Happy New Year Everyone!

Some things will not change in 2005. A lot of things will!

The growing need for care will not change, but the guidelines for our industry and how those services will be provided will continue to change.

The elections of November 2004 have changed Georgia politics forever. It is like taking a 1000 piece puzzle that has been in place for many years and not just changing a few pieces but taking it apart and putting it in the box. We will now begin the new puzzle. The challenge is putting this new puzzle together without a picture. It is a blank page.

I encourage everyone to make plans to attend the Legislative Day on January 27 at the Capitol Education Center. This is an opportunity to review the State of Changes that have occurred and help to set the stage for industry initiatives and what we might expect for this year and some years to come.

It seems most people I have spoken to have been very busy. I hope it is a “good” busy. The second half of 2004 started moving faster and suddenly it became a blur. Beyond these demands in our daily schedule lies the importance of our industries issues. There is continued dynamics in the insurance world-health, workers comp and liability, increased pressures on Medicaid and State funds and increased public awareness of aging needs.

In looking ahead, I want to reemphasize my objectives for ALAG:

• Strong Communication links through regional meetings, newsletters and Internet.

• Increased awareness of ALAG resources both for members and individuals seeking information for their care needs.

• Increased membership. The more providers understand the importance of a group voice, the stronger our political positions will be and the more we can share ideas with each other.

Final note, remember that ALAG is represented at a providers meeting each quarter with the DHR/ORS. Any concerns or feedback is welcome. Let us know what is happening in your business.

Best Wishes
Dan Day
President

ALAG LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

GOP House Leaders have some specific names in mind to head up the top committees.

House Republican leaders are beginning to finalize the all-important distribution of prestigious committee chairmanships that will take effect come January.

As it stands now, state Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) is a likely choice to head the powerful House Rules Committee. Rep. Ben Harbin, who represents the Georgia community of Evans and part of Columbia County, could be a logical choice to head the Appropriations Committee, while Marietta legislator Dan Parsons may be headed to the Ways & Means chairmanship.

However, Harbin could head up Ways & Means instead, despite his experience on the Appropriations Committee, garnered when Democratic House Speaker Terry Coleman was in power.

Atlanta Representative Wendell Willard has been named as a possible chairman for the Judiciary Committee.

All of this could change in coming weeks, and insiders expect newly chosen Speaker Pro Tempore Mark Burkhalter of Alpharetta to play a major role in handing out the capitol’s plum committee chairmanships. In an exclusive interview with Bill Shipp’s Georgia, Burkhalter said that the Committee on Assignments, which he heads, will meet through the holiday season and hand out three committee assignments for each of the 180 House members.

House Speaker-elect Rep. Glenn Richardson (R-Dallas) has said that committee assignments will not be made public until the second day of the legislative session, which stands to be January 11, 2005.

With the exception of Harbin, all of the Republicans mentioned for these jobs are from metro Atlanta. House Democrats have chosen a geographically diverse team of legislators to head their caucus and legislative delegation, and newspapers outside of Atlanta are already bemoaning their region’s respective losses of legislative influence.

Thank you,
Freddi Hagin
Legislative Director

ALAG 2004-2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2005 CO-AGE MEETING DATES

Please mark your calendars now for this meeting. We look forward to your participation!

Senior Week Dates
March 1, 2 & 3, 2005

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OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM LAUNCHES WEBSITE

The State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program now offers information on a new website that is a well-organized resource for elder Georgians, their families and friends, stated Becky Kurtz, state long-term care ombudsman.

“We have eagerly anticipated this announcement in order to give the long-term care consumers of this state greater opportunities to access long-term care ombudsmen and information that can make a difference in their quality of life,” said Kurtz.

Georgia’s ombudsman program is now in its 25th year. Ombudsmen in the state office and the community programs statewide seek to resolve problems and advocate for the rights of residents of long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen serve residents of nursing homes, personal care homes (including assisted living facilities and group homes), community living arrangements, and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.

The ombudsman web pages present information about many aspects of long-term care in Georgia. A secure contact form allows users to send a confidential message or request to certified ombudsmen who provide consumer-focused assistance. An interactive map gives users access to direct contact information for ombudsmen representing consumers in a specific area of the state.

For more information, visit www.georgiaombudsman.org or contact the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 888-454-LTCO (5826).

For information, contact:
Andrew Hales; 404-463-8576
jahales@dhr.state.ga.us

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