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Extended by Request - 2020 Comp & Benefit Survey
New Personal Care and Visitation Guidance should be coming out June 29, or 30. Please be on the lookout for this guidance as there will be some changes to current practices and tight implementation timelines. 
From LeadingAge
 
 
HUD and FCC to co-host webinar on Lifeline Program

COVID-19 Relief: HUD-Assisted Affordable Senior Housing Asks .
Here’s a handy one pager as part of our Act for Older Adults campaign. Congressional offices are sifting through options and proposals for the next relief package now, which is perfect because now is the time we’d like stakeholders to reach out to their House and Senate members.
 
RAD for PRAC Call with HUD Staff
Tuesday, June 30 th , at 2pm ET, LeadingAge is hosting a call on RAD for PRAC
 
Home Health Proposed PPS Rule 
The proposed home health prospective payment rule was released On June 25. The rule would update the home health prospective payment system (HH PPS) payment rates and wage index for calendar year (CY) 2021 with a market basket update of 2.6%. This proposed rule also would make permanent the changes to the home health regulations regarding the use of technology in providing services under the Medicare home health benefit as described in the Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency interim final rule with comment period. These changes do not include payment for telecommunication services under the home health benefit which we continue to advocate for in Congress ; but rather address changes around the allowable use of telecommunications in the plan of care when telecommunications visits do not substitute for in-person visits and allowing telecommunications equipment to be a reportable administrative cost on the home health cost report.
 
CMS FAQ on Visitation
The LeadingAge article is now live here : Today, CMS released nursing home memo QSO-20-34-NH that announces changes to the 5 Star Quality Rating System on Nursing Home Compare and the end of an 1135 waiver. Specifically, the Staffing and Quality Measures domains of 5-star will be held constant for July due to the 1135 waivers announced in March that waived submissions of PBJ data and MDS assessments. The star ratings will continue to be based on data from Q4 2019. However, effective immediately, CMS will end the waiver on PBJ submissions. Providers will be required to submit PBJ staffing information for Q2 2020 (April-June) by August 14. LA National erroneously reported on the a previous call that the quality measure rating would also be held constant. While certain quality measures will be held constant, the quality measure rating will not be held constant. 
 
Life Safety Compliance and 1135 Waivers
Navigating 1135 Waivers Affecting Life Safety Compliance” . This article explains what is relaxed through 1135s and what providers must still comply with….or comply with differently. It also has a section on fire drills, which can be waived. However, providers must document that they have a staff training program, though there is no explicit guidance from CMS about what the training must look like and how it is to be delivered.
Total positive cases: 44,140
Total deaths: 2403
Total tested: 453,890
In partnership with LeadingAge Indiana, the Indiana Health Services Network (IHSN) mission is to maximize the health and well-being of seniors through innovative, cost-effective care management practices. Together, members form a collective voice, increasing their leverage and making their presence known to providers and insurers.

IHSN is the only statewide network dedicated to representing the needs of Indiana’s long-term care facilities.
Registration is Now Open!
Registration is Now Open for the LeadingAge Indiana and INALA 2020 Virtual Conference and Trade Show!

All Access Pass: Get access to 9 live webcasts, 10 on-demand webinars, and a closing broadcast that includes a keynote speaker and awards ceremony, for your entire staff! All webcasts and on-demand webinars are eligible for CEUs. Individuals can earn up to 20 CEUs.
Individual Track Access Pass: Select access for a single individual to any of the conference tracks. Purchase of access to any track, includes access to our closing keynote presentation and awards ceremony.
Go to laincon.org for full details.