Idaho Health Care Association

09/05/2025

Have you signed up for the Activity Director Retreat yet? Join us in beautiful McCall, Idaho, October 2–5 for an incredible opportunity to gather with both new and seasoned activity directors. This retreat is all about collaboration, learning, and growth in the field we love.

Led by the amazing Diana Cullin, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, inspiration, and practical tools to enhance your work and the lives of those you serve.

📞 For more information and to register, call Diana at 208-724-5542.

To learn more about the Idaho Health Care Association visit www.idhca.org

09/02/2025

🎉 Attention, healthcare professionals in long-term care! 🎉
Join us for Next Level: Wound Management & Prevention – Boise, a one-day, hands-on workshop designed to elevate your wound care expertise.

Event Details:
Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM
Location: IHCA Office, 13945 W. Wainwright Drive, Suite 101, Boise, ID 83713
Cost: $70 (includes lunch)

What You'll Learn:
✅ Pressure injury risk factors & prevention strategies
✅ Management of hard-to-heal wounds (arterial/venous insufficiency, diabetic foot ulcers, etc.)
✅ Best practice and regulatory guidelines for wound assessment, documentation, and reporting mandates from CMS
✅ Key infection control measures in wound care. Plus: a hands-on skills lab to reinforce learning

Who Should Attend:
Nurses (new and seasoned), leadership teams, MDS coordinators, PT/OT, providers, and anyone involved in wound care in post-acute long-term care settings.

Registration is currently open. Secure your seat today to enhance patient care and quality outcomes by registering here: https://www.idhca.org/events/next-level-wound-management-prevention-boise/

09/02/2025

Please join us for the 2025 Idaho Health Care Association/ Washington Health Care Association Joint Fall Conference!
📅 September 8–10
📍 Davenport Hotel, Spokane, WA
This is an exceptional opportunity to connect with colleagues who value, support, and understand the critically important services provided in skilled nursing, assisted living, and enhanced services facilities throughout Washington and Idaho. With sessions tailored to caregiving staff, administrators, and owners, this year’s conference is all about sparking innovation and imagination. Together, we’ll share ideas, exchange insights, and inspire professional growth across every level of long-term care.

👉 Don’t miss it! Register today at https://www.idhca.org/events/fall-workshop/

09/01/2025

From all of us at the Idaho Health Care Association, we wish you a safe and wonderful Labor Day! Today we celebrate the hard work and dedication of workers everywhere. A special thank you goes to our incredible healthcare heroes who are working today, watching over and caring for those who depend on them. Your commitment and compassion never go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do!

To learn more about the Idaho Health Care Association visit www.idhca.org

08/27/2025

McKnights Long-Term Care New, "Idaho has become the second state to announce major cuts to provider rates ahead of impending federal cuts triggered by the passage last month of a massive reconciliation bill.

The Idaho Health Care Association's Robert Vande Merwe calls the 4% cut an existential threat to nursing homes. Cascadia Healthcare's Steve LaForte is urging lawmakers to tap the state's rainy day fund as this "torrential downpour" hovers over rural patients and providers. Learn what's at stake for other states with federal cuts looming."

Idaho has become the second state to announce major cuts to Medicaid provider rates ahead of impending federal cuts triggered by the passage last month of a massive reconciliation bill.

08/26/2025

🚨 Important Long-Term Care Update: Medicare & Medicaid Cuts 🚨This is a difficult message to share, but it’s critical.
➡️ Medicare: Proposed cuts of 9% to home health are set to take effect January 1, 2026.
➡️ Medicaid: An automatic 4% cut across ALL provider rates will take effect September 1, 2025.
These reductions are simply not sustainable. Home health agencies and Medicaid providers cannot continue caring for Idahoans with cuts of this magnitude. The result will be fewer providers, fewer options, and real harm to vulnerable individuals who depend on care.

We need your voice:
➡️Submit a comment on the Medicare and Medicaid rule.
➡️Write to your congressional delegation and state legislators.
➡️ Let Governor Little know these cuts will devastate care access in Idaho.

A link will be provided soon with ways to take action. We need THOUSANDS of voices to make sure decision-makers hear us loud and clear: This is not okay. Idahoans deserve better.

To learn more on how to get involved and make your voice heard, contact the Idaho Health Care Association at www.idhca.org

08/20/2025

Join us in welcoming our newest Idaho Health Care Association member, Hemmingson Senior Living! Located in the heart of Coeur d’Alene, Hemmingson Senior Living takes great pride in creating a home-like environment with truly personalized care. With the ability to accommodate 16 residents, their team ensures that every resident is known, valued, and cared for like family. Led by CEO Valeri Zaharie, Hemmingson is doing incredible work in senior living, and we’re thrilled to have them join our IHCA community. They are located at 1221 W Emma Avenue, Ste. 300, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Welcome, Hemmingson Senior Living, thank you for all that you do to serve seniors!

To learn more about joining the Idaho Health Care Association visit https://www.idhca.org/member-benefits/

08/20/2025

On behalf of the Idaho Health Care Association, we want to thank Robert Vande Merwe, our Executive Director, for his many years of dedicated service on Comagine Health’s Idaho Community Board. For nearly two decades, Robert has represented IHCA while supporting Comagine’s mission to improve health care quality across our state. Although CMS has awarded the new QIN-QIO contract to Telligen, and Robert will now shift his focus there, his contributions at Comagine have left a lasting impact. His leadership, commitment, and collaborative spirit have advanced important work that will continue to benefit providers, patients, and communities. We are grateful for Robert’s service, proud of all that has been accomplished through these efforts, and confident his knowledge and experience will continue to strengthen Idaho’s health care system. Thank you, Robert, for your hard work and unwavering dedication.

To learn more about the Idaho Health Care Association visit www.idhca.org

08/13/2025

We’re excited to welcome Western Seniormatics, powered by Grand-App AI, as the latest member of the Idaho Health Care Association! Their AI-driven platform delivers real-time insights and actionable care plans that create smarter, more confident senior care for families, caregivers, and healthcare providers, while boosting operational efficiency and streamlining care coordination. It’s personalized, predictive, and proactive care that helps seniors live independently with confidence and dignity every day. We are excited to have them as part of our association! To learn more about them visit https://westernseniormatics.com/

To learn more about joining the Idaho Health Care Association visit https://www.idhca.org/member-benefits/

08/13/2025

We’re thrilled to introduce NuGen Wellness as the newest member of the Idaho Health Care Association! They’re bringing Idaho an innovative and forward-thinking approach to health and wellness that we're proud to support. At NuGen Wellness, they’re redefining what it truly means to be well. Their mission centers around empowering individuals to thrive, not merely survive, through daily healthy habits that enhance their mental and physical well-being. With a pioneering spirit at their core, NuGen embraces the “Nu” Neuroscience of tomorrow, blending cutting-edge wellness practices with compassionate care. From mobile services to mobile wound care and beyond, NuGen is on a mission to make wellness effortless and accessible. We're excited to have them as a part of our association. Learn more about them here: https://www.nugenwellness.org/

To learn more about joining the Idaho Health Care Association visit https://www.idhca.org/member-benefits/

08/12/2025

We are thrilled to welcome FirstLight Home Care of Boise as the newest member of the Idaho Health Care Association! FirstLight Home Care of Boise serves communities across the Treasure Valley: including Meridian, Eagle, Star, Nampa, Kuna, and Garden City. They offers personalized, compassionate in-home care that supports adults and seniors with dignity, independence, and comfort in the place they call home. They go beyond just visiting, they build meaningful relationships through services like senior care, personal care, companion care, dementia & Alzheimer’s care, respite care, specialist support (including for veterans and family care), and rehab & recovery care. Under the leadership of Carter Jons (Owner & Managing Director), whose heartfelt mission was inspired by caring for his own father with dementia, FirstLight Boise brings a caring culture rooted in values like integrity, joy, relationship-first care, and making a difference every day. Welcome, FirstLight Home Care of Boise, we're so glad you’re here! To learn more about them visit https://www.firstlighthomecare.com/home-healthcare-boise/

To learn more about becoming a member of the IHCA visit https://www.idhca.org/member-benefits/

08/04/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 Idaho Health Care Association Summer Annual Convention & Tradeshow! We’re so grateful for Dana Leavitt, our amazing volunteers, our dedicated Board members, and all who made this event a success. We had a great turnout, made meaningful connections, and experienced valuable education.

Up Next: The 2025 WHCA (Washington Health Care Association)/IHCA Fall Conference is happening September 8th–10th in Spokane, WA! This event brings together our North Idaho Workshop with Eastern Washington for even more impactful networking and education opportunities. The agenda is nearly finalized and live on our website!
📍 Fantastic venue
📚 Great classes
🤝 Excellent networking

You don't want to miss it! We hope to see you there.

Learn more and register here: https://www.idhca.org/events/fall-workshop/