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Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Office of Inspector General

Division of Health Care

The Kentucky Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program

The purpose of the CMP Fund Program is to identify meaningful quality improvement initiatives that can be implemented to increase positive outcomes for certified nursing facility (CNF) residents. Civil money penalties (CMP) are imposed by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) when the department finds long term care facilities to be in violation of CMS requirements of participation. Kentucky receives a portion of the collected funds to be used to support projects that protect or improve the quality of care or quality of life of CNF residents. CMP funds must be used to support activities that benefit CNF residents. Permitted uses of CMP funds include, but are not limited to:

• Support and protection of residents of a facility that closes or is decertified
• Projects that support resident and family councils in assuring quality care in facilities
• Projects that develop and disseminate information that is directly useful to CNF residents and their families in becoming knowledgeable about their rights, care processes, and other information useful to a resident
• Training to improve quality of care
• Activities to improve quality of life

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Free Training for Nursing Facility Staff

The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) was established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It provides mental health and substance use training, customized technical assistance and resources to certified Medicare and Medicaid nursing facility staff who care for residents with a variety of behavioral health conditions at absolutely no cost.

Check out resources today!

www.nursinghomebehavioralhealth.org

SNF QRP Listening Session: Possible Expansion of MDS Data Submission to All SNF Patients Regardless of Payer

CMS has published a summary report on the virtual SNF QRP Listening Session that was held on August 29, 2023 by Acumen, LLC. This session was held to seek feedback from administration and management staff, software vendors, and clinical staff on the possible expansion of collection and submission of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment data used for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) to include all residents receiving short-term skilled care in a SNF regardless of their payer. The report presents a summary of the presentation for each discussion topic, stakeholder input for each of the discussion questions, and key findings. The discussion topics included identifying the resident population for expanded MDS data collection and submission, identifying the expanded resident population on the MDS, potential burden associated with expanding MDS data collection and submission, and the impact of changes in level of care on MDS data collection and submission. The summary report also includes the feedback received via email to the dedicated email inbox, SNF-Listening-Session-2023@acumenllc.com, that was open for 30 days following the event. The report can be found on the SNF QRP Measures and Technical Information page.

CMS Developed Global Public Health Emergency (PHE)

Grants Funds Still Available

CMS developed three applications to facilitate visitation and prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. These one-time grants will continue beyond the PHE to allow all certified nursing facilities access to the products. CNFs can apply for all three programs for up to a total of $9,000.

Communicative Technology: Up to $3,000 for tablets and accessories to allow residents to communicate remotely with family and friends

Visitation I: Up to $3,000 for in-person visitation aids such as outdoor shelters and clear dividers

Visitation II: Up to $3,000 for portable fans and/or room air cleaners with HEPA filters (H-13, -14)

Want the funds but too busy for paperwork? We can help!

Contact Lena Mullins-Datko, CMP Grants Administrator, for assistance with applications at: Lena.mullinsdatko@ky.gov, CMPapplication_OIG@ky.gov, or (502) 564-5771.

For more details on the Kentucky CMP Reinvestment Fund and applications visit the Civil Money Penalty Funds - Cabinet for Health and Family Services website or contact Lena Mullins-Datko.

Division of Health Care Contact Information

Central Office

Carrie Storms, Director

Marissia Izlar, Assistant Director

Andrea Willhite, Assistant Director

275 E. Main St., 5E-A Frankfort, KY 40621

Phone: 502-564-7963

Fax: 502-564-6546

Western Enforcement Branch

Terri Gipson, Regional Program Manager

Shelley Singleton, Human Services Program Branch Manager

901 B South Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Phone: 270-889-6052

Fax: 270-889-6089

Northern Enforcement Branch

Patricia Hinson, Regional Program Manager

Carmen Ferguson, Human Services Program Branch Manager

L & N Building 10-W, 908 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203

Phone: 502-595-4958

Fax: 502-595-4540

Southern Enforcement Branch

Tammy Ricks, Regional Program Manager

Casey Shelley, Human Services Program Branch Manager

116 Commerce Ave., London, KY 40744

Phone: 606-330-2030

Fax: 606-330-2054

Eastern Enforcement Branch

Gae Vanlandingham, Regional Program Manager

Will Hendrickson, Human Services Program Branch Manager

455 Park Place, Suite 120A, Lexington, KY 40511

Phone: 859-246-2301

Fax: 859-246-2307

Kentucky's Top 10 Citations

for Nursing Homes

Health Care

Life Safety Code

Emergency Preparedness

Informal Appeal of Survey Findings

Every Long Term Care provider has the right to both an informal and formal appeal process following receipt of a completed Form CMS-2567. There are two informal appeal processes: Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and Independent IDR (IIDR).

Interested in Serving on an IDR Panel?

Kentucky requires one member of the IDR panel to be "a person currently engaged in the provision of Long Term Care services who has no affiliation with the provider disputing a deficiency." Typically, a Long Term Care Administrator is on each IDR panel. There is no payment or travel reimbursement for an Administrator serving on a panel. Administrators will be rotated. If a Long Term Care Administrator is interested in serving on a panel, a confidentiality statement must be signed prior to the participation in the first IDR panel.

Please complete the Confidentiality Agreement and submit via email, fax, or mail to:

All certified nursing facilities are required to sign up for ePOC. Please be diligent about keeping your account and password up to date. All correspondence is handled in the ePOC system, including the plan of correction. Furthermore, if there is a change in administrator, it is incumbent upon the facility to update the system.

Click here for the CMS security rules.

If your facility is not yet signed up, see the Account Setup instructions.

Not sure if your facility has any ePOC accounts, or have other questions? E-mail ePOC.Support@ky.gov or contact Zakary Carter, ASPEN Coordinator, at Zakary.Carter@ky.gov.

Which Branch is Serving You? 

To provide the highest level of service, the Division of Health Care operates through four regional offices. Knowing the appropriate Branch to contact with questions and concerns will ensure you receive maximum service in minimum time. Review links below for detailed information.

Regional Map

Contact Information 

LTC Facility Self-Reported

Incidents & Complaints

Email addresses were established for communications regarding LTC Facility Self-Reported Incidents and for use by residents and the general public to report possible violations of regulatory requirements. Click Here for the email addresses and additional contact information. 

Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Office of Inspector General

Division of Health Care 

DHC Leadership Team:

David T. Lovely

Acting Inspector General

Tricia Steward

Executive Advisor

Carrie Storms

Director

Marissia Izlar

Assistant Director

Andrea Willhite

Assistant Director