KHCA/KCAL is committed to providing our members with important updates. Below is a list of the most recent information. Please visit our website for a list of complete updates. www.khca.org/covid-19-resources
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CMS wallops nursing homes with planned staffing requirements and increased penalties
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will establish minimum staffing requirements for skilled nursing facilities as part of a plan to “crack down on unsafe nursing homes,” the White House announced on Monday.
The agency said it plans to conduct a new study to determine the level and type of staffing needed to ensure safe and quality care and will issue proposed rules within one year. READ MORE
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CDC’s New COVID-19 Community Level Prevention Measure Recommendations DO NOT APPLY to Health Care Settings or Visitors
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today that they have changed the metrics used to determine personal and community COVID-19 prevention measures based on community spread. It is important to note that this change does not apply in health care settings because the consequences of spread and risk of triggering outbreaks is greater.
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Extended survey delays threaten providers
When a major government watchdog blasted the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in January for a lack of timely survey activity, it detailed extensively what providers on the ground were experiencing — or more accurately, not experiencing.
“We know the surveyors are late,” said Melanie Tribe-Scott, RN, RAC-MT, director of quality initiatives for Zimmet Healthcare Services Group. “Facilities know they’re really, really late.”
Although some states have a history of extending standard surveys beyond the 15 months expected by federal regulators, Tribe-Scott calls the stats of the last two years “mind-boggling.” READ MORE
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Last week we talked about the number 1 tag in Kansas, F756, Drug Regimen Review, Report Irregular, Act On, which is certainly popping up all over the state. But the number 2 tag in Kansas is an oldie, but goodie. We have gone back to pre-COVID-19 days. It’s F812, Food Procurement, Store/Prepare/Serve-Sanitary. This is an easy tag to write because of the MULTIPLE things that can go wrong during the survey. I found an interesting article from Nutrition Care Systems addressing advice on how to stay in compliance with F812. The primary objectives of the regulations did not change with the new Rules of Participation, but there were some clarifications to surveyors. Some of the areas that are emphasized include: READ MORE
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TOMORROW! Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #2 Top Citation: F812 Food Procurement
3/1/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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RECORDING: 2/24/2022 Anti-Virals and Therapeutics for COVID presented by KDHE
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Call for Presentations
An essential service to our association is offering high quality training and education to our members. We invite you to join us in our commitment to delivering timely, relevant, and engaging information as we prepare for our 2022 Nurse Leadership Conference (June) and Annual Convention (September).
We are looking for topics that fit skilled nursing, assisted living, home plus and residential health care communities.
Click here to learn more on our needs and how you can submit a proposal.
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HRSA to Make More than $560 Million in PRF Payments
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is making more than $560 million in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments this week. Providers will receive an email notification today, Thursday, February 24, if their application was among those processed in this latest batch.
HRSA is working to review all remaining applications as quickly as possible. Approximately 86 percent of all Phase 4 applications have now been processed. Remaining applications will continue to be processed throughout early 2022.
Learn More:
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Weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter from KDHE
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Nursing Homes, Hospitals Experiencing Massive Financial Burden As Contract Travel Nursing Agencies Raise Costs
TIME (2/23, Vesoulis, Abrams, 18.1M) reports nursing homes and hospitals are experiencing a "staggering" financial fallout as contract travel nursing agencies charge increased costs and worsen staff turnover. The American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living and other industry groups are "calling on the Administration to help prevent [nurse] travel agencies ‘from exploiting our organizations’ desperate need for health care personnel.’" TIME says, "About 70% of the costs of operating a nursing home are related to labor, according to Clif Porter, senior vice president of government relations at AHCA/NCAL. But even as facilities have had to pay two to three times normal wages to hire temporary nurses during the pandemic, their reimbursement rates have not kept pace." Porter said, "I can’t pass on inflation to my customer. ... This creates a situation where our expenses exceed our revenue. It’s just that simple. And that’s just not sustainable."
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Free Webinar: Provider Relief Funds in 2022: Simplifying Reporting and Audit Requirements
CLA is hosting another PRF webinar on March 9th.
This session will include:
- Guidance on understanding the latest requirements for Phase 2 PRF reporting
- Key tips about reporting on PRF SNF Control and Quality Incentive Payments
- Latest insights compliance audits for entities, including key tips to prepare for a “pain free” audit experience
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Now Available! National Skilled Nursing Care Week Planning Guide & Products - NSNCW May 8-14, 2022
The American Health Care Association is pleased to announce that National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) products and planning guide are now available at nsncw.org.
NSNCW will take place from Sunday, May 8 to Saturday, May 14, 2022.
This year’s theme, Creating and Nurturing Connections, celebrates the important role skilled nursing care centers and staff play in providing care and social support to their residents.
Download the planning guide for activity ideas and media tips and explore our exclusive selection of NSNCW gifts and products offered through our new partner Jim Coleman, LTD.
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Stories for Careers in Aging Week
Careers in Aging Week (CIAW) this year will take place April 17-23. During this week, AHCA/NCAL is looking to highlight stories of individual caregivers and why they love their career in long term care. We would like to spotlight a variety of career paths (activities directors, nurses, CNAs, housekeeping, dietary positions, etc). The goal of CIAW is to bring awareness to the numerous career opportunities in long term care and the rewarding experiences individuals can gain from these careers. We will be spreading the word about careers in aging and celebrating its employees. Especially in light of how difficult the past few years have been, we want to highlight on social media the heroic efforts of caregivers.
If you are interested in submitting a story, please fill out this form and indicate in the submission that this is for Careers in Aging Week.
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ICD-10 Coding Workshop (2 days in person)
Lawrence, KS
3/29 -30/2022
8AM - 5PM
Diagnosis coding accuracy is paramount to appropriate payment under PDPM, as ICD-10 Diagnosis codes & other patient characteristics are used as basis for classification in determining MCR payment. The 5-day MDS establishes the PDPM payment category for the entire Medicare stay which is why it is so important to have good processes in place for establishing the principal diagnosis and having information to support coding all active diagnosis prior to the 5-day assessment reference date.
This program will include information regarding the Official ICD-10 Coding Guidelines, best practices for accurate ICD-10-CM code assignment, how to avoid common coding mistakes, and the importance of principal diagnosis identification.
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Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Targeted Fall Prevention Interventions
3/2/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Targeted Fall Prevention Interventions
3/9/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Competency in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases & Basic Microbiology for the Infection Preventionist
3/15/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Engaging the Troops: Moving the Falls Program Forward Through Staff Training & Engagement Activities
3/16/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Tactical Plan for Sustained Falls Prevention Through QAPI
3/23/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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ICD-10 Coding Workshop (in person)
3/29 - 3/30/2022
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The AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit is Back! Registration Now Open!
Quality Summit will be held in Kissimmee, FL, May 16-18.
This year’s AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit delivers three days of education programs and awesome networking opportunities with like-minded, quality professionals in long term and post-acute care. The Quality Summit offers 30 sessions topics focused on leadership, recruitment and retention, infection prevention and PDPM.
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Learn How to Create an Effective SNF Revenue Cycle Management System
AHCA offers a five-module online training program titled Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Academy which offers training about a holistic interdisciplinary approach toward revenue management. RCM can be implemented in a building, more broadly or as an organization-wide approach to enhance revenue by minimizing losses from payments that too often are unnecessarily lost or overlooked. Click here for more details.
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Kansas Health Care Association and the Kansas Center for Assisted Living
1100 SW Gage Blvd. | PO Box 4770 | Topeka, KS 66604
PH: 785-267-6003 FAX: 785-267-0833
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