January 25, 2022
KHCA/KCAL is committed to providing our members with important updates. Below is a list of the most recent information. Please visit our website for a list of complete updates. www.khca.org/covid-19-resources
The Latest News
KHCA/KCAL President/CEO Update from 1/24/22

Click here if you missed yesterday's President/CEO Update.
New State Health Officer

Kansas Department of Health and Environment has named Dr. Joan Duwve as the Acting State Health Officer, a promotion from being Deputy State Health Officer.
 
The agency has been roiled since the outbreak of COVID-19 and responses to it including vaccinations and masking sought by former Secretary Lee Norman who left the agency last year amid inter-administration tension.
 
Acting Secretary of Health and Environment Janet Stanek made the appointment of Duwve, who joined the agency in 2020 to lead its COVID-19 testing strategy division. “Her time at KDHE coupled with her extensive history as a physician and public health official makes her the best choice for this role,” Stanek said.
Resident Review Level II NF and NFMH Training

This meetings is for nursing facilities and nursing facilities for mental health to learn how the PASRR process for the Level II works, and how to complete our forms.
 
This training is the 4th Friday of every month at 2:00pm
 
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
+1 785-414-8630,,571013906#  United States, Topeka
Phone Conference ID: 571 013 906#
Reminder! National Quality Award Applications Due This Thursday, January 27

The deadline to submit all applications is by 7 p.m. CST Thursday, January 27.

Don't wait. Continue to work on your applications in the Portal and submit early to avoid delays. 

Submit your application here!
In Case You Missed It
Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

I hope you all were able to listen to the AHCA webinar this week about Implementing the CMS Vaccine Mandate. I know, I know, you have heard enough and now you just need the guidances to stay the same long enough to get them implemented. But I want to just review a few key points in case you haven’t heard the webinar or the recording of the webinar. The link to the webinar can be found here, and I would strongly encourage you to take the time to watch/listen to it. READ MORE
Is COVID-19 Waste Considered a Bio Hazard?
 
This question was brought up in today’s facility standards call. We have clarified with KDHE Senior Epidemiologist Justin Blanding, MPH.
 
Medical waste (trash) coming from healthcare facilities treating COVID-2019 patients is no different than waste coming from facilities without COVID-19 patients. CDC’s guidance states that management of laundry, food service utensils, and medical waste should be performed in accordance with routine procedures. There is no evidence to suggest that facility waste needs any additional disinfection. More guidance about environmental infection control is available in section 7 of CDC’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and your Medicaid Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for more details.
COVID-19: Vaccine Access in Long-term Care Settings
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As a reminder, through enforcement discretion, CMS will allow Medicare-enrolled immunizers, including but not limited to pharmacies working with the U.S., to bill directly and get direct reimbursement from the Medicare program for vaccinating Medicare skilled nursing facility residents. Find Medicare billing and payment information. READ MORE
The AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit is Back! Registration Now Open!

Quality Summit will be held in Kissimmee, FL, May 16-18.
Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality for the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Lee A. Fleisher, MD, is the opening keynote speaker. 

Click here for more details.
Education Spotlight
ICD-10 Coding Workshop (in person)

3/29 - 3/30/2022

Diagnosis coding accuracy is paramount to appropriate payment under PDPM, as ICD-10 Diagnosis codes & other patient characteristics are used as basis for classification in determining MCR payment. The 5-day MDS establishes the PDPM payment category for the entire Medicare stay which is why it is so important to have good processes in place for establishing the principal diagnosis and having information to support coding all active diagnosis prior to the 5-day assessment reference date.

This program will include information regarding the Official ICD-10 Coding Guidelines, best practices for accurate ICD-10-CM code assignment, how to avoid common coding mistakes, and the importance of principal diagnosis identification.
Upcoming Education
Virtual Adult Care Home Operators Course

2/9-2/22/2022
8 Week Webinar Series: Winning the Fall Prevention Battle

Every Wednesday Starting February 2 and Ending March 23, 2022
1:30PM - 2:30PM
Webinar: Survey Top 10 Citation Series - Survey Success! Avoiding Top Citations. #1 Top Citation: F880 Infection Control & F884 NHSN Reporting

2/1/2022 1:30PM - 2:30PM
Focus on Dementia Care (3-part webinar series)

2/10/22, 2/17/22, 2/24/22 1:00PM - 2:15PM
Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Developing an Exceptional Infection Control & Prevention Program

2/15/2022 1:30PM - 2:30PM
ICD-10 Coding Workshop (in person)

3/29 - 3/30/2022
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