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Additional Programming 

Pre-Con 

Boost your skills in compliance, quality reporting, and risk management with a full day of practical, hands-on learning.

  • Compliance & Operations: Policies, job descriptions, HIPPS codes, and data formulation

  • Quality Reporting: 5-Star ratings, Value-Based Program, Quality Reporting Program, and QRP validation tool updates

  • Audit Insights: Current audit programs, IQIE reports, audit notifications, and response responsibilities

  • Risk & Documentation: Defensive documentation, Section GG, functional performance scoring, coding for payment, interviews, and RAI & Medicare Manual resources

  • Interactive Exercises: Hands-on HIPPS code practice to reinforce learning

Walk away with practical tools and actionable knowledge to improve compliance, quality, and operational excellence.

Pre-Con Presenters

Leah Klusch
Leah Klusch
RN, BSN, FACHCA

Leah Klusch, RN, BSN, FACHCA received her BSN from Capital University in 1969 and continued graduate studies in curriculum at Ohio State University.  She is the Executive Director of The Alliance Training Center, a non-profit educational foundation, providing solutions in the healthcare industry since 1989. Leah is a speaker and trainer, consultant and author, travelling nationally. Leah was awarded the 2011 NADONA Honorary Member of the Year Award from the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care. She has also received her Fellowship from ACHCA in 2009 and received their Education Award in 2011 and 2018. She is also the recipient of McKnight’s Pinnacle Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.  In 2024, Leah received the ACHCA Outstanding Member Award, and in 2025 she was awarded the ACHCA Champion Award which recognizes a state, national or international organization for their support of, or collaboration with, The American College of Healthcare Administrators.

Maureen McCarthy
Maureen McCarthy
RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA

Maureen is the Founder and CEO of Celtic Consulting, a post-acute care consulting firm; and is the CEO of MDSRescue, which provides remote MDS completion services for facilities nationwide. She is a registered nurse with nearly forty years of work experience, including direct patient care, positions held as an MDS Coordinator, Director of Nursing, Rehab Director, and Medicare biller. Maureen combines clinical expertise with regulatory acuity to assist clients with developing sustainable remediation plans. Maureen serves as the Medicare & MDS 3.0 Advisor for several state affiliates, is advisor to the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC-J13), the Chair for the Board of Directors of the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) and Immediate Past Chair and member of the Expert Advisory Panel AAPACN. She serves on the Clinical Practice Committee and Reimbursement Committee for the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and has twice served as the President of The Association for Long Term Care Financial Managers (ALTCFM).

A recognized leader in post-acute care, Maureen received the 2025 McKnight's Pinnacle Award for Marketplace Influencer, honoring her industry-wide impact, and was named ACHCA’s 2018 Educator of the Year for her commitment to provider education. She continues to be a trusted voice and advocate, leading providers through complex regulatory changes and reimbursement transitions.

 Student & Health Care Professional Posters

The Poster Exposition at Convention gives undergraduate, graduate students, academics, and healthcare professionals from across the country an opportunity to present their scholarly work on a wide variety of topics from applied research with a faculty member or an innovative project with an ACHCA member. Individuals through oral presentations, poster displays, and gallery exhibits. Throughout the two days, participants have the opportunity to interact with other students, faculty, and ACHCA members from across the country. 

Learn More and Apply Here Today!

Keynote Speaker

Lorne Epstein
Lorne Epstein
SHRM-SCP, MSOD

Lorne is a featured SHRM speaker and has been educating professionals since 1993. He was an HR executive for over 20 years and is currently SHRM-SCP certified. His book, You're Hired! Interview Skills to Get the Job has been downloaded over a half-million times worldwide. His research and workshops focus is on improving decision-making and reducing the impacts of unconscious bias in the workplace.

 

Breakout Presentations - DEADLINE EXTENDED!

ACHCA is currently accepting breakout proposals and student posters for our 2026 Convocation & Expo, that will be held April 20-23, 2025 in Orlando, FL.  The online application process requires your materials to be ready to upload in one session. Presentation Proposal Deadline: December 5, 2025 

**The online application form must be completed in one sitting. You will not be able to save your online application to complete it at a later time. If you start the application and close your browser window without submitting, your work will be lost. If you have any questions please contact Stephen Froehlich at [email protected]. **

Overview:
ACHCA’s goal is to provide education consistent with advancing leadership excellence in long term, continuing, and post-acute care. Session proposals may be submitted for either a single program or a consecutive track in the educational areas noted below.

Long recognized as the preeminent source of education for leadership development across the spectrum of long-term care, Convocation provides a stimulating and challenging educational environment for Administrators, Executives, CEOs and other leaders in the field.

Process:
The ACHCA Education Committee reviews breakout speaker applications using the guidelines below:

  • INTEREST: is the topic relevant and timely for long-term care leaders? Is it applicable to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, and other long-term care settings?
  • LEARNING: session objectives in the outline must be measurable, realistic, and relevant.
  • CREDENTIALS: be sure to note credentials, degrees, and experience. References and past speaking topics are helpful. 
  • NO INFOMERCIALS: the topic should be general, and not a product or service promotion.
  • PRO BONO: breakout speakers are not paid, except in goodwill and networking opportunities.

Topic Suggestions:
AI
Emerging Technology
Developing Effective Supervisors
Regulatory Review
Financial Management
Assisted Living, Home & Community Based Services
Mental Health Services Delivery (Substance Use Disorder/Behavioral Health)
Time Management
Medicare Advantage
Work/Life Balance
Burnout
Human Resources Leadership
Ethics
Workforce Development
Diversity Equity & Inclusion
Infection Control
Trauma Informed Care
QAPI/QAA Committee Requirements
Arbitration Agreements
Abuse and Neglect
Staffing
Quality Health Equity

NOTE: ACHCA proposals that are accepted for breakout presentations do not have associated speaker honorarium or travel expenses. Expenses related to speaker presentations may be deductible as business expenses, as permitted by law and regulation.

Acknowledgement:
ACHCA reserves the right to edit session content for clarity and brevity. Individuals submitting proposals will be notified, in writing, in December 2025 regarding the results of the selection process. Prior to this notification, ACHCA cannot provide updates on the status of particular proposals. Potential speakers for the 2026 Convention should tentatively reserve April 20-23, 2026, on their calendars.

Disclosure: The planners and presenters agree to ensure the content for this educational activity is evidence-based or based on the best-available evidence, and is presented free from bias.