What’s happening: The new members of the Nursing Home Oversight Advisory Panel met on July 28. This was the first meeting of the panel under the administration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger, following the previous iteration of panel under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

• The panel is intended to support the work of VDH and DMAS to improve nursing home quality of care, protect residents, and strengthen oversight and accountability of nursing homes.

VHCA-VCAL is represented on the panel by Brad Dalton, chief operating officer of American HealthCare and the vice chairman of the board of directors. VHCA-VCAL is grateful to be part of this collaborative effort with the administration to improve quality and meet the needs of nursing home residents.

Who’s involved: Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb and DMAS Director Steve Ford are co-chairs of the panel. Additional members of the group include:

• John Becker, Chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President, Williamsburg Landing, Leading Age Virginia
• Donna Shaw, Regional Director, Marquis Health and VHCA-VCAL Board member
• Joani Latimer, State Long Term Care Ombudsman, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
• Claire Morris, Director, Virginia State Board of Nursing
• Corie Tilman Wolf, Director, Virginia State Board of Long Term Care Administrators
• Emily Hardy, Deputy Director and Elder Law Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center
• Carla Hesseltine, Chair, Commonwealth Council on Aging
• Karen Kimsey, Founder, Walela Health Consulting
• Joanna Heiskill, The Advocate Voice Virginia
• James Dau, State Director, Virginia AARP

At this week’s meeting, state agency staff gave updates on activities affecting nursing homes.

• April Dovel, director of the VDH Office of Licensure and Cerification, provided an update and overview of survey activity in the state and OLC’s revised plan to eliminate the survey backlog.
• Andrew Mitchell, DMAS division director for payment innovation and program evaluation, Tammy Whitlock, DMAS Deputy Director of complex care and services gave an update on the Medicaid Value-Based Purchasing Program and other reimbursement issues.

What’s next: The panel will hold future meetings in September and November. In 2027, the panel will meet quarterly.