Capitol Line Weekly Newsletter |
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CAADS and LeadingAge Connecticut's
Annual CTHCPE Provider Conference
This breakfast conference on June 21 at the Aqua Turf Club will include a
DSS CT Home Care Program tor Elders Update
DPH Offers Free Fit Testing Opportunity for Connecticut Nursing Homes
DPH sent out Blast Fax 22-25 to Connecticut nursing homes outlining an opportunity for free fit testing. DPH will be contacting all nursing homes to offer this service through a vendor, Safety Fit, Inc., at no cost and as part of a federal grant to promote infection control in these settings. Participation in this program is not mandatory, but DPH does encourage nursing homes to take advantage of this free service to comply with the requirements of their respiratory protection programs.
OSHA Covid-19 Surveys
On a recent member call, Carol Fronczek from Workers’ Compensation Trust spoke about the OSHA requirements for tracking Covid-19 cases in nursing homes. Here is a summary of some of the information she provided.
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Attached is a COVID-19 log and instructions regarding the requirement that all positive staff cases to be recorded, work related or not, beginning 6/21/2021 for healthcare.
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Attached is OSHA’s presentation on recordability of COVID cases which sheds some light on determining work relatedness.
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The evidenced based guidelines that OSHA has developed which will help to determine where the employee may have gotten the virus. It would take into account any other positive cases in the work environment as part of the analysis.
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The definition of a Privacy Case:
- An injury or illness to the intimate body part or the reproductive system
- An injury or illness resulting from a sexual assault
- Mental illnesses
- HIV infection, hepatitis, or tuberculosis
- Needlestick injuries and cuts from sharp objects that are contaminated with another person's blood or other potentially infectious material
- Other illnesses, if the employee voluntarily requests that his or her name not be entered on the log
ABCMS Photo ID Image Feature
The DPH ABCMS (Applicant Background Check Management System) portal has a new page entitled Verify Identity. They have identified an ongoing issue related to applicants being denied fingerprints at the Connecticut State Police Troop locations because the photo IDs presented don’t match the Fingerprint Authorization Forms that are presented. This affects a relatively small number of applicants but is a major inconvenience for those few. In an effort to make it easier to validate each applicant’s identity, they have added a new optional photo ID image feature to help confirm the accuracy. More information on this feature can be found here.
Surveys for Compliance with Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements
CMS has posted memo QSO-22-17-ALL containing new instructions for surveys for compliance with Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements. CMS previously issued guidance and survey procedures to survey entities for assessing and maintaining compliance with the regulatory requirements for vaccination requiring review as part of initial certification, standard recertification or reaccreditation, and complain surveys. The new guidance changes expectations for performing compliances reviews of the staff vaccination requirements to just during initial, recertification, and responded to specific complaint allegations alleging non-compliances with staff vaccination requirements. These changes come after survey results from over 12,000 providers and suppliers showed a 95% substantial compliance rate.
IRS Increases Standard Mileage Rate in Final Months of 2022
To support taxpayers with the cost of gas, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has increased the standard mileage reimbursement rate halfway through the year for the first time since 2011. Read this article for what you need to know about the changes.
HIPAA Guidance on Audio Only Telehealth Services
HHS issued guidance this week to help providers utilizing audio-only telehealth services to navigate HIPAA compliance. An article on the topic can be found here.
ONC Conducting Phone-Based Survey on Nursing Home and Hospice Health IT
The Office of the National Coordinator, (ONC) for Health Information Technology (HIT) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is conducting a national phone-based survey to better understand the state of health IT use and interoperability among skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and hospice facilities. ONC’s telephone survey is being conducted by IQVIA, a research firm on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. If you are contacted as part of the survey and asked to participate, please take the time to do so as your responses will help inform future HIT policies to help LTPAC providers. These settings have historically been left out of opportunities for funding of health IT and interoperability despite the potential to improve transitions of care between acute-care and post-acute care facilities. The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act (IMPACT Act) of 2014, requires assessment data to be standardized and interoperable allowing for the electronic exchange of data among post-acute care providers and other providers.
Update on “Up to Date” Status
Confusion remains around the definition and uses of “up to date”. Currently, nursing homes are following 2 separate definitions for nursing home operations and NHSN reporting. Read more on these definitions, why they differ, and when to apply each in this LeadingAge article.
County Rates of Transmission Are High or Substantial
Seven of the state's eight counties remain classified as having a high transmission rate and one is now classified as having substantial transmission rate by the CDC. The appropriate CMS and CDC guidance should be followed for these conditions.
DSS Provider Bulletins and Messages
Ziegler: Rebranding Trends Article
This week, Ziegler (a LeadingAge Connecticut Platinum Partner) released a short analysis on rebranding trends in NFP aging services organizations. Organizations are moving away from traditional field branding terms such as “home,” “retirement” or “aging,” and even distancing their brands from overt faith-based references. Five recent examples are discussed, and the deep consideration, changing vision, and full commitment that a branding change requires is emphasized.
Medicare Issues COVID Treatment Public Information
The Medicare Team at CMS shared public information this week, urging consumers to act quickly to test for COVID-19 when they have symptoms and quickly seek therapeutics if they do test positive. Given the confusion about Paxlovid among consumers and the general public, this information may be helpful for LeadingAge members to share with residents, tenants, consumers, patients and staff. The CMS announcement includes a link to this CDC resource. It was updated at the end of April; however, many individuals do not know about it.
HHVBP Team Releases Podcast and Video Reviewing QAPI and Resources
The Home Health Value Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Technical Assistance (TA) Team at CMS has been hard at work producing a wealth of resources, videos, and materials to prepare home health agencies for the expansion of the model starting in January 2023. This week the team released two new learning materials available under “HHVBP Resources”:
- HHVBP Model: Making the Most of HHVBP Resources
- Leadership and Communication—Essential Elements for Quality Improvement ~Lessons Learned from CMS Home Health Quality Initiatives
Election Guidance for Non-Profits
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CMS, CDC and State Covid-19 Links and Resources |
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The NFP HR Compliance Corner
LeadingAge Connecticut's Diamond Partner, NFP, is pleased to provide our members with access to their Human Resource Compliance Corner
Executive and Commissioner Orders-Blast Faxes
A complete listing of Executive and Commissioner Orders can be found
here. A listing of DPH Blast Faxes can be found here. Practitioner and Facility Guidance documents can be found here.
LTC-MAP June Duty Officer
Brian Gudelski
860-207-9270
Back-Up Duty Officer: Andy McGuire
203-648-7116 - Cell
860-390-1949 - Work
Value First GPO: A Resource for Affordable Products and Supplies
Value First is the LeadingAge owned GPO and a trusted resource for your purchasing department. Our contact for Value First is Den Miciletto, Value First Sales Liaison. Mobile 917.370.6518, Office 518.867.8383 ex.160, Fax 518.867.8384
Schedule for Member Calls
Nursing Home Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m.
CCRC/Assisted Living Community Every other Thursday at noon
Nursing Director Tuesdays at Noon
Affordable Housing Third Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Human Resource Second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.
Social Work Second Wednesday of the month 11:30 a.m.
Building Engineering Last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Recreation Second Tuesday of the month at noon
CFO Roundtable June 30 at 9 a.m.
Mission Roundtable TBA
LeadingAge national Monday and Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
The Benefits of Your LeadingAge Connecticut Membership
Please Keep Us Up to Date on Your Major Staffing Changes
In an effort to keep our contact information current with our members and their staff, we request that you notify our office manager, Nurka Carrero, as soon as possible when you have significant staffing changes. Thank you!
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LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Call on Wednesday
LeadingAge will not be hosting a call this Monday (June 20). LeadingAge national offices are closed in observance of Juneteenth. On Wednesday, June 22 Dr. Richard Pitts, Chief Medical Officer at CalOptima will join us to talk about how HCBS providers are working to ensure consumer and staff access to vaccinations, treatments, and other essential services in California. If you have not registered for LeadingAge Monday and Wednesday Update Calls, you can do so here. You can also find previous call recordings here. Note that to access recordings of the calls you need a LeadingAge password. Any staff member of any LeadingAge member organization can set up a password to access previous calls and other “members only” content.
National Coronavirus News, Tools and Resources
Music Licensing 101
Hawaiian luau nights, birthday dinners, and employee parties. When do you need a music license – and how does it all work? LeadingAge has written a new article on the basics of copyright law and music licensing organizations to help members navigate an increasingly complex decision on whether and when to obtain a license.
LeadingAge Meeting with DOL to Address Prevailing Wage Determinations for Foreign Nurses and National Apprenticeships
On June 13, 2022, LeadingAge staff and representatives from AHCA/NCAL met with leaders from the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training (ETA) and the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs (OCIA). Here is an article with more details about this meeting.
REMINDER: LeadingAge to Host Call on Policy Changes to HUD Criminal Background Screening
Register in advance for LeadingAge's June 22 call at 1pm to help provide feedback to HUD about changes to criminal background screening at affordable housing properties.
Life Plan Community Member Network Call
The next LPC Member Network call will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 11:00 am*. This month’s discussion is on the evolution of hospitality in the LPC, and will host a great panel including Jill Vitale-Aussem, President and CEO, Christian Living Communities, Justin Spooner, Senior Vice President, Greystone, and Julie Fenske, Regional Director, Greystone. *Please note the date and time change for this month only. To join, email Dee at [email protected].
New Member Network: Adult Day and HCBS
LeadingAge members have an opportunity to join peers and colleagues with similar interests through LeadingAge Member Networks. National staff members convene and organize the groups, which are open to all provider members. LeadingAge recently launched an Adult Day and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Network for members who provide adult day services, meals, personal care, transportation, and other HCBS. Email Meredith Chillemi or Mollie Gurian with questions and sign up for the network to participate.
Adult Day Spotlight
This article highlights senior living operators considering offering or partnering to provide adult day services for middle-income older adults.
LeadingAge Awarded Grant to Advance Nursing Home Improvements and Reform
Provider Relief Fund Page on LeadingAge Website
LeadingAge has co-located all articles, tools, letters and resources on Provider Relief Funds on a single web page to make it easier for members to find the key dates and information they need. Members can find a link to the page on the Coronavirus Resources page under Provider Resources in the left-hand column.
LeadingAge Member Resources
Get Connected with LeadingAge
LeadingAge offers a variety of ways for members to engage with one another and get involved from listservs and networks to advisory groups, committees and board service. We encourage you to take advantage of your membership and connect with your peers to learn, share and grow. Get connected!
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Annual CTHCPE Provider Conference
Breakfast Conference on June 21 at the Aqua Turf Club
Speakers from DSS will provide a CTHCPE Update.
Navigating the Employee Retention Credit
On June 22 at 2:00 PM ET, the LeadingAge Learning Hub will offer a webinar focused on the nuances of the Employee Retention Credit for aging services providers, including processes and eligibility requirements. The IRS Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a COVID-era alternate source funding opportunity that thus far has received scant attention but could have big implications for aging services providers. LeadingAge members who are eligible may be in a position to receive substantial funds. Navigating the IRS claims and funds retention processes are not without risk of audit. Learn everything you need to maximize funds and protect your organization in the case of an audit. More information and registration details are here.
Defending Your Decisions: Managing Post-Pay Audits
Wednesday, July 13, 9:00 - 11:00am
Presented by Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA, President/CEO, Celtic Consulting
Dementia Symposium featuring National Expert Teepa Snow
Thursday, August 4
SAVE THE DATE!
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CMS Website Resources
National Government Services News
National Government Services shares important Part A information on their website. Click on www.NGSMedicare.com, determine your Medicare contract. On the Provider Specific Portal Home Page, under Latest Part A News Articles click on the View All News Articles link. Note: you may have to accept the CPT Point and Click Agreement in order to access this information.
NGS Medicare Educational Sessions and Training Events Calendar
Visit the National Government Services Web site for details at NGS Medicare.
Medicare University Computer-Based Training Course Listings
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Demand For Nurses Is Urgent in Connecticut. Colleges and Universities Can’t Keep Up
CT Mirror, June 12
CMS Official Confirms Agency Considering Direct Care Spending Minimums for Nursing Homes
McKnight’s, June 13
As Funding Ends, Here’s What You Need to Know About COVID Testing In CT
CT Post, June 14
Starting Wednesday, people looking to get a COVID-19 test through the Yale New Haven Health will need to book an appointment in advance, according to the hospital system. The change comes as federal funding is ending for COVID testing at health care systems, the hospital system said. Testing will still be available to patients, but their insurance will now be billed, according to YNHH.
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