committees

Missouri Health Care Association has several committees in which members are encouraged to participate in and lend their talents to the organization where they best fit. MHCA's Committee structure is the initial decision making, policy formulating body of the Association, therefore, participation at the committee level is critically important.

Below is a description of each of MHCA's Committees. You, as a new member, are encouraged to select a committee and work with it, but only to select a committee if you have the time to devote to making that committee effective in the MHCA process. This would be a great start to your membership.

• The Education Committee is responsible for providing quality educational programs for administrators and other disciplines in the long-term care setting. The committee also reviews educational outlines and descriptions sent in by prospective speakers. This committee meets in Jefferson City approximately four times throughout the year.
• The Legislative Committee is responsible for establishing the Association's policy on specific pieces of legislation as well as our overall legislative philosophy. The committee reviews proposed bills and proposed amendments for impact on the long-term care industry. This committee meets in Jefferson City four to five times between October 1 and May 1.
• The Payment for Services Committee is responsible to assist the Association in ensuring that adequate payment is being made to nursing homes for services rendered. This committee meets in Jefferson City four to six times annually and is responsible for thoroughly reviewing all payment policies, proposed plans, etc. of the state and federal government.
• The Convention Committee will be planning the Annual Convention. Committee responsibilities include scheduling of all events and obtaining entertainment. The committee will meet two to three times in Jefferson City.
• The Facility Standards Committee is responsible for reviewing and establishing policy on regulatory matters, both national and at the state level. Committee members review various documents to determine the Association's position. The committee generally does work by phone, email, and/or correspondence.
• The Budget & Finance Committee is responsible for the preparation and review of the Annual Missouri Health Care Association budget. The committee usually meets one time in June with other work done by email.
• The Membership/Industry Promotions Committee is responsible for membership recruitment and retention within the Association and for the public relations image and efforts such as the Ms. Nursing Home Pageant and Golden Age Games. The committee may meet one or two times in Jefferson City but the majority of work is done via phone and email.
• The Constitution and By-Laws Committee is responsible for ensuring the Constitution and By-Laws of the Missouri Health Care Association are up-to-date and meet the needs of the membership. The committee meets as needed and via phone conference.

District Involvment

When you become a member of Missouri Health Care Association, you also become a member of a District within the Association. These Districts meet regularly and provide a wide array of programs throughout the year for you and your facility to participate in. These programs include:

• District Ms. Nursing Home Pageant - The queen and 1st runner up are then eligible to go on to the State Pageant at Convention.
• Golden Age Games - your residents have an opportunity to compete against other facility residents in wheelchair racing, basketball toss, bowling, etc. Medals are awarded to the winners and ribbons going to all participants.
• Education seminars - you are able to receive continuing education credits.

Education

Missouri Health Care Association's has many levels of education offerings as outlined below.

MHCA strives to bring across the state, the latest in hot topic issues three times a year. Typically, these are offered in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield. By limiting these offerings to three, it allows MHCA to bring in the highest quality speakers, but still keep the cost for the session at a minimum.

We Learn is MHCA's new online learning website. Providing online learning is a new trend in education and MHCA strives to stay current with our changing society needs. The goal of this site is to add, at minimum, one new course every month. Online education is another avenue for Missouri Nursing Facility Administrators to receive education at a more convenient setting.

Next, MHCA will offer state hot topics on the district level, quarterly. These topics will have to do with new state personnel and guidelines. The goal is to help unite the industry.

Finally, MHCA will offer each district education opportunities. Each District President can choose how often they feel education is needed. The sessions will be in a localized area and will offer a business meeting along with education to promote more unified state districts.

Convention/Mid-Year

The Missouri Health Care Association hosts two annual membership meetings throughout the year. Our Convention is traditionally held the last week in August and our Mid-Year meeting at the end of March. Both events feature membership meetings where association activities and programs are discussed and direction is given.

The Convention also includes election of the MHCA Board of Directors, educational opportunities, an exhibition featuring over 120 vendors, Ms. Missouri Nursing Home Pageant, and other networking opportunities.

As a member you would have the opportunity to bring as many staff members as you could to the convention at a low cost of $200.00. Meal function tickets are an additional cost that you could choose to purchase or not. The convention is an excellent reward for department heads. Administrators see the benefit of bringing their staff all year long! As it will be a topic of discussion for months to come; and leaves employees excited and motivated about having the opportunity of coming the next year again.

Our Mid-Year Classic features educational sessions along with our annual Capitol Reception for Legislators. This evening event gives the MHCA membership the opportunity to mingle on an informal basis with their legislator and discusses issues and programs pertinent to the long term care profession.

We have also time set aside to go to the Capitol to visit with your Senator and Representative on a more formal basis. Here again you will have the opportunity to talk specifically about your facility and what reimbursement and other issues mean to the patients and to the staff who works every day to care for your patients.