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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KHCA/KCAL President/CEO Update from 4/18/22
Click here if you missed Monday's President/CEO Update.
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Governor Laura Kelly Signs CNA Training Bill: SB 453 allowing LPNs to be instructors for CNA courses under the supervision of RN
SB 453 - Health professions and practices; relating to unlicensed employees working in adult care homes; requiring unlicensed employee training courses to be taught and evaluated by professional licensed nurses; requiring a demonstration of skills to successfully complete training courses; licensees of the behavioral sciences regulatory board; allowing board-approved postgraduate experience to count toward graduate level supervised clinical practicum of supervised professional experience; permitting current master's and clinical level licensees to take the addiction counselor's test
SB 453 will become law “upon publication in the statute book” which is July 1.
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WEBINAR REMINDER: Tips for Commenting to CMS on the FY 2023 SNF Proposed Payment Rule
AHCA/NCAL will host a webinar for all members on Thursday, April 21 at 2 PM Central to provide tips for drafting and submitting your comments on the FY 2023 SNF Proposed Payment Rule. The webinar will be recorded, and all registrants will receive an email when the recording is ready. Please email educate@ahca.org with any questions or if you need assistance registering.
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McKnight’s O’Connor: Long-Term Care Industry Poised For Long-Term Growth
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (4/16) editorial director John O’Connor wrote that long-term care operators are poised for growth in the long-term industry. O’Connor added that American Health Care Association President and CEO Mark Parkinson has agreed, saying that while the industry is facing challenging times amid the pandemic, operators can anticipate long-term growth.
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Zoom Session for CMS COVID-19 Waivers - Fire Safety and Life Safety
From the Office of the State Fire Marshal
In an effort to further explain the COVID-19 1135 changes by CMS we will have a zoom session on Thursday, April 28, at 10 a.m.
John Sprague is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: CMS 1135 waiver update
Time: Apr 28, 2022 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 990 4426 1771
Passcode: FE3SSn
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A Publication from the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal: The Trumpet
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Careers in Aging Week is dedicated to bringing greater awareness to the wide-ranging career opportunities in long term care and to celebrate current employees in the profession.
Take 20% off your entire bookstore purchase this week only! Use promo code CIAW2022 at check out.
Join us in celebrating and spreading the word on social media using the hashtag #CareersInAging.
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AHCA To Ask CMS To Spread Medicare Reimbursement Cuts Over Three Fiscal Years
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (4/14, O'Connor) reports the American Health Care Association "will ask the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reduce the pain of planned Medicare reimbursement cuts by spreading the reductions over three fiscal years rather than one, McKnight’s has learned." CMS on Monday "announced plans to adjust nursing home Medicare payment rates downward by 4.6% in the next fiscal year to account for unintentional overpayments in the transition to the Patient Driven Payment Model." AHCA "sees spreading the PDPM cuts over three years as a more humane way for operators to deal with the government’s overpayments, especially as many facilities are struggling with pandemic-related drops in occupancy, staffing challenges and higher operating costs." AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "Many nursing homes already face imminent closure."
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
With the Temporary Nurse Aide program coming to an end on September 5, 2022, and after a wonderful NAC Friday, it may be time to “hone” or develop a position for those who will not continue on as a TNA or CNA in your center. There are many, many tasks that don’t involve “hands-on” care that help residents and take some pressure off your CNAs. Some facilities call that position “Hospitality Aide”, or “Compassionate Partner in Care”. It doesn’t matter what you call them, there is a big need for their services.
“The Hospitality Aide works alongside the nursing department preforming non-nursing, non-direct/hands-on duties pertaining to the comfort and well-being of the patients of the facility.” So what kind of tasks can a non-certified nursing staff do? The list is nearly limitless. READ MORE
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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Bipartisan Bill Removing Barriers to Health Care
~~ Senate Substitute for House Bill 2279 Allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to Provide More Care to Kansans~~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that she signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2279. The bipartisan bill expands access to health care in Kansas by removing barriers, allowing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice independently. READ MORE
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Experts Urge Caution As Nursing Home COVID-19 Deaths Decline
Skilled Nursing News (4/14, Zorn) reports, "While nursing home COVID-19 death rates have plummeted – with just 1,000 nursing home resident and staff deaths reported over the past four weeks – some health care experts don’t think the sector is out of the woods quite yet." Amid the spread of the Omicron subvariant BA.2, "health officials are urging operators to avoid becoming complacent as the next wave may already be here." American Health Care Association Chief Medical Officer David Gifford, MD, MPH, said, "We expect to see this virus have new variants. ... And so we just have to remain vigilant just like we do every year with influenza, and other respiratory viruses." AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "This pandemic is far from over. A surge of cases of the BA.2 variant in Europe threaten a COVID resurgence in the United States … It is clear that we are not out of the woods yet."
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Attention HCBS Providers: KDADS Workforce Incentive Program Update
We have hit the halfway point in our Workforce Incentive Program. A reminder that applications are due by April 29th. If you have not already, we urge you to fill out and send in your applications. If the applications are received by next Friday April 22nd, Witt O’Brien’s staff will have time to work with you to make sure your application is complete and correct to maximize your potential bonus opportunities. The application can be found at https://kdads.ks.gov/funding-opportunities.
Thank you for your continued feedback and collaboration. Please continue to refer to the website as we will be updating FAQs frequently. If you cannot find an answer to your questions online, please do not hesitate to email us at KDADS.workforce@ks.gov.
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Speaking face-to-face with your Members of Congress is the most effective way to advocate for the kind of quality care you want to provide in your centers.
AHCA/NCAL’s Congressional Briefing offers you that invaluable opportunity. Come to Washington, D.C. this June, and ask for what you need and want. You’ll get an update on the latest happenings in long term and post-acute care, make an effective and immediate plan of action with your colleagues, and then meet with your Representatives and their staff on Capitol Hill. It’s a priceless chance to use your voice, and one that you can’t afford to pass up. Click here for more details.
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Nurse Leadership Conference - June 14 & 15, 2022 in Manhattan, KS |
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This special Nurse Leadership Conference sponsored by Encore Rehabilitation is an opportunity for nurses working in the Long-Term Care setting to strengthen their leadership skills. Building strong leaders through education is essential to promoting a better quality of life for our residents. Meet new vendor partners and spend time networking and getting to know others that are doing the same valuable work that you’re doing. It’s been a while since we’ve been together in person. Let’s celebrate all that we’ve accomplished, together. |
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Improving Resident Relationships in Long-Term Care (IRRL)
The IRRL program is a federally funded, evidence-based intervention developed by Cornell University to prevent resident-to-resident aggression (RRA) in long-term care settings. This program educates staff on how to recognize and mitigate RRA. It empowers staff to help create a safer community for residents and reduce stressful events in the workplace.
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Webinar: Restorative Nursing Series: ROM, Bed Mobility, Transfers, Ambulation, Dressing & Grooming, Amputation & Prosthetic Care (Part 3)
4/21/22 from 1:00PM - 2:15PM
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2022 Spring Joint Provider Surveyor Training
4/27/22 from 9:00 - 4:30 (Topeka)
4/28/22 from 9:00 - 4:30 (Wichita/Virtual)
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8 Week Webinar Series: MDS Mastermind Insights for MDS Coding and Reimbursement Accuracy
5/4/22 through 6/22/22 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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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.
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.
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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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