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/dailyupdates
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CDC Eases COVID-19 Guidance, But New Recommendations For Nursing Homes Yet To Come
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/14, Lasek) reports the CDC "has eased COVID-19 guidance, emphasizing a continued focus on protecting at-risk individuals, including the elderly and ill, from infection and poor outcomes." Infection-derived and vaccine "immunity plus clinical interventions have lowered public risk of severe disease, the CDC said in a Thursday announcement." At this point, "corresponding updates that directly address health care settings remained under CDC review, and new guidance has yet to come for federally supported nursing homes." With COVID-19 "less of a threat and better controlled in long-term care settings, advocates are pushing for a change." AHCA/NCAL "in July asked CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to change its nursing home COVID-19 infection control and prevention requirements to reflect the new pandemic conditions."
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Reminder: SNF QRP Submission Deadline is August 15
The final submission date for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Programs is August 15, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET.
The Minimum Data Set assessment data and data submitted to CMS via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for January 1 – March 31 (Q1) of calendar year 2022 are due by the August deadline.
The list of measures required for this deadline can be found on the CMS QRP website. To ensure that all required data has been submitted, it is recommended that providers run applicable CASPER/iQIES/NHSN analysis reports prior to each quarterly reporting deadline. READ MORE
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TOMORROW! Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Insightful Root Cause Analysis for the Infection Preventionist
8/16/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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A Message from the AHCA/NCAL President & CEO Mark Parkinson: Advancing CDC Guidance Reliefs
Just last week in my email update to you, I shared that I’ve heard from countless members that the continued PPE and other related requirements for our facilities don’t make sense. It is time to update the CDC guidance on PPE, screening, testing, and quarantine for the benefit of our residents and their quality of life and to help our staff.
When I asked for your help to get this guidance changed, you responded. We have seen countless emails sent by our members to the CDC and CMS. You’ve shared the challenges that the current guidance is creating for your staff and how it is affecting the health and well-being of your residents.
Our team at AHCA/NCAL has been elevating your concerns in the media as well.
And we are not alone in calling for these changes. Other public health leaders have made similar calls to action to the CDC. The Baltimore Sun published an op-ed this week with a compelling case for many of the same changes we are advocating for.
“This updated guidance is intended to apply to community settings. In the coming weeks CDC will work to align stand-alone guidance documents, such as those for healthcare settings, congregate settings at higher risk of transmission, and travel, with today’s update.”
Now that we know the CDC is planning to update this guidance, I want to renew my ask for your help. A team of our members and staff has developed a data driven/common sense plan that would relieve these restrictions when COVID risks are low and align protocols with the current stage of the pandemic. We need the CDC and CMS to understand how the current guidance is not sustainable and makes it hard on residents, families, and staff.
You can help us with this by writing the CDC and CMS on this topic. We encourage you to do so. Letters can be emailed to the CDC and/or CMS:
I know that we can make change happen if we all work together. Thank you for all you do every day and for allowing AHCA/NCAL to represent you.
Sincerely,
Mark Parkinson
President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
A couple of issues have gotten my attention this week based on survey findings. First, let’s take a quick peek at F887, COVID-19 Immunization regulation. In the findings posted this month, we have had 2 deficiencies written based on timing of offering the vaccine to residents in a timely manner. First, I would point out that the released “Advance Copy” of Appendix PP does not include the COVID regulations, including F887. READ MORE
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CMS Contractors To Begin Staging Facility Visits To Help Establish Federal Minimum Staffing Levels
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/12, Berklan) reports, "Contractors will be making 65 nursing home visits over the next three months in a bid to help establish first-ever federal minimum staffing levels." The article adds, "Frequent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services contractor Abt Associates will stage visits at select facilities through October," and "will collect information from staff, residents and family members, officials said." The Biden Administration "set a goal of having a new staffing mandate in place by March 2023." Last month, the American Health Care Association published a report "stating that a minimum staffing mandate could cost $10 billion to implement."
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Assisted Living Communities To Receive Free COVID-19 Testing Through Expanded CDC Program
McKnight’s Senior Living (8/8, Bonvissuto) reports, "Assisted living communities now have access to free COVID-19 testing through a federal program that previously targeted schools, shelters and correctional facilities." The CDC’s "Operation Expanded Testing program provides no-cost polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, COVID-19 tests – including specimen collection supplies, shipping materials, laboratory testing and results reporting – to providers for use with staff members and residents." Providers "can receive up to a four-week supply at a time, and there is no cap on the number of tests that may be requested, according to the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living."
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The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3 is now available for pre-order!
Order your copy today for October delivery.*
Phase 3 of The Long Term Care Survey manual includes all the updates from CMS' three-phase implementation.
Survey guidance for Phase 3 was released in June 2022. Surveyors will begin using this guidance on October 24, 2022.
Save money by ordering through KHCA!
Learn more about updates to this important resource and place your order today! E-mail Jennafer Sumner with desired quantity.
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Unpacking the RoP Interpretive Guidance: LTC Implementation Essentials
Starts September 8th!
5-Part Webinar Series
On June 29, 2022, CMS released revised Long-Term Care surveyor guidance, including clarifications and technical corrections of Phase 2 guidance issued in 2017, new guidance for Phase 3 requirements which went into effect in November 28, 2019, and guidance on the new arbitration requirements which became effective September 2019. Surveyors will begin using this guidance to identify noncompliance on October 24, 2022. This education series will explain the updates and changes of the regulations and guidance, with an emphasis on developing action plans for achieving compliance related to the updates and changes.
What to Expect:
At the conclusion of each session, the learner will be able to:
- Identify the updates and changes of regulations and guidance that will go into effect October 24, 2022.
- Develop an action plan to achieve compliance related to the updates and changes
All registered participants will receive a link to the recorded sessions.
Click here to register for the 5 part webinar series and save $$.
Register for individual sessions by viewing our education calendar at www.khca.org
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Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: QAPI
8/17/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: HR Management
8/24/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: Survey Readiness
8/31/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Person-Centered Dementia Care...From the Perspective of the Resident - Lunch & Learn
8/31/2022 10AM-3PM
Olathe, KS
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Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! #8 Top Citation: F695 Respiratory/Tracheostomy Care & Suctioning
9/6/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: MDS and Medicare Essentials
9/7/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Unpacking the RoP Interpretive Guidance: LTC Implementation Essentials Session 1: Resident Rights; Abuse, Neglect, & Exploitation; Admission, Transfer, and Discharge Requirements
9/8/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Looking for options for required Staff In-Service?
KHCA’s online learning platform is BACK! We’ve loaded the in-services for SNF and for AL first. Many more education sessions to come.
Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
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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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