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. |
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Membership Reminder
As a reminder, the 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. Don’t miss these important updates on the HCBS Final Rule process.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your membership status, please contact Kristin Plantz kplantz@khca.org.
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Member Only Legislative Update from Friday, March 17, 2023
The 2023 Legislative Session is in full swing . We strive to keep you informed as much as possible. Click here to read Linda's member's only update from last Friday. We will also archive these on our website. They will require the member username and password to view on our website.
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
- CMS Schizophrenia Audits
- OSHA Workplace Violence SBREFA Panel
- OSHA is making plans to implement the standards for COVID permanent
- CMS-certified long term care facilities to assist with behavioral health issues
- CMS has told AHCA that they are working on getting CMP notices out timelier
- New National Infection Prevention Forum (NIPF)
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Upcoming Outage During Planned NHSN Database Upgrade
Beginning Friday, March 24th at 8:00 p.m. CT, there will be a planned upgrade to the Secure Access Management Service (SAMS) database. This may potentially impact nursing home users’ ability to submit data into NHSN during the outage window from Friday March 24 - Sunday, March 26. Please make sure you plan submissions accordingly, so your facility is not out of compliance with the CMS weekly reporting requirement.
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‘Imperative’ to finalize staffing rule this year, dozens of House members tell CMS
More than a quarter of the House of Representatives signed a letter last week urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to move forward with its plan to institute a nationwide staffing mandate for nursing homes. READ MORE
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OIG fraud report portends more challenges for skilled nursing
An annual report outlining state fraud control activities in the nation’s Medicaid facilities portends a challenging year ahead for nursing homes.
There were more than 1,000 open investigations into patient abuse or neglect at skilled nursing facilities at the end of 2022, revealed the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General report issued Wednesday. That was far more than in any other care setting. With 311 cases, nursing homes also led in open fraud investigations among inpatient and residential providers. READ MORE
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FREE Webinar: Water Safety and Reducing the risk for Legionella
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by a type of bacterium called Legionella. Those at risk include persons who are at least 50 years old, smokers, or those with underlying medical conditions such as chronic lung disease or immunosuppression. Outbreaks have been linked to poorly maintained water systems in buildings with large or complex water systems including hospitals and long-term care facilities. Transmission can occur via aerosols from devices such as showerheads, cooling towers, hot tubs, and decorative fountains. CMS expects Medicare certified healthcare facilities to have water management policies and procedures to reduce the risk of growth and spread of Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens in building water systems. This webinar will review the necessary steps to take and resources available to support your efforts in developing these prevention and management systems and processes. READ MORE
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FDA advisers support full approval of Paxlovid for at-risk older adults
The antiviral drug Paxlovid should receive full FDA approval to treat COVID-19 in older adults at risk of severe outcomes, the advisers decided in a Thursday vote. READ MORE
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FREE Webinar: CMS’s new schizophrenia audits: What you need to know NOW
Apr 4, 2023 12:00 PM
New CMS schizophrenia and antipsychotic audits are coming. How can you protect your star rating?
If CMS identifies inaccuracies in MDS coding, the nursing home’s Five-Star rating will be downgraded by one star for six months, creating a significant negative ripple impacting your admissions, your community partnerships, and your facility's reputation among external stakeholders.
Join us for this important webinar to hear industry experts explain the CMS audit plan, its consequences, and how your facility can evaluate and mitigate your risk.
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New National Infection Prevention Forum (NIPF)
The NIPF is a national forum for any infection preventionist (IP) or infection prevention champions in long term care (LTC) to share lessons learned and resources and get questions answered. This national forum will also provide a mechanism to rapidly disseminate federal updates and resources about infections in LTC as they become available from CDC, CMS, or OHSA. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) partnered with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) with funding from CDC Project First Line to set up the NIPF, which is open to all LTC professionals focusing on infection prevention regardless of their membership in AHCA or APIC
The goal of NIPF is to foster a collaboration and sharing of experiences between IPs in LTC. In addition, APIC subject matter experts will be available to address questions the group are unable to answer. The NIPF uses the “Connect Communities” platform to organize email discussions by threads and allows for sharing and posting of resource and tools in an organized library and ability to look up other IPs participating in the forum.
How to get started: To enroll in this national forum, all you need is an email address and password. Instructions for enrolling are available here.
Guidelines: Discussions are not moderated therefore we ask that users follow posting rules and etiquette linked here.
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AHCA/NCAL Launches Campaign To Help Providers Recruit Staff
Provider Magazine (3/1, 151K) reported "long term care providers are in the midst of a historic workforce crisis brought on by the pandemic – the entire sector has lost more than 300,000 jobs since the pandemic began in 2020." In addition, "more and more Americans are in need of long term care services as the Baby Boomer population ages." In response, AHCA / NCAL "recently launched Careers in Caring – a national campaign that provides resources to providers to assist them in their hiring efforts and improve the public perception of long term care careers." The initiative "offers customizable tools for facilities and state associations to help create hiring campaigns in their communities and encourage more caregivers to enter the long term care profession." According to the article, "Careers in Caring is designed as a one-stop shop for nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other long term care providers to spread the word that they can offer rewarding careers with tremendous opportunities to make an enormous impact on the lives of others."
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Your Voice Matters: Be Part of the Solution
Registration is now open for AHCA/NCAL’s 2023 Congressional Briefing. Join us June 5-6 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill to meet personally with your elected Representatives on current policies and issues impacting long term care and assisted living. Learn more by clicking here.
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Are you a current AIT Preceptor or are you interested in becoming one?
If you are a current Preceptor we would love to have you on our list. Please contact Teresa with your Preceptor number at tkeating@khca.org. Are you interested in becoming an AIT Preceptor and shaping the future of the profession? Our team is happy to walk you through that process. Click here for the KDADS information and give Teresa a call at 785-267-6003.
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Assisted Living Conference
A full day of education for those working in the Assisted Living, Residential Health Care and Home Plus settings
TOPICS:
- The Magic of Connection – Opening Keynote and Humorist Desi Payne
- Writing a Plan of Correction – Joan Hudson
- Making Life Meaningful – Amy Siple
- Stay in Your Lane – Talking through KS Regulations
- Top Questions the association receives and how to find answers in your Reg Manual – Linda MowBray
- Workplace Resilience through the power of friendship – Amy Siple
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Strategies for Social Services
3/28/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.20 Resident Assessment & §483.21 Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plan Requirements
4/11/2023 1:30PM-3:00PM
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Assisted Living Conference
Lawrence, KS
4/14/2023 8:00AM-4:00PM
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Thriving Therapy Departments
4/25/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
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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. The SNF in-service on Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation has been updated to reflect Phase 3 information.
Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
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Attention Assisted Living and Home Plus Providers: FCS Refresher
We have frequent requests for FCS refreshers and people who want to attend the FCS section only of the Operators course. We now have it available on demand in a 75 minute webinar. It’s worth 1.5 CE’s on demand.
$20 Member Discount Code: KHCA018
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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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