2024 Public Policy Priorities
The following public policy priorities were adopted by Friends of Resident in Long Term Care’s Board of Directors in March 2024. FOR will promote these policy priorities with stakeholders, state leadership, and others as we advocate to enhance the lives of residents and family members.
Study and promote implementation of a comprehensive Medicaid rate and wage analysis to address current and future demand for long term care services and support.
Strengthen the state’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to sustain quality long term care in our state. This includes exploring how to best define the roles and responsibilities of the Community Advisory Committee volunteers within North Carolina's ombudsman program and addressing staffing concerns associated with paid ombudsman positions.
Define a portion of Medicaid reimbursement to support the direct care workforce in long term care services and supports. This will ensure that money that is intended to go to wages for direct care workers is enforced and goes directly to workers. Learn more about this issue.
Enhance available information about ownership and related party beneficiaries for long term care facilities receiving public support. Learn more from the National Consumer Voice.
Participate in the adult care home accreditation demonstration and ensure resident and family perspectives are heard. Background: in 2021, the legislature passed Senate Bill 105 (section 9E.6) and established a two-year Adult Care Home Accreditation Pilot Program and appointed Friends of Residents in Long Term Care to participate in the stakeholder committee. The pilot is “to evaluate the effectiveness of an accreditation process for adult care homes that would deem adult care homes eligible for ongoing licensure and exempt accredited adult care homes from routine inspections if they meet required standards and requirements.” Learn more about the pilot here.