Forward This Update to Co-Workers
From LeadingAge National
New CMS Guidance and Data Release
  • On June 1, CMS announced significant increases in infection control surveys and enforcement based on the early data around COVID-19 in nursing homes. LeadingAge’s analysis of the new guidance is available now: CMS Announces Enhanced Survey Activity and Enforcement Remedies Related to Infection Control. See also the formal announcement, the data behind it, and CMS’ letter to all Governors.
  • The highlights:
  • State survey agencies will be expected to significantly increase infection control surveys immediately or risk losing allocations from the CARES Act.
  • CMS also laid out enhanced enforcement remedies to be implemented related to infection control citations (including significant monetary penalties).
  • State survey agencies will be required to complete infection control surveys in 100% of nursing homes by July 31, 2020. Nursing homes that are not able to survey 100% of nursing homes by that deadline will need to submit a corrective action plan to the regional CMS location to outline how they will complete all surveys within 30 days.
  • Within the next 30 days, states must perform on-site surveys of the following:
  • Nursing homes with cumulative confirmed cases at 10% of bed capacity.
  • Nursing homes with cumulative confirmed and suspected cases at 20% of bed capacity.
  • Nursing homes with 10 or more deaths reported due to COVID-19.
  • Within 3-5 days of identification, states must survey nursing homes with 3 or more new suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases since the nursing home’s most recent report to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system or 1 confirmed case in a nursing home that was previously free of COVID-19. Going forward, beginning in FY 2021, states will perform infection control surveys of at least 20% of the nursing homes in the state.
  • CMS has also provided guidance on enforcement remedies related to infection control. 
 
LeadingAge  released a statement to the media , calling on policy leaders to protect vulnerable older Americans, and McKnight’s Long Term Care   covered that response as well. and how to protect yourself from fraud.

Other Federal Actions

From ISDH
Total positive cases: 35,237
Total deaths: 2022
Total tested: 271,919
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Directors of Nursing, Chief Financial Officers, Medical Records Directors
Educational Credits: Attendees can earn up to 5 CEUs. Each day's webinar is eligible for 1 CEU.
Sponsored by:
The financial health of your organization is dependent, among other things, on staying abreast of the myriad of changes occurring in Medicare and Medicaid payment systems. Plan to join us for this webinar series designed to help you ensure your organization’s financial health.
The daily webinars will be as follows:
  • Monday, June 8, 2:00pm - FSSA will present: Value Based Purchasing Program
  • Tuesday, June 9, 2:00pm - Plante Moran will present: Accounting and Industry Update
  • Wednesday, June 10, 2:00pm - Plante Moran will present: PDPM and Medicaid Reimbursement Update
  • Thursday, June 11, 2:00pm - IHSN will present: The Long-term Care Landscape: Moving from Volume to Value
  • Friday, June 12, 2:00pm - Proactive Medical Review will present: 2020 Medical Risks and Reviews