June 16, 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
CMS Releases Memo on Staff Vaccination Requirement Compliance

CMS has released QSO-22-17-ALL, providing new information on how CMS will survey for compliance of the staff vaccination requirement. CMS survey oversight of the staff vaccination requirement for Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers will continue to be performed during initial and recertifications surveys. However, it will now only be performed in response to complaints alleging non-compliance with this requirement instead of all surveys. READ MORE

Long-Term Care Industry Supports Legislation Expanding Veterans’ Access To Cost-Effective Assisted Living

McKnight’s Senior Living (6/16, Bonvissuto) reports "‘commonsense’ legislation expanding access to cost-effective assisted living" for veterans "has gained support from the major associations representing senior living and other long-term care providers." Groups including the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living "signed a joint letter of support for the Expanding Veterans’ Options for Long Term Care Act on Monday." This "proposed three-year pilot program would expand veterans’ access to assisted living at six Veterans Integrated Services Networks, including at least two program sites in rural areas and two in state veterans homes." 

The nurse practitioner (NP) role has evolved to be much more involved in the day-to-day operations of a nursing home, especially given the higher acuity that the care setting has adopted. READ MORE
KMAP Web Updates

The KMAP website has been updated with the following update:
  • General Bulletin 22114 regarding a KMAP payment delay
  • General Bulletin 22119 regarding COVID-19 testing for same date of service
 
A standard global message has been added to alert providers. A standard RA banner message will appear on the weeks of June 20 and 27. 
Members Only Nurse Advisory Call & Facility Standards Call

We will not have our Nurse Advisory and Facility Standards call as normally scheduled this month since we were able to meet in person at the Nurse Leadership Conference earlier this week. Below you can still find the latest survey findings from Linda Farrar.
In Case You Missed It
Stay Current on Resident and Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations

​​As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise throughout the country, it’s important that long term care facilities and communities encourage staff and residents to stay up to date on their vaccination status. The CDC defines up to date as having received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended, when eligible. Most recently, people over 50 are recommended to receive a second booster of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after their first booster. READ MORE
Hiring ‘handcuffs’ would come off under new measure to end CNA training lockouts 

There’s nothing the long-term care industry needs more right now than to get more people into its workforce. A new proposal that modifies nurse aide training lockouts is just what the sector needs, some providers believe. 

“Anything to allow us to get more people into our workforce will certainly be beneficial in our industry,” said Nate Glendening, administrator at Prairie Wind Villa Assisted Living and Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg, KS. “[This] seems like something that is going to allow people to get into our industry easier than the way it has been with these lockouts.” READ MORE
Senators Reintroduce Bill Improving Nursing Home Vetting, Training Options

McKnight’s Senior Living (6/15, Steele Gaivin) reports Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) have reintroduced the Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act, a bill "designed to help nursing homes improve their vetting and training of caregivers to help ensure resident safety." The bill would let nursing homes access the National Practitioner Data Bank, which American Health Care Association President and CEO Mark Parkinson says will help "ensure our nation’s seniors receive high-quality care delivered by highly-trained and dedicated caregivers," and would cut "regulations that bar some nursing homes from conducting training programs for in-house certified nursing assistants for two years after deficiencies such as poor conditions or patient safety violations are discovered." Parkinson added, "in the midst of a historic labor crisis, we need solutions like the Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act to help nursing homes vet and train crucially needed caregivers." 
Education Spotlight
Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course

July 6 - July 19, 2022

This hybrid course is designed to provide you with everything necessary to earn a certificate as an Adult Care Home Operator in the State of Kansas. The class is based on the principles of assisted living as outlined in the KDADS regulation manual and is taught by a variety of presenters that are currently working in the field. The course will be facilitated by Joan Hudson, KCAL Clinical Consultant and Polly Berkley, VP of Operations and Education for KHCA/KCAL. This course provides knowledge and insight on the rules, regulations and responsibilities governing the operation of a state licensed only adult care home. The course fee includes a minimum of 45 hours of instruction, electronic program handout materials (to print if you wish) and a printed Operators manual which will be mailed to the address that you provide when you register. The KDADS registration fee is not included in the fee for this course.
Upcoming Education
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Competency in Multidrug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) for the Infection Preventionist

6/21/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
Webinar: MDS Mastermind Series: Surmounting Survey and Audit Preparedness

6/22/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
FREE Webinar (1.0 CE): Candida auris outbreaks in LTC Communities

6/23/2022 2:00PM-3:00PM
Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course

7/6/2022 - 7/19/2022
Assisted Living FCS, NSA and HSP Lunch and Learn

Topeka, KS
7/15/2022 12:00PM-4:00PM
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