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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CMS Daily Digest Bulletin
- CMS Releases Revised Guidance for Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program
- MLN Connects Newsletter: Dec 14, 2023
- Spotlight: New Administrative Simplification Exceptions Process Resources
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COVID-19 Deaths Among Nursing Home Patients On The Rise As Vaccination Rates Drop To New Lows, Analysis Finds
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (12/15, Marselas) reports, "Deaths of nursing home patients from COVID-19 climbed as vaccination rates hit new lows last month, according to an updated analysis by the AARP Public Policy Institute and the Scripps Gerontology Center." Using CDC data, "the analysis found that deaths over the four-week period ending Nov. 19 were more than four times higher than those recorded during a four-week period ending June 25." The "analysis reported about 25% of nursing home residents were considered up-to-date on COVID shots, though that figure was based on Nov. 19 reporting." AHCA/NCAL Chief Medical Officer David Gifford said in November, "Long-term care providers are making every effort to encourage residents and staff to get vaccinated, and we are confident we will continue to make progress in the face of cold and flu season." Gifford added, "We need a collective approach to boost vaccine access and uptake, and AHCA/NCAL will continue to seek support of public health officials and the broader health care community."
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A Publication from the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal: The Trumpet
In this issue:
- Winter Holiday Fire Safety
- Firefighter Recruitment & Safety Grants Awarded
- Tom McGaughey Award Announced
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RN Shortage Continues To Eclipse Supply, Report Says
McKnight’s Senior Living (12/14, Gaivin) says, "Almost three years after the start of the pandemic, a shortage of registered nurses continues to eclipse the supply of qualified professionals." A new report (PDF) from ADP Research Institute said, "The US shortage of registered nurses has been called a crisis. Burnout, staff turnover, a growing and aging baby-boomer population, and a lack of educators have contributed to high demand and undersupply, a longstanding problem aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic." Employment among "registered nurses increased 13% over the past five years, which ADPRI noted is more than triple the rate of national employment growth." NCAL "says that 15% of the 1.46 million nursing employees in assisted living communities are RNs."
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New Resources Available: CAM© Video Tutorial
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a video tutorial to assist providers with guidance application and assessment strategies for C1310. Signs and Symptoms of Delirium taken from the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM©). This video tutorial is approximately 14 minutes in length and is designed to provide targeted guidance for accurate coding using a live-action patient/resident scenario. READ MORE
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Veterans Administration Gives Significant Boost to SNF VCA Rates
The Veterans Administration (VA) recently posted updated Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs) rates for participating skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers. This is great news for the profession because the VCA SNF payment rates for short-stay SNF care have increased by approximately 50%, and long-stay veteran care payments have increased by approximately one-third. These rate increases apply retroactively for dates of service beginning October 1, 2023.
As you may know, AHCA has been working collaboratively with the VA and on Capitol Hill for many years to advocate for VCAs, which increase the opportunity for veterans to obtain non-VA extended care from local providers. VCAs help to ensure that our nation’s veterans can remain in their communities or close to loved ones to receive vital and often life-sustaining medical services rather than having to go to a distant VA facility.
VCA agreements also offer a more streamlined and less burdensome participation process for providers. Initially, the VCA rates were not attractive and, in some cases, insufficient to cover the cost of care. Few providers elected to participate, leaving geographic gaps across the country where veterans continued to face challenges accessing nursing home care.
That is why this increase is such good news. Clif and I would like to call attention to two individuals at AHCA who were instrumental in obtaining this win.
First, we want to recognize Dana Ritchie. Dana developed strong relationships and has worked diligently with VA staff, U.S. Senator Hoeven (R-ND) and other key members of Congress, North Dakota State Executive Shelly Peterson, and AHCA members in advancing and securing enactment of the 2018 VA MISSION Act that created the VCA program. She also supported the subsequent rollout. These rate increases would not have occurred without the enactment of the AHCA-endorsed provision that authorized VA provider agreements in the MISSION Act.
We also want to recognize Dan Ciolek who has been the AHCA lead on Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM)-related policy issues for the past several years. The VA reached out to AHCA for insights on identifying payment policy levers within PDPM that could be adjusted to provide more appropriate payments for short- and long-stay veteran care needs within VA budgetary constraints. Working with Dana, Dan provided policy expertise regarding the design of PDPM to assist the VA effort leading to this needed and important VCA rate increase to ensure SNFs are able to provide critical care to our nation’s veterans.
We encourage members with a current VCA provider agreement and those who may be interested in obtaining this agreement to review this additional important information, including VA points of contact. (Please note this content is for AHCA members only and requires a log in to access.) AHCA will also host a member webinar with the VA in early 2024; more information will be available soon.
This has been a great team effort and an important win for our nation’s veterans and the profession. Thank you for your support as we continue in our mission to improve lives by delivering solutions for quality care.
Sincerely,
Mark Parkinson, Clif Porter,
President & CEO SVP of Government Relations
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AHCA Political Action & Involvement Committee Appointment |
KHCA/KCAL State Leader Brett Pu named to serve on the AHCA Political Action & Involvement Committee.
Congratulations, Brett!
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Members Only Nurse Advisory Call & Facility Standards Call
We will not have our Nurse Advisory and Facility Standards call as normally scheduled this month. Below you can still find the latest survey findings from Linda Farrar.
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KHC and KFMC to Partner for the CMS QIN-QIO 13th Scope of Work (SOW) in Kansas
KHC and KFMC are excited to announce a new quality improvement collaboration in Kansas. KHC and KFMC are working together with other health care partners in the region to bid on the CMS QIN-QIO 13th Scope of Work (SOW) in Kansas. READ MORE
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About 97% Of US Seniors Had Telehealth Appointment This Year, Survey Finds
McKnight’s Senior Living (12/13, Dorman) reports that "nearly all seniors in the US, an astonishing 97%, had at least one telehealth appointment this year, a new survey indicates." The data (PDF) from remote platform operator Independa indicate "that telehealth usage among seniors has grown 20% over the past three years, nearly back up to the pandemic-era peak, when in-person options were not available." About "98% of survey respondents said the telehealth visits, which often shaved an hour or more off of their appointment times, improved their relationship with their doctor(s), and a similarly high percentage of seniors are ready to incorporate artificial intelligence into their" health care, the data show.
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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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RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
1/29/2024 8:00AM - 1/31/2024 5:00PM
Increase your knowledge of clinical assessment and care planning, completion of the MDS, the regulations surrounding the RAI/MDS process, and managing the PDPM by attending an AAPACN Resident Assessment Coordinator-Certified (RAC-CT) certification workshop. Having the RAC-CT credential behind your name shows you are a knowledgeable and capable MDS professional. RAC-CT certification is the nationally recognized gold-standard in resident assessment in the long-term care nursing profession. By earning this credential, individuals have shown their expertise in skilled nursing facility prospective payment system and minimum data set (MDS 3.0) assessment. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Customer Service Concepts for the Crew
12/19/23 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Getting Together - Meeting That Work Series: Getting to the Root Cause – Falls and Behavioral Health Meetings
12/20/23 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Preventing Elopement: Strategies for Resident Safety
1/9/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Falls and Accidents
1/16/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Care Plans for SSD's
1/23/24 - 1:00PM-2:30PM
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RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
1/29/2024 8:00AM - 1/31/2024 5:00PM
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Aging Services Day - 2024
2/1/2024 8:30AM - 4:00PM
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
Looking for an AIT Program? Click here for more details on KHCA's Program.
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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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