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. |
|
|
CMS Call on Emergency Preparedness on September 27
CMS is hosting a virtual listening session with individual health care staff on emergency preparedness on Tuesday, September 27 at 12 PM Central. Space is limited so registration should be limited to those who plan to provide input and the number of registrants per organization should be limited.
CMS is looking to gather information from individual health care staff on emergency preparedness. The input and lessons-learned from this session will be used to evaluate CMS regulations regarding emergency preparedness for certain health care providers.
Prior to the call, attendees are encouraged to review the following rules as background:
|
|
Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Let’s review some areas that require some attention related to the new Phase 3 (and 2) Rules of Participation. Here is a PARTIAL “to do” list for your review:
Start with review of your Facility Assessment to ensure you have all services and diagnoses listed that you provide or may consider providing. Be especially aware of including Trauma-Informed Care and Behavioral Health including Substance Use Disorder(s). Consider how many residents you currently have that are addicted to opioids. While we are discussing SUD, make sure you have provided and have documentation of competency that your staff are aware of the symptoms of SUD. READ MORE
|
|
KDHE Webinar follow-up: New Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
Thank you to those who attended the KDHE Webinar: New Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) Guidance for Long-term Care and Skilled Nursing Facilities. For attendees, those who registered but were unable to attend, and any others who may have had an interest in this topic, we would like to provide the following link and password to the video recording of the presentation as well as additional resources.
Passcode: K^=*2pi5
Several Resources:
If you have any questions, please contact the HAI/AR Program
HAI/AR Program Contact Information
HAI/AR Program Main Line: 785-296-4167
|
|
A bipartisan bill would require nursing homes to report their medical directors’ information to CMS, and CMS to publish it on the Care Compare tool. READ MORE
|
|
WE ARE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM CONVENTION! What are you waiting for?
𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟳𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄?
We're looking forward to seeing everyone at the Kansas Star Event Center later this month. Will you be joining us? Click the links for all the details this event has to offer! Or click on the brochure image for more details.
|
|
AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) is Open
September 15 - November 15
Submit your ITA in the Quality Award Portal between September 15 and November 15 to receive an automatic discount on the overall application fee when you submit your 2023 application.
We encourage applicants who plan to apply for a Quality Award to submit an ITA by logging into the Quality Award Portal before the deadline on November 15, 2022.
Applying for a National Quality Award provides a framework that can be used to prepare for and make critical improvements, and serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels.
|
|
Our website has a new look!
We've updated our website! Please let us know if you have any questions or have trouble finding anything.
|
|
Clarification on CMS Expectations of QIOs
From the desk of Holly Harmon, Sr. Vice President, Quality, Regulatory & Clinical Services - American Health Care Association
We have heard from a few state affiliates about recent concerning QIO interactions with member facilities and made prompt outreach to CMS leadership to address the concerns and to clarify CMS intended role for QIOs.
Here are the takeaways from our communication with CMS yesterday:
- CMS will be reinforcing to all QIOs the need for appropriate, supportive communication, in addition to requesting that each QIO send CMS a copy of the communication templates used when offering technical assistance, so CMS can review and make corrections if necessary.
- CMS has committed to including concerns AHCA has raised around low-value activities (paper processing) to their discussion with the QIOs and explore QIO actions in this space to make the necessary improvements.
- CMS leadership is committed to having the QIOs focus on high value activities, that provide the kind of assistance nursing homes need, and would directly benefit from in caring for residents.
-
The overall intent of the QIO referral program, quality improvement activities are directed from an improvement, assistive standpoint and are not enforcement-based. There are no CMS penalties associated when a provider declines technical assistance from the QIO. If a nursing home has been identified from CMS review of the data as potentially being able to benefit from QIO assistance, CMS refers that nursing home to the QIO. The QIO then contacts the nursing home to offer assistance.
-
There are no CMS requirements for nursing homes to submit an action plan. If a nursing home accepts QIO assistance, then the QIO conducts a root cause analysis of the quality gaps, and helps the nursing home create an action plan for improvement. It is a joint effort. The QIO reports the start of the quality improvement work into a CMS database. CMS then requires the QIO to upload the action plan into our database within 30 days for monitoring purposes. There is no penalty for the nursing home if that doesn’t occur.
- CMS' database tracks QIO outreach and ongoing work with nursing homes, including pausing or terminating the work for any reason. The nursing home declination data is not reported anywhere but CMS does use the information to work with the QIOs on effective outreach and support techniques and to understand the reasons why a nursing home would not avail of free, supportive technical assistance.
Please let Courtney Bishnoi or me know if you experience inconsistencies with what is outlined above. We encourage facilities to engage with the QIO when beneficial. We will continue to work with CMS to further improve how the QIOs are supporting what facilities need for assistance.
|
|
New nursing home staffing headache? CMS and GAO agree new requirements needed for infection preventionists
First came the federal requirement that every nursing home must have an infection control preventionist on staff. Now, a government watchdog says that minimum training requirements should be established for those vital clinicians — and nursing homes’ primary regulatory agency agrees.
The Government Accountability Office made three recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Wednesday to improve infection control practices in nursing homes. CMS agreed on the IP training but was less enthusiastic about two other suggestions. READ MORE
|
|
HHS Region 7 Virtual Office Hours
HHS Region 7 Virtual Office Hours
October 5, 2022
9:00 am - 9:45am CT
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 7 invites you to the HHS Region 7 Virtual Office Hours on Wednesday, October 5, 9:00 am - 9:45am CT. The Virtual Office Hours will provide partners and stakeholders the networking platform to engage with HHS leadership and subject matter experts to get answers to program and resource questions, request technical assistance and training, and share critical surveillance about emergent local, state, and regional healthcare issues/trends. Among the agencies that are scheduled to be in attendance are the Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Community Living, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They will be providing a few program updates, followed by a Q&A session.
To register for the office hours, go here.
|
|
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!
|
|
VOTE NOW! AHCA/NCAL's Mark Parkinson a Finalist for Modern Healthcare's Most Influential People
Modern Healthcare recently published the finalists for its annual listing of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.
Among this year's list of finalists includes AHCA/NCAL's Mark Parkinson. He has received this recognition in previous years which continues to elevate the voice of AHCA/NCAL.
Voting is open to the public and members are encouraged to vote before the deadline on September 27, 2022.
|
|
The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3 is now available for pre-order!
Order your copy today for October delivery.*
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 will begin using this guidance on October 24, 2022.
Save money by ordering through KHCA!
Learn more about updates to this important resource and place your order today! E-mail Jennafer Sumner with desired quantity.
|
|
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Equipping Staff: Infection Control Focused Training & Competency Assessments
9/20/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Webinar: Dynamic DON Series: Leadership & Management
9/21/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Webinar: Unpacking the RoP Interpretive Guidance: LTC Implementation Essentials Session 3: Nursing Staffing and Payroll Based Journal and Arbitration Requirements
9/22/2022 1:30PM-3:00PM
|
|
Webinar: Unpacking the RoP Interpretive Guidance: LTC Implementation Essentials Session 4:QAPI, Infection Control; Physical Environment Requirements
9/29/2022 1:30PM-3:00PM
|
|
Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS October 12, 2022
10/19/2022 - 11/1/2022
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
