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Membership Reminder
As a reminder, the renewal deadline for your KHCA/KCAL membership is March 31st. We strive to give you a highly-valued return on your dues investment, and we look forward to serving you in the year ahead. Don’t miss these important updates on the HCBS Final Rule process.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your membership status, please contact Kristin Plantz kplantz@khca.org.
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TOMORROW! Upcoming Outage During Planned NHSN Database Upgrade
Beginning Friday, March 24th at 8:00 p.m. CT, there will be a planned upgrade to the Secure Access Management Service (SAMS) database. This may potentially impact nursing home users’ ability to submit data into NHSN during the outage window from Friday March 24 - Sunday, March 26. Please make sure you plan submissions accordingly, so your facility is not out of compliance with the CMS weekly reporting requirement.
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CMS tightens guidance for nursing home dialysis providers
Federal officials on Wednesday updated guidance meant to improve the delivery of nursing home dialysis, a service many providers have been adding to attract new residents and improve quality of life for those who need the time-consuming treatments.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued new directions in a 21-page memo to state surveyors, who must inspect both the facilities hosting dialysis services for end-stage renal disease patients and the companies that provide equipment and should be responsible for training staff. Among the additions are stricter requirements for written agreements between dialysis providers and skilled nursing operators, to include emergency plans. READ MORE
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KMAP Web Update
The KMAP website has been updated with General Bulletin 23065 regarding eligibility redetermination.
KanCare Claims Resolution Logs
the KMAP website.
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Revenue Cycle Management Academy Can Help SNFs Stay Paid
In the coming months, federal aid will dwindle as the government and states move toward a post-pandemic normal order of business. As SNFs continue to struggle with sluggish occupancy and workforce challenges, ensuring that every dollar earned for care delivery is retained will be imperative. Click here for more details on AHCA's Revenue Cycle Management Academy.
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Upcoming Education: MDS - RAI Changes Workshop
6/12/2023 9:00AM - 4:00PM
This workshop has been specifically created to review the changes to the RAI manual starting October 1. Line by line coding instructions for new and revised sections. Click here for more details.
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Focus F-Tag of the Week: §483.80 Infection Control- Infection Preventionist
For the next four weeks, AHCA will be focusing on a regulatory focus area for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags.
In the fall of 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued Admin Info: 22-09-ALL which outlines several regulatory focus areas for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags for FY2022 and FY2023. One area of regulatory focus is §483.80 Infection Control, with specific focus on the Infection Preventionist at F882.
F882 states, “The facility must designate one or more individual(s) as the infection preventionist(s) (IP) who are responsible for the facility’s IPCP (Infection Prevention and Control Program). The IP must:
- Have primary professional training in nursing, medical technology, microbiology, epidemiology, or other related field;
- Be qualified by education, training, experience, or certification;
- Work at least part-time at the facility; and
- Have completed specialized training in infection prevention and control.”
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AHCA/NCAL Member Resources on Medicaid Unwinding Now Available
Return to Regular Medicaid Redetermination: Ensuring Resident Medicaid Coverage
Since March 2020, states ceased Medicaid eligibility determinations and have been unable to disenroll any Medicaid beneficiaries from the Medicaid program. The freeze on redeterminations and prohibition on disenrollment were based upon federal statutory requirements states had to meet to receive the increased federal Medicaid funding of 6.2% over the course of the pandemic. Now with the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ending, states are returning to “regular” Medicaid redeterminations schedules.
Why This Matters
States – State Medicaid Agencies have over 87 million redeterminations to conduct before May 2024. Since most states have not conducted redeterminations in over three years, beneficiary information has become out of date (contact information, financial information, etc.) and state agencies have had significant staff turnover and shortages. It is important for state and/or county eligibility units to have some staff familiar with redetermination.
Providers – If a beneficiary loses Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid payments stop, and beneficiaries have very clear protections in federal law for when these breaks occur despite the loss of Medicaid payments. Despite staff turnover in NF and AL business offices, providers need to ensure they have staff members with Medicaid redetermination experience.
AHCA/NCAL has prepared an array of resources on ahcancalED aimed at supporting members to manage significant numbers of Medicaid Redeterminations. Working with partner organizations, AHCA/NCAL has developed three modules and related tools.
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CDC: C. auris spreading at ‘alarming’ rate in U.S. healthcare facilities
Drug-resistant Candida auris, a known threat to nursing homes, has spread rapidly, and a growing number of cases are resistant to first-line treatment, federal researchers report. READ MORE
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Congressional Briefing Stacked with Exceptional Events and Special Guests
Don’t miss out on the informative and valuable events happening at this year's Congressional Briefing, taking place on June 5-6 in the heart of the nation's capital. Check out the complete agenda and make plans to attend. Hear from Politics Editor, Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, who will provide insights on the current political climate and the latest happenings on Capitol Hill.
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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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FREE Webinar: CMS’s new schizophrenia audits: What you need to know NOW
Apr 4, 2023 12:00 PM
New CMS schizophrenia and antipsychotic audits are coming. How can you protect your star rating?
If CMS identifies inaccuracies in MDS coding, the nursing home’s Five-Star rating will be downgraded by one star for six months, creating a significant negative ripple impacting your admissions, your community partnerships, and your facility's reputation among external stakeholders.
Join us for this important webinar to hear industry experts explain the CMS audit plan, its consequences, and how your facility can evaluate and mitigate your risk.
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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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Assisted Living Conference
A full day of education for those working in the Assisted Living, Residential Health Care and Home Plus settings
TOPICS:
- The Magic of Connection – Opening Keynote and Humorist Desi Payne
- Writing a Plan of Correction – Joan Hudson
- Making Life Meaningful – Amy Siple
- Stay in Your Lane – Talking through KS Regulations
- Top Questions the association receives and how to find answers in your Reg Manual – Linda MowBray
- Workplace Resilience through the power of friendship – Amy Siple
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Strategies for Social Services
3/28/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.20 Resident Assessment & §483.21 Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plan Requirements
4/11/2023 1:30PM-3:00PM
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Assisted Living Conference
Lawrence, KS
4/14/2023 8:00AM-4:00PM
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Thriving Therapy Departments
4/25/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Nurse Leadership Conference
6/13/2023 11:00AM - 6/14/2023 4:00PM
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
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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. 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.
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Attention Assisted Living and Home Plus Providers: FCS Refresher
We have frequent requests for FCS refreshers and people who want to attend the FCS section only of the Operators course. We now have it available on demand in a 75 minute webinar. It’s worth 1.5 CE’s on demand.
$20 Member Discount Code: KHCA018
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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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