LSA Washington – April 14, 2009

A regular publication from the LSA Public Policy Office

Health Care Decisions Day is April 16

The second annual National Healthcare Decisions Day is on Thursday, April 16. Health care facilities, health care professionals, chaplains, the legal community and others will be participating in a collective effort to highlight making advance healthcare decisions. The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all Medicare-participating health care facilities inquire about and provide information to patients on advance directives. Individuals interested in making advance directives may want to discuss these important issues with their pastors. For more information on this day contact Lisa Carr.

--Lisa Carr

Long Term Services and Supports Legislation Needs Support

Congress is expected to move quickly on health care reform when Members return from their district work period on April 20. There is still time to contact your representatives and ask that long-term services and supports be included in health care reform. Please also ask your Representative and Senators to co-sponsor the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, S. 697 and H.R. 1721.

The CLASS Act would create a nationwide insurance program to help people get coverage for long term services and supports. Financed through voluntary payroll deductions of about $30 per month, with an option to opt out, this legislation will help remove barriers to independence by providing a $50-$100 a day cash benefit to individuals who are unable to perform activities of daily living. LSA, AAHSA, NCOA and other national organizations support the CLASS Act. To learn more about the CLASS Act, go to www.passtheclassact.org. Click here to find your Representative's contact information, and here for your Senators' contact information. To take action immediately, click here.

--Lisa Carr

LSA Joins Leadership Council of Aging Organizations

LSA is now a member of The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO). The consortium of 57 prominent national aging advocacy organizations represents millions of older Americans. Together, we work to preserve and strengthen the well-being of America’s older population. For more information, go to LCAO's website.

--Lisa Carr

Save the Date: LSA Advocacy Call-In Day

Not able to attend the LSA Annual Conference? You can still be part of the LSA presence on Capitol Hill during the conference by participating in the LSA Advocacy Call-In Day on Thursday, April 30. Mark your calendars, visit the Take Action page on our website for more information, and keep an eye out for more news to come on this great opportunity to join forces with other LSA members to have our voices heard!

--Lisa Hassenstab

Getting Ready for the 2009 Annual Conference

The LSA Annual Conference is quickly approaching! We hope that you will join us for meetings with members of the Obama Administration, Members of Congress and their staffs, and the Hill reception in the beautiful Russell Caucus Room. You can click here to find details on the following opportunities:

• Meetings with the Obama Administration Please e-mail Lisa Carr if you would like to attend one or more of these meetings. They are being scheduled for the afternoons of April 29 and 30. We may not be able to accept all requests, but we look forward to hearing from you.
• Meetings with your Members of Congress and their staff It is not too late to request meetings. The afternoons of April 29 and 30 are the best time for Hill meetings. To find contact information for your Members of Congress, go to www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.  If you have questions, would like more information, or have already scheduled meetings, please contact Lisa Hassenstab. If you want to join others in meetings that have already been scheduled, contact Lisa H as well.
• Invite your members of Congress to our Reception on the Hill from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 29 in Russell Senate Office Building – SR-325. Click here for a PDF version of the invitation to send to your members of Congress. If members of Congress or their staff you have invited indicate they will attend the reception, please email Lisa Hassenstab with their name and, if they are staff, what member of Congress they work for.

Not yet registered for the conference? Registration is quick and easy online!

LSA Public Policy Conference Call on Issue Updates, Thursday, April 16

Please join the LSA public policy team for an update on LSA's public policy priority issues in the 111th Congress, including health care, child welfare, affordable housing, the federal budget, and national service and volunteerism. This is a great opportunity to get a jump start on learning more about these issues before the LSA Annual Conference and the LSA Advocacy Call-In Day at the end of April. To RSVP for the calls, please e-mail the LSA DC office.