October 28, 2022
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for KHCA/KCAL membership. Dissemination, distribution or copying the contents of this email beyond this group is strictly prohibited.
Follow us!
The Latest News
INTENT TO APPLY

If you haven’t already, be sure to submit your Intent to Apply for AHCA/NCAL’s 2023 National Quality Award year. Members who plan to apply for a 2023 National Quality Award can submit an ITA to automatically save money on their overall application fee in January. No paperwork is needed. READ MORE
Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

Trauma Informed Care is BIG in the new ROP Revisions and implementation of the revisions occurred on October 24, 2022. Trauma Informed Care is an approach to care that requires specific staff competency and a system of care delivery that provides the necessary support to care for residents who may have a history of trauma and suffer from long-term effects of that history. Also included is the trauma of admission to a long term care setting (called “transfer trauma”). There are no fewer than NINE (9) F-tags that cover various aspects of Trauma Informed Care all including the psychosocial outcome severity guide. That fact emphasizes that trauma-informed care is critical to the facility’s survey success and quality care. The nine tags include: READ MORE
CMS Daily Digest Bulletin

  • Biden-Harris Administration Launches Window-Shopping for Affordable and Accessible Health Care Marketplace 
  • You are Invited to a National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator (11/1/22) 

Click here for more details.
In Case You Missed It
Weekly Member Spotlight: Oakley Place #1, Topeka

Oakley Place #1 is a 12-bed home plus located at 618 SW Oakley in Topeka. Mandy Wales is the owner and operator. 

At Oakley Place, their mission from the beginning has been to place their residents’ comfort and care at the cornerstone of every decision. That means small home sizes with 12 residents per home and a dedicated staff that has a passion for providing great care to folks they grow to love. 
Scam Alert!

Because they're at it again, this is your occasional reminder: We will never e-mail you asking for you to buy us gift cards and we will never e-mail you asking for your "discreet help" and "not to call us first."

Unfortunately, this is always going to be an issue. If you ever doubt the authenticity of an e-mail from KHCA/KCAL, don’t reply. Please call the KHCA/KCAL office. (785) 267-6003.
CMS Releases Memos on Fire Safety Evaluation System and Revised COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Requirements

S&C: 17-15-LSC-Revised: Use of the Fire Safety Evaluation System
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new mandatory values in August 2022 for the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES). CMS this week released revisions to the FSES memo, which negate the need for a waiver and now allow SNFs to once again achieve a passing score on the FSES without any impact on the fire safety of the facility.

QSO-23-02-ALL: Revised Guidance for Staff Vaccination Requirements 
On November 5, 2021, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period. This rule establishes requirements regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunization of staff among Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers. CMS this week revised guidance for staff vaccination requirements (for all provider-types) related to assessing and maintaining compliance with the staff vaccination regulatory requirements. The memorandum replaces and consolidates information from previous memoranda QSO 22-07-ALL Revised, QSO 22-09-ALL Revised, and QSO 22-11-ALL Revised. The guidance applies to all states. 

Visit Policy & Memos to States and Regions for more information on both memorandums.

Click here to read more.
ARAP Email that went out 10/26/22

From the Desk of Jami Boone, KDADS NF Program Coordinator

To whom it may concern,

Currently I have a list of 119 facilities that have UEIs in “ID assigned” status, or a “Pending UEI” status. This email is in regards to those facilities, if you are receiving this email please double check your SAM.GOV UEI status.

In order to receive the federal funds, you must be in an “Active” status in SAM.GOV, and it needs to be “Public”. READ MORE
Maintenance Impacting AHCA/NCAL Member Logins

Monday, Oct. 31st – Wednesday, Nov. 2nd 

Starting this Monday, AHCA/NCAL will be upgrading our customer relationship management (CRM) software, which means members will be unable to log in using their AHCA/NCAL credentials. Members still have access to the AHCA/NCAL website; however, the following areas will be unavailable until the upgrade is complete:

  • Member-only content on the AHCA/NCAL website
  • Courses and other resources on ahcancalED 
  • Online event registration for the Fall CEO Conference and Population Health Management Summit
  • The AHCA/NCAL Membership Portal
  • AHCA/NCAL Connect – the online members community 
  • Bed count portal (impacting state affiliate staff only) 

We anticipate the upgrade will be completed on Wednesday, November 2, and services should be restored starting on Thursday, November 3. 

Thank you for your understanding and please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.  

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us at webmaster@ahca.org if you have any additional comments or concerns.
Just shipped! If you ordered the Phase 3 LTC Survey Manual, they're on the way!

It's not too late to order!

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 began using this guidance on October 24, 2022. 

A limited number will be available for sale at the Joint Provider Surveyor Training.

Learn more about updates to this important resource and place your order today! 
E-mail Jennafer Sumner with desired quantity.
Joint Provider Surveyor Training - Topeka & Wichita

Don’t miss this Fall’s Joint Provider Surveyor Training with special opening Keynote from Jerald Cosey on “What’s Next? The Power of COVID Conviction to Advance Healthcare Leadership”

In cooperation with Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, Kansas Adult Care Executives and LeadingAge Kansas

3 Ways to Attend:
November 9 – In Person in Topeka
November 10 – In person in Wichita
November 10 – Live Virtual

Click here for more details.
Elder Justice Act, SNF Resident Rights & AL Resident Rights Posters

Do you need an Elder Justice Act or Resident Rights Poster for your Facility? We’re here for you.  $15 for one, $25 for two or $35 for three. E-mail Kristin Plantz your needs!

A limited number will be available for sale at the Joint Provider Surveyor Training.
Nursing Scholarship Application

The Kansas Health Care Association's Nursing Advisory Committee (NAC) is pleased to sponsor the Joan Hamel Nursing Education Scholarship Program. KHCA will award up to $2,000 in scholarship grants to KHCA or KCAL member facility employees who wish to further their education. 

Click here for details on the Infection Preventionist Specialized Training Scholarship.
Click here for details on the general scholarship that includes Gero Nurse Prep, IV Certification and Nursing School ($500 per semester).

Questions? E-mail Jennafer Sumner at jsumner@khca.org
Upcoming Education
Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #10 Top Citation: F758 Free from Unnecessary Psychotropic Meds/PRN Use


11/1/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Joint Provider Surveyor Training

11/9/2022 8:30AM-4:00PM (Topeka)
11/10/2022 8:30AM-4:00PM (Wichita & Virtual)

Click here for more details.
DON Boot Camp

11/14 - 11/17/2022 8:00AM-4:00PM
Olathe, KS

Click here for more details.
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Ship-shape Cleaning & Disinfection for the Infection Preventionist

11/15/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Webinar: Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. Post Survey Activities: Developing Effective Plan of Correction & IDR

12/6/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Astute Survey Preparedness & Application of Infection Control Regulatory Requirements

12/20/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
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.

Access the new learning platform by clicking here. 

Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
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