Issue #2023 - June 19, 2019
13 NORTH CAROLINA LONG TERM AND POST-ACUTE CARE PROVIDERS RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY OF CARE
On June 4th, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced that 13 long term and post-acute care members across North Carolina were recognized with a 2019 Bronze - Commitment to Quality Award by AHCA/NCAL for their dedication to quality care. The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program honors providers throughout the country that have demonstrated their commitment to delivering quality care for seniors and persons with disabilities.

The National Quality Award Program, implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which is the foundation of the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The National Quality Award program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving the application of continuous quality improvement.

The program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement journey at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision and mission statements and an assessment of customers’ expectations. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. Trained Examiners review each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. Recipients of the Bronze - Commitment to Quality Award may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the Silver - Achievement in Quality Award.

The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 70th Annual Convention and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, October 13-16, 2019.
 Congratulations to our North Carolina winners:

Bradley Creek Health Center - Wilmington
Cardinal Healthcare & Rehab - Lincolnton
Elizabeth City Health & Rehab Center - Elizabeth City
Five Oaks Manor - Concord
Lincolnton Rehabilitation Center - Lincolnton
North Carolina State Veterans Home - Fayetteville
Pavilion Health Center at Brightmore - Charlotte
PruittHealth - Farmville
Silver Bluff Village - Canton
Summerstone Health and Rehab Center - Kernersville
The Laurels of Hendersonville - Hendersonville
Trinity Glen - Winston-Salem
Trinity Village - Hickory
AHCA SUBMITS COMMENTS ON FY20 SNF PPS PROPOSED RULE
Earlier this week, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) submitted its comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) Proposed Rule for fiscal year (FY) 2020. This is the rule that will give SNFs a 2.5 percent Medicare increase on October 1st. While AHCA supports that part of the rule, they also provided some recommendations and questions on other payment issues such as the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Below please find several highlights.

Payment Policy Update: AHCA's comments focus on unadjusted federal per diems and wage index. Specifically, AHCA requests clarification on the methodology used to arrive at the FY20 Unadjusted Federal Per Diem Rates, as well as confirmation of the FY20 market basket update to be used. The Association's concerns and request for clarification about wage index focus on the combined impact of two wage index changes (changes in the Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule) and potential challenges with the SNF wage index.

PDPM Implementation: There were no significant changes to PDPM in the proposed payment rule, and AHCA reiterates its commitment to working with CMS on a smooth transition. The Association continues to push for additional education of third-party payors (ACOs and Medicare Advantage plans), as well as other clarifications that will allow AHCA to appropriately prepare its members for PDPM.

SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP): AHCA continues to be supportive of SNF VBP. Comments focus on efforts around the Skilled Nursing Facility Potentially Preventable Readmission after Hospital Discharge measure, FY22 performance standards, and the short correction deadline timeframe.

Quality Reporting Program: AHCA appreciates CMS' transparency and responsiveness to stakeholder input during the development and testing of the proposed SNF QRP measures, measure refinement, and proposed Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADEs). The Association has actively participated in many of the numerous technical expert panels (TEPs) and public forums and has submitted extensive comments at each opportunity. AHCA continues, however, to seek clarifications and make recommendations in several areas.

Please contact Mike Cheek with AHCA with any questions.
REGISTER TODAY FOR THE NCHCFA 8TH ANNUAL SUMMER SYMPOSIUM
Register today for the 8th Annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium, August 7-9, 2019 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC for the most up to date information affecting long term care.

Click here to download a brochure! You can also register and pay online here

Administrators and registered nurses will be able to earn up to 11.5 hours of continuing education.
MAKE YOUR OVERNIGHT RESERVATION TODAY FOR THE EIGHTH ANNUAL NCHCFA SUMMER SYMPOSIUM
Make plans today to join your colleagues for the 8th Annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 7-9, 2019 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC.  Call the Embassy Suites Resort at (800) 876-0010 to reserve your overnight room. Use group code “NCC” to identify yourself as a NC Health Care Facilities Association Convention attendee! To make your reservation online, click below:
Please make your reservation today! Rooms will be released on July 6th to the public and NCHCFA anticipates filling our room block. All suites include bedroom, sitting area with queen pullout sofa, private balconies, wet bar with refrigerator, and many additional amenities.
REGISTER FOR THE NEXT LUNCH AND LEARN WEBINAR
The next Lunch and Learn Webinar is scheduled for Thursday, June 20th, 2019 at 12:00 PM. Over one million adults over the age of 65 are hospitalized for heart failure annually. Through value-based purchasing, nursing homes are facing consequences of high readmission rates by CMS. This webinar will not only share how we can improve the quality of care that our residents receive but is beneficial in helping us manage symptoms of CHF to lower readmission rates. Want to empower your nurses and lower your readmission rates? If so, please join the Webinar on June 20, 2019 at 12:00 PM for this informative session! Click here to register today.

Speaker: Cheryl Geddie, Director of Clinical Quality and Education for Century Care Management
Title: Collaborative Care to Reduce Readmission in Long Term Care
Date: June 20, 2019
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
GET PDPM READY: GET TRAINED ON ICD-10 CODING NOW
The October 1st PDPM implementation date is rapidly approaching and training key staff now to be ICD-10 proficient is critical. Inaccurate ICD-10 coding can negatively impact a facility’s bottom line and resident care. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) are offering ICD-10 on-line training. Because staff needs differ based on their coding responsibilities, two specific trainings have been developed - one training for coders and a shorter less intense course for non-coders.

AHCA/AHIMA ICD-10 Training for PDPM – Coder is an in-depth course designed for SNF billing staff, MDS staff, Nursing and Therapy staff, and Admissions and Discharge staff. The cost is $499 for AHCA members and $599 for non-members.

AHCA/AHIMA ICD-10 Training for PDPM – Non-Coder is a four-hour course developed for individuals who need to lead a successful PDPM transition and is intended for Administrators, DONs, and other management staff. The cost is $199 for AHCA members and $249 for non-members.


Members will need to login with their AHCA usernames and passwords. For assistance obtaining AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords, please email educate@ahca.org with your name and facility contact information.
THANK YOU NCHCFA ELITE CHAMPION PLATINUM YEAR-LONG SPONSORS
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA LAUNCHES NEW WOUND EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH VOHRA WOUND PHYSICIANS TO EDUCATE 250 NURSES ACROSS THE STATE
Vohra Wound Care was awarded a grant by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to establish the Wound Care Excellence Program for Skilled Nursing Facilities to improve the care of nursing home residents across the state. The funds for this grant are made available through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program.

This program will train nurses about prevention, assessment, and management of wounds in the nursing home setting. Key areas to be covered include wound healing, wound care treatment options, and infection prevention.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to train nurses throughout the state and improve patient outcomes through this education. We developed this program because we have seen the need for wound care skills that nurses could use on a daily basis" said John Sory, President of Vohra.  The funding provides education support for 250 nurses in NC to become certified in wound care through the Vohra Wound Care Nurse certification program. Nurses who successfully complete this program will be awarded the credentials of VWCN™ an industry leading certification specific to wound care of the nursing home resident.

Vohra Wound Physicians created the wound care nurse certification program based upon over 20 years of experience treating patients in over 2,700 partner long term care and post-acute facilities. The course content follows the evidence-based Vohra Wound Physicians wound care model which has been independently evaluated and proven to result in a 21-day decrease in wound healing time, an 88-percent decrease in wound-related hospitalizations and an 86-percent decrease in infection and amputation rates. This program offers 20 hours of continuing education credits in eleven topic areas in an interactive online format. To register for the free education and certification sponsored through this award, click here.
PHYSICAL RESTRAINT BROCHURES
This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, when they should be used, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. To order, email your request to Donna Snyder at donnas@nchcfa.org.

  • NCHCFA Member: $30.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping
  • Non-Members: $60.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping
THANK YOU NCHCFA PREMIER DIAMOND YEAR-LONG SPONSORS
DID YOU KNOW?
Avocados have more potassium per serving than bananas.