February 24, 2022
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
The Latest News
HRSA to Make More than $560 Million in PRF Payments

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is making more than $560 million in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments this week. Providers will receive an email notification today, Thursday, February 24, if their application was among those processed in this latest batch. ​

HRSA is working to review all remaining applications as quickly as possible. Approximately 86 percent of all Phase 4 applications have now been processed. Remaining applications will continue to be processed throughout early 2022. 

Learn More:

Click here for more details.
Weekly COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter from KDHE

Click here for more details.

TOMORROW! Webinar: Survey Trends in Assisted Living - 2/25/2022 1:00PM - 2:15PM

This webinar will focus on KDADS most recent survey statistics compared to the previous quarter for Assisted Living Facilities, Residential Health Care Facilities and Home Plus. In addition to these statistics Joan Hudson, LNHA, RN-BC will review the top 10 deficiencies cited and discuss what is required to meet the regulation and/or avoid the citation. You won’t want to miss this 75 minute webinar packed full of information! There will be time during this webinar for questions.
Nursing Homes, Hospitals Experiencing Massive Financial Burden As Contract Travel Nursing Agencies Raise Costs

TIME (2/23, Vesoulis, Abrams, 18.1M) reports nursing homes and hospitals are experiencing a "staggering" financial fallout as contract travel nursing agencies charge increased costs and worsen staff turnover. The American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living and other industry groups are "calling on the Administration to help prevent [nurse] travel agencies ‘from exploiting our organizations’ desperate need for health care personnel.’" TIME says, "About 70% of the costs of operating a nursing home are related to labor, according to Clif Porter, senior vice president of government relations at AHCA/NCAL. But even as facilities have had to pay two to three times normal wages to hire temporary nurses during the pandemic, their reimbursement rates have not kept pace." Porter said, "I can’t pass on inflation to my customer. ... This creates a situation where our expenses exceed our revenue. It’s just that simple. And that’s just not sustainable."
Free Webinar: Provider Relief Funds in 2022: Simplifying Reporting and Audit Requirements

CLA is hosting another PRF webinar on March 9th.

This session will include:
  • Guidance on understanding the latest requirements for Phase 2 PRF reporting
  • Key tips about reporting on PRF SNF Control and Quality Incentive Payments
  • Latest insights compliance audits for entities, including key tips to prepare for a “pain free” audit experience

Click here for more details.
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.
In Case You Missed It
How SNFs ‘held their ground’ during omicron surge

Despite seeing record-breaking COVID-19 case counts during the omicron spike, skilled nursing facilities were able to weather the storm with minimal deaths among residents, according to new analysis from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.

At the height of the surge in mid-January, weekly COVID-19 cases among SNF workers peaked at 68,000 and hit a record-breaking 48,000 among residents, which was 45% higher than its first peak of 33,000 new cases recorded in December 2020. READ MORE
COVID-19 Testing in Kansas Long-Term Care Facilities Responses to Questions from LTC Webinar February 18, 2022

Click here for the responses to questions raised on the webinar.  
Oxygen Storage Release

Do you have an oxygen storage issue? Then the OSFM has information to clear up the code requirements to all your oxygen storage problems in this release.
February 2022 Issue of Prevention Highlights

Click here to view February 2022's Newsletter from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
AHCA/NCAL Urges Congressional Leadership To Take Further Steps To Protect Long Term Care Residents

Provider Magazine (2/22, 151K) says "the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) sent a letter to Congressional leadership" on Tuesday "urging them to take additional steps to ensure the safety and protection of America’s most vulnerable." AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson in the letter "outlined the association’s specific requests of Congress that would provide nursing homes and assisted living communities with the resources necessary to combat COVID-19 and address critical challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic." Provider says, "Specifically, in the upcoming appropriations bills, AHCA/NCAL is calling for a replenishment of the Provider Relief Fund with $20 billion allocated to long term care, as well as an extension to the current delay of Medicare sequestration cuts and the recoupment of Medicare Accelerated and Advance payments." Parkinson wrote, "with your help, health care providers, including those in long term care, can access key tools available to help respond to this unprecedented challenge."

Skilled Nursing News (2/22, Stulick) reports "Parkinson said while [Provider Relief Fund] has been ‘lifesaving’ for the industry, helping thousands of facilities keep their doors open, it’s not enough. Cost and revenue shortfalls in SNFs and assisted living facilities have outpaced other sectors of the care continuum, given patient age and acuity in the case of SNFs." 
Now Available! National Skilled Nursing Care Week Planning Guide & Products - NSNCW May 8-14, 2022

The American Health Care Association is pleased to announce that National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) products and planning guide are now available at nsncw.org

NSNCW will take place from Sunday, May 8 to Saturday, May 14, 2022.

This year’s theme, Creating and Nurturing Connections, celebrates the important role skilled nursing care centers and staff play in providing care and social support to their residents. 

Download the planning guide for activity ideas and media tips and explore our exclusive selection of NSNCW gifts and products offered through our new partner Jim Coleman, LTD.
Stories for Careers in Aging Week

Careers in Aging Week (CIAW) this year will take place April 17-23. During this week, AHCA/NCAL is looking to highlight stories of individual caregivers and why they love their career in long term care. We would like to spotlight a variety of career paths (activities directors, nurses, CNAs, housekeeping, dietary positions, etc). The goal of CIAW is to bring awareness to the numerous career opportunities in long term care and the rewarding experiences individuals can gain from these careers. We will be spreading the word about careers in aging and celebrating its employees. Especially in light of how difficult the past few years have been, we want to highlight on social media the heroic efforts of caregivers.

If you are interested in submitting a story, please fill out this form and indicate in the submission that this is for Careers in Aging Week.
Education Spotlight
ICD-10 Coding Workshop (2 days in person)
Lawrence, KS
3/29 -30/2022
8AM - 5PM

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.
Upcoming Education
Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #2 Top Citation: F812 Food Procurement


3/1/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Targeted Fall Prevention Interventions (part 1)

3/2/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Targeted Fall Prevention Interventions (part 2)


3/9/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Competency in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases & Basic Microbiology for the Infection Preventionist

3/15/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Engaging the Troops: Moving the Falls Program Forward Through Staff Training & Engagement Activities

3/16/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Webinar: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle Series: Tactical Plan for Sustained Falls Prevention Through QAPI

3/23/2022 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
ICD-10 Coding Workshop (in person)

3/29 - 3/30/2022
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. 

Click here for more details.
Learn How to Create an Effective SNF Revenue Cycle Management System

AHCA offers a five-module online training program titled Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Academy which offers training about a holistic interdisciplinary approach toward revenue management. RCM can be implemented in a building, more broadly or as an organization-wide approach to enhance revenue by minimizing losses from payments that too often are unnecessarily lost or overlooked. Click here for more details.
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