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NOW AVAILABLE! The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3!
Phase 3 of The Long Term Care Survey manual includes all the updates from CMS' three-phase implementation.
Survey guidance for Phase 3 was released in June 2022. Surveyors began using this guidance on October 24, 2022.
Learn more about updates to this important resource and place your order today!
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Elder Justice Act, SNF Resident Rights & AL Resident Rights Posters
Do you need an Elder Justice Act or Resident Rights Poster for your Facility? We’re here for you. $15 for one, $25 for two or $35 for three. E-mail Kristin Plantz your needs!
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Joint Provider Surveyor Training - Topeka & Wichita
Don’t miss this Fall’s Joint Provider Surveyor Training with special opening Keynote from Jerald Cosey on “What’s Next? The Power of COVID Conviction to Advance Healthcare Leadership”
In cooperation with Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, Kansas Adult Care Executives and LeadingAge Kansas
3 Ways to Attend:
November 9 – In Person in Topeka
November 10 – In person in Wichita
November 10 – Live Virtual
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Biden Administration Announces New Regulations For Low-Performing Nursing Homes
Bloomberg Law (10/21, Pugh, Subscription Publication, 4K) reported, "Low-performing nursing homes that don’t show improvement in their quality of care will face tougher penalties, including the possible loss of federal funding, under guidelines announced Friday by the Biden administration." These "new regulations are designed to make it tougher on nursing homes that enter the agency’s Special Focus Facility program." American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living President and CEO Mark Parkinson "said in a statement that the administration’s rhetoric was ‘degrading’ to nursing home staff." Parkinson "added that ‘escalating citations and penalties’ haven’t helped problem facilities correct deficiencies ‘nor prevented other facilities from becoming chronic poor performers.’" AHCA/NCAL "proposed a five-step-process to correct chronic, poor performing nursing homes. ‘The survey system needs to adopt this process to make meaningful changes for the residents in these facilities,’ Parkinson said."
Skilled Nursing News (10/21, Stulick) reported Parkinson also said, "Residents are not victims of the nursing home industry. Too many were victims of a vicious virus that targets the elderly as well as terrible public policy decisions – made by both parties – that failed to support and prioritize our most vulnerable. ... We hope to work with the administration to fully appreciate the role of nursing homes in our nation’s health care system, the dedication that our caregivers have to their residents, and the need for policy that pushes improvement, not punishment."
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (10/24, Bush) reports that after the regulations were announced, Special Committee on Aging Chair Bob Casey (D-PA), "the key Senate leader who instigated the crackdown said he wanted even more oversight – as well as more funding – for providers." The article adds, "AHCA/NCAL and other advocates agree with Casey, saying much of the answer lies in financial resources to fill staffing gaps that has had a domino effect of staff burnout, higher nurse agency rates...and lower quality of care." Parkinson also "echoed the view that many providers have: that state surveyors act as police rather than partners, as punishers and not helpers."
A second McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (10/21, Marselas) story reported CMS "said it will toughen requirements for completion of the program, increase enforcement actions and lengthen the monitoring period for facilities that enter the program." The agency "also called on states to consider a facility’s staffing level in determining which facilities enter the SFF Program."
Click here to view Friday's KHCA/KCAL Daily Update that included details from AHCA.
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CMS Daily Digest Bulletin
- Biden-Harris Administration Strengthens Oversight of Nation’s Poorest-Performing Nursing Homes
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The next CMS Employers Open Door Forum scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2022, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
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Abuse, drug citations likely to jump with new nursing home rules live
After a multi-year saga, surveyors today begin enforcing compliance with new Requirements of Participation guidance. It includes hundreds of pages of challenging changes to abuse reporting and investigation, resident rights and substance abuse care standards, as well as at least one provision that providers fear could tie their hands in tricky drug-abuse scenarios.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made significant revisions to clarify types of abuse, what surveyors need to regulate and what they don’t, and how quickly states should respond to complaints of abuse potentially resulting in Immediate Jeopardy.
Those changes might trigger more citations for resident-to-resident altercations, several providers and compliance, experts have warned. READ MORE
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Nursing Scholarship Application
The Kansas Health Care Association's Nursing Advisory Committee (NAC) is pleased to sponsor the Joan Hamel Nursing Education Scholarship Program. KHCA will award up to $2,000 in scholarship grants to KHCA or KCAL member facility employees who wish to further their education.
Click here for details on the Infection Preventionist Specialized Training Scholarship.
Click here for details on the general scholarship that includes Gero Nurse Prep, IV Certification and Nursing School ($500 per semester).
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Well…what seemed like an eternity to get ready, October 24th is next Monday, so everyone should be ready. Check out the revised Critical Element Pathways, review your Facility Assessment, review your policies & procedures, put your staff education documentation in organized, convenient order for review, make sure your Elder Justice poster is up in the breakroom, review your Admission Agreements for required changes…etc., etc., etc. You have received all kinds of in-services and education about the revisions. You are ready. And oh, by the way, you faced new CDC/CMS guidance for COVID. I could not be prouder of you and your resilience along with your continued passion. READ MORE
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Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #10 Top Citation: F758 Free from Unnecessary Psychotropic Meds/PRN Use
11/1/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Joint Provider Surveyor Training
11/9/2022 8:30AM-4:00PM (Topeka)
11/10/2022 8:30AM-4:00PM (Wichita & Virtual)
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DON Boot Camp
11/14 - 11/17/2022 8:00AM-4:00PM
Olathe, KS
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Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Ship-shape Cleaning & Disinfection for the Infection Preventionist
11/15/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. Post Survey Activities: Developing Effective Plan of Correction & IDR
12/6/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Astute Survey Preparedness & Application of Infection Control Regulatory Requirements
12/20/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Looking for options for required Staff In-Service?
KHCA’s online learning platform is BACK! We’ve loaded the in-services for SNF and for AL first. Many more education sessions to come.
Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
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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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