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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As a reminder, the 2022 renewal deadline for your KHCA/KCAL membership is March 31st. We strive to give you a highly-valued return on your dues investment, and we look forward to serving you in the year ahead. |
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From the desk of Lacey Hunter, KDADS Commissioner for SC&C
KDADS and KDHE Facility Surveyors will not be Enforcing Vaccine Mandate
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that KDADS and KDHE facility surveyors will not be enforcing the CMS vaccine mandate for health care providers. Kansas has reached an agreement with CMS on the responsibility to survey for compliance with the vaccine mandate (42 CFR §483.80(i)). CMS will communicate directly with facilities to demonstrate compliance with the vaccine mandate and tag F-888. Kansas surveyors will complete the remaining parts of recertification surveys, complaint investigations and revisits without verifying facility efforts to ensure vaccine compliance with F888 or 42 CFR §483.80(i).
Links to more information about the agreement between CMS and Kansas:
Click here to view the media release from Governor Kelly.
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KHCA/KCAL President/CEO Update from 3/28/22
Click here if you missed Monday's President/CEO Update.
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Summary of the President’s FY 2023 Budget Proposal
Earlier today, President Biden released his Federal Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Budget Proposal. Of note, the President’s Budget is a blueprint. Proposed actions may or may not come to fruition.
In his budget proposal this year, President Biden includes an array of proposals aimed at mitigating the impacts of future pandemics as well as new legislative oversight provisions.
For SNF and AL providers, notable Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provisions include:
- Key pandemic efforts include $81.7B to HHS agencies (CDC, FDA, CMS, HRSA, ACL and ASPR) to continue to support COVID to prepare for next pandemic;
- Legislative proposals associated with provider transparency and oversight;
- Medicaid investment in behavioral health and HCBS programs; and
- HUD funding for affordable senior housing.
AHCA/NCAL has provided a short overview of the proposals for members. For questions, suggestions, or concerns, please contact Mike Cheek at mcheek@ahca.org.
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Industry Groups Concerned Biden Nursing Home Reform Focused On Penalties Could Endanger Industry
Skilled Nursing News (3/28, Zorn) reports there is concern that the Biden Administration’s recent nursing home reform "may be too focused on" penalties for the industry. In particular, "the Biden administration proposed raising the dollar limit on per-instance penalties from $21,000 to $1 million," citing "evidence that from 2013 to 2017, 82% of all inspected nursing homes had an infection prevention and control deficiency." However, recent data from the American Health Care Association show "72% of the more than 110,000 infection control focused inspections of nursing homes conducted from 2020 to 2022 were deemed ‘deficiency free.’" With nursing home operating margins "expected to stay in the negative for at least the next year, some see the administration’s plan to increase the dollar limit on per-instance financial penalties as potentially dangerous for the industry as a whole."
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Upcoming NHSN Long-term Care Release March 2022
Click here to view important information for the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Module regarding modifications for the NHSN release that will occur March 2022. Resources on the NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module website will be updated, where indicated, with revised forms, instructions, FAQs and CSV templates. Information regarding training opportunities is also available on the NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module Website.
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KMAP Web Update
The KMAP website has been updated with the Go-Live Bulletin GL2-018 regarding the new KMAP portal training videos.
KanCare Claims Resolution Logs
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Does your facility’s Medical Director belong to AMDA/The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine? I bring this up because I happened on a free webinar series sponsored by AMDA called “Drive to Deprescribe” (D2D) (Optimizing Medication Use in PALTC, Post-Acute Long Term Care). It is a very beneficial and informative series. The mission of D2D is: “a 25% reduction of scheduled medications in long stay patients by providing PALTC providers the necessary tools, support and the community to implement deprescribing into clinical practice”. READ MORE
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Statement on Medicare Advantage, Part D Advance Notice Fact Sheet
AHCA/NCAL have released the following statement in regards to CMS’ release of the Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice Fact Sheet.
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AHCA/NCAL Report Disputes Biden Administration’s Claims Against Nursing Home Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
Skilled Nursing News (3/24, Zorn) reports the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living released a report (pdf) that "showed that 72% of the more than 110,000 infection control focused inspections of nursing homes conducted from 2020 to 2022 were deemed ‘deficiency free.’" The new "report, released on Thursday, comes as the Biden administration’s nursing home reform seemingly places blame on nursing homes for the more than 200,000 residents and staff that died from COVID-19 while working and living in these facilities." AHCA/NCAL president and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "Nursing homes should be recognized for their efforts during this once-in-a-lifetime global crisis, and as we continue to focus on improving the quality of life for our residents, lawmakers and health policy officials must also work with us to implement lasting change by providing resources necessary to further enhance care."
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CMS Daily Digest Bulletin
- Join CMS for April Webinar on Rural Health Quality
- ICD-10: Comment on Proposed Procedure and Diagnosis Codes
- Deadline Approaching: March 31 is the Last Day to Register and Attest for the 2021 Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program
- Reminder: MIPS 2021 Data Submission Period Closes 3/31; MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Applications Due 3/31
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The Biden administration may authorize a second booster shot within weeks, an investigation finds. Officials want to get ahead of an expected uptick in SARS-CoV-2 infections, sources say. READ MORE
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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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KCAL Assisted Living Conference (in person)
4/5/22 from 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Lawrence, KS
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Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #3 Top Citation: F761 Label/Store Drugs & Biologicals
4/5/22 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: Restorative Nursing Series: Restorative Nursing Overview (Part 1)
4/7/22 from 1:00PM - 2:15PM
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Webinar: Restorative Nursing Series: Bowel Bladder, Dining, Communication & Cognition (Part 2)
4/14/22 from 1:00PM - 2:15PM
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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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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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