The Virginia Health Care Association-Virginia Center for Assisted Living’s (VHCA-VCAL) advocacy work on behalf of long term care providers is a year-round job. While the General Assembly session may get most of the attention, the meetings and outreach we conduct with legislators, agency officials, and other stakeholders beyond session can have lasting impact on our ability to be effective advocates.

We’ll be using this space to highlight VHCA-VCAL staff and leadership’s participation in meetings and events that are critical to the profession. Take a look at our activities this week:

• 3/7—Attended the House Appropriations Committee meeting.
• 3/7—Met with representatives of Reliant Healthcare and CCR in Roanoke to discuss Mountain States Health Alliance’s partnership with Reliant.
• 3/7—Participated in a webinar on the unintended healthcare outcomes measure development.
• 3/7—Attended an open house at member center Bonview Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Richmond.
• 3/8—85 members attended the March education program, Keeping a Quality Team.
• 3/8—Participated in a conference call of the steering committee for the Governor’s Conference on Aging.
• 3/8—Met with Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Loudoun).
• 3/9—Met with representatives of CareSource, a non-profit managed care plan to discuss the Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program.
• 3/10—Attended the House Appropriation Committee’s budget briefing.
• 3/10—Participated in a meeting with LeadingAge Virginia and Aetna to discuss MLTSS.
• 3/10—Participated in the monthly American Society of Health Care Administration Executives conference call hosted by AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson.