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 Releases Updated Guidance and Resources to Surveyors
CMS has made updates to the Long Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022. These updates include:
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Mandatory facility task assignment and review of NHSN data related to the QSO Memo-QSO-22-07-ALL
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Entrance Conference Worksheet updates to include COVID-19 Vaccine review and COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Matrix located under Survey Resources January 2022 (1/25/22) (ZIP).
- Closed record review may select a resident with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in last four weeks who was hospitalized or died to add to closed record review.
- Infection Control surveyor will review the infection prevention and control program, policy and procedures for staff COVID-19 vaccination, antibiotic stewardship program, and the influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 for residents and staff.
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Mark Parkinson, AHCA/NCAL President & CEO, Gives Forecast on Omicron
AHCA/NCAL President & CEO Mark Parkinson gives an outlook on what the national trends suggest--and two possible paths for the future.
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In the this article Mcknight’s reports that a group of nearly 200 House lawmakers, led by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), wrote a letter to the White House COVID-19 Response Team coordinator calling on federal agencies with competition and consumer protection authority to investigate staffing firms’ conduct and practices.
The bi-partisan collation House members includes Kansas Representatives Davids and LaTurner.
In Kansas, hearings are being held by the state legislature to address the staffing crisis. VP of Governmental Affairs Tony Johnson (RecoverCare) testifies today at the hearing held in the House Social Services Budget Committee chaired by Representative Will Carpenter. The hearing started at 3:30 and will be recorded. Tune in or listen to the recording by clicking here.
A bill (HB2524) addressing the staffing agencies practices was introduced last week in the House Children and Senior’s Committee chaired by Representative Susan Concannon. A hearing will be held next Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 1:30 in room 152S. KHCA/KCAL will be offering testimony and possible additional constraints on the agencies. Any KHCA/KCAL member wishing to provide testimony should contact Linda MowBray as soon as possible and we will get you signed up.
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Nursing Homes Face "Tone Deaf" Staff Reporting Mandates Amid Record Worker Shortage, AHCA/NCAL Says
Bloomberg Law (1/26, Pugh, Subscription Publication, 4K) reports that amid "record staff shortages" and increasing COVID-19 infections, nursing homes "will soon have to publicly report their employee turnover rates and weekend staffing levels for nurses," and while the mandate is "designed to help consumers select quality facilities," the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) said the timing of the requirement is "tone deaf." AHCA/NCAL told Bloomberg, "The addition of this reporting requirement when we are in the middle of the worst labor shortage the nursing home sector has ever faced is tone deaf." Bloomberg adds, "AHCA/NCAL said the new reporting requirement is the wrong approach. It has called for higher reimbursements from Medicaid and more targeted funding to help providers with rising labor, equipment and Covid testing costs." AHCA/NCAL added, "While we support transparency and agree that staffing hours and turnover metrics are important, more reporting will not solve this issue."
The AP (1/26, Alonso-Zaldivar) reports AHCA/NCAL said, "We’ve repeatedly called for help, yet no meaningful aid has been sent to the frontlines. We need public health officials to do more than acknowledge these challenges, but stand up to address them."
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TOMORROW! Resident Review Level II NF and NFMH Training
This meetings is for nursing facilities and nursing facilities for mental health to learn how the PASRR process for the Level II works, and how to complete our forms.
This training is the 4th Friday of every month at 2:00pm
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
Phone Conference ID: 571 013 906#
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CMS Requires Surveyors To Be Fully Vaccinated
CMS has issued memo QSO-22-10-ALL to all State Survey Agencies, requiring onsite surveyors - including CLIA and Life Safety surveyors - to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an acceptable medical or religious exemption.
For surveyors with an accepted exemption, they must take extra precautions while onsite during survey “as determined and documented by the state (such as mandatory testing, limitation to conducting survey activities that limit patient/resident contact such as record review, limitation to conducting offsite activities, or re-assignment or work modification).” All surveyors are expected to use appropriate PPE while surveying.
State Survey Agencies are responsible for compliance with this expectation. Therefore, certified providers and suppliers are still not permitted to ask surveyors for proof of their vaccination status as a precondition for entry. READ MORE
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Tuesday, February 8, 2022 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
KDADS LTC Provider Webinar on Staff Vaccination Regulatory Oversight and Enforcement, with time for Q &A
Presenters: Deputy Secretary Scott Brunner, Commissioner Lacey Hunter, Assistant Commissioner Dawne Stevenson
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To Advance Information on Quality of Care, CMS Makes Nursing Home Staffing Data Available
As part of its commitment to improve transparency and help families and caregivers find the best quality of nursing home care for their loved ones, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin posting for the first time ever, staff turnover rates and weekend staff levels for nursing homes on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website today. Staffing in nursing homes has a substantial impact on the quality of care and outcomes residents experience. Having access to this information helps consumers understand more about each nursing home facility’s staffing environment and choose a facility that provides the highest quality of care that best meets the healthcare needs of their loved one. READ MORE
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KMAP Web Update
The KMAP website has been updated with HCBS Bulletin 22012 regarding updates to the HCBS Provider Qualifications Audit process.
UB-04 Instructions
The UB-04 Instructions Form has been updated on the KMAP website.
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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.
Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality for the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Lee A. Fleisher, MD, is the opening keynote speaker.
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ICD-10 Coding Workshop (in person)
3/29 - 3/30/2022
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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Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course
2/9-2/22/2022
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8 Week Webinar Series: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle
Every Wednesday Starting February 2 and Ending March 23, 2022
1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #1 Top Citation: F880 Infection Control & F884 NHSN Reporting
2/1/2022 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Focus on Dementia Care (3-part webinar series)
2/10/22, 2/17/22, 2/24/22 1:00PM - 2:15PM
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Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Developing an Exceptional Infection Control & Prevention Program
2/15/2022 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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ICD-10 Coding Workshop (in person)
3/29 - 3/30/2022
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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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