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. |
|
|
Member Spotlight: Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Rossville
Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is an 81-bed skilled nursing facility located at 600 E Perry in Rossville. They are owned by Recover Care and Jessie Bird is their Administrator.
All things CHRISTMAS are happening at Rossville Healthcare and Rehab! Staff and residents enjoyed stocking making, Christmas light cruising, cookie contests, lighted Christmas parades, eggnog sippin’, and of course Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Santa!
|
|
A Special Holiday Message from LaShuan Bethea
As we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, we must continue to do our part to protect each other from influenza, RSV, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses. LaShuan Bethea, Executive Director at the National Center for Assisted Living, highlights several simple ways to keep our residents, families, and ourselves safe in this special message - such as washing your hands frequently and getting your flu shot and COVID-19 bivalent booster.
|
|
Travel Nurses Across US Pushing Back Against Pay Cuts
NBC News (12/28, Lee) reports, "The boom in travel nursing during Covid exposed a practice that has existed since the industry’s birth 50 years ago, according to experts." Nurses "found themselves...with their salaries slashed at renewal time, and only then grasped the wiggle room in their signed contracts, which were really ‘at-will’ work agreements." However, "the sheer number of nurses working travel jobs, and the difference between what they thought was promised and what they pocketed, has led to a substantial legal pushback by travel nurses around the country on the issue." In "the travel nurse industry, hospitals have the leverage to push the agencies for pay cuts when their demand dips, said" Wanderly Digital Health and Innovation Vice President Robert Longyear. And "on top of the nurse’s agreed salary, the hospitals are also paying the agencies commissions that can reach 40%, according to a spokesperson for the American Health Care Association." READ MORE
|
|
The CDC has provided additional guidance and clarification regarding the December 2022 NHSN Influenza Vaccination Data Reporting through NHSN. The CDC is aware that there is some confusion regarding LTC reporting of influenza vaccination data through NHSN.
|
|
Flu Decreasing In Many Parts Of US, CDC Says
The AP (12/23, Stobbe) reported, "Flu is decreasing in many parts of the U.S. after an alarmingly early and strong start to the season." According to data from the CDC, "the number of flu hospital admissions fell for the second week in a row" and "the percentage of doctor’s office visits due to fever and other flu-like symptoms has dropped for three weeks in a row."
CNN (12/23, McPhillips) reported, "The CDC estimates that there have been at least 18 million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths from flu so far this season."
|
|
SAVE THE DATE: National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call on Thursday January 5, 2023 at 2pm Central Time
Please join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday January 5, 2023 at 3:00 pm ET for a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call. Long-term care providers, facility staff and resident advocates are encouraged to attend. This event is open to the public; registration is required.
|
|
Governor Kelly Announces Kansas State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen to Retire
Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced that Kansas State Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen will retire from the position in January 2023 after serving in the role for 11 years. Jorgensen will temporarily stay with the agency as Deputy Fire Marshal to help the new State Fire Marshal transition into the role. READ MORE
|
|
A Message from the President & CEO Mark Parkinson
CONGRESS PASSES 2023 BUDGET
SNFs Left Alone; Wind Down of Enhanced FMAP to States
Congress passed on December 22nd the FY 2023 budget, preventing government shutdown. The 4,000-plus page budget includes two areas in which I want to share an update due to the impact on skilled nursing and assisted living providers.
-
SNFs and ALs have been left alone. There were attempts to include some of the onerous SNF regulatory provisions that Congress considered in mid-2021. We have been successful in thwarting those attempts in this legislation. We still have a battle on our hands with CMS, but the Congressional threat is close to over. There is nothing negative here.
-
The budget phases down the additional federal resources that states have been getting for Medicaid during the pandemic. This is the enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Until now, states have been getting an additional 6.2% FMAP. The bill phases out the enhancement during 2023:
- From April to June, the increased FMAP would be 5%.
- From July to September, it would be 2.5%.
- From October to December, it would be 1.5%.
- On December 31, 2023, the enhanced FMAP ends entirely.
In order to maintain the ability to draw down the enhanced FMAP in 2023, states must take certain steps towards redeterminations for beneficiaries to ensure continued Medicaid eligibility and, therefore, Medicaid payments to providers.
The phase down of the enhanced FMAP is both good and bad news for the states. Currently, the enhancement is tied to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The prevailing thought has been that the PHE will end on April 11, which would mean the enhanced FMAP would go away all at once at the end of that quarter. With passage of this budget, a portion of it will continue through 2023. On the other hand, it is possible that HHS will keep the PHE going beyond April 11. If that’s the case, this is less money to the states.
There are states that continue to have enhancements tied to the PHE, and this should not impact those states. But as states receive less federal Medicaid dollars, it will be increasingly difficult to keep the state funds flowing. Of note, the 3-day stay waiver is not affected and remains tied to the PHE.
I’ve said it before, but I am truly thankful for everything you do and the amazing care you provide for the residents. We will continue to fight for you in D.C. in 2023. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
|
|
Mark Parkinson
President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL
|
|
Mission Possible Series - SNF Department Head Briefing - New 12-month Series Starts January 24th!
This monthly series will address essential functions, quality care and department-specific management functions for department heads with sessions specific for Administrators, DONs, Housekeeping, Social Services, Activities, Dietary, Maintenance and Therapy. Topics will include department-specific considerations for infection control, survey preparedness, role in meetings, IDT systems integration, MDS supportive documentation, care planning, driving QMs, employee satisfaction and customer service. This series is ideal for new or seasoned department heads with recordings available for ongoing access on-demand to these essential lessons on the building blocks of SNF/LTC operational success. Save 20% if you sign up for the whole series. Click here for more details.
|
|
Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.10 Resident Rights Requirements
1/10/2023 1:30PM-3:00PM
|
|
Webinar: 5-Star Work Plan A to Z: 5-Star Overview and Health Inspection Domain
1/18/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Department Details for the DON
1/24/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Webinar: 5-Star Work Plan A to Z: 5-Star Staffing Rating
1/25/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
MDS Workshop
Feb 7-8 in Olathe AND two full days of Virtual Training March 1 and March 8.
|
|
Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course
2/15/2023 9am 2/28/2023 3pm
|
|
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. The SNF in-service on Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation has been updated to reflect Phase 3 information.
Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
|
|
Mark Your Calendar for these 2023 Dates! |
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
