Capitol Line Weekly Newsletter |
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Nursing Home June Temporary Rate Payment: Attestation Required
The attestation document for the 10% temporary June Medicaid rate increase for nursing homes is now available on the DSS website. The June temporary rate increase payment is funded through $10 million of federal ARPA funding and therefore an attestation is required for nursing home providers to receive the lump sum payment. Nursing homes will need to complete and submit to DSS the attestation document and a short period cost report. Payment will be made once the completed documents are received.
DSS Increases Select HCBS Rates by 5.2%
Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Social Services, in response to the increase in the minimum wage, is increasing rates by 5.2% for the following waiver service providers:
• Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE)
• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
• Personal Care Assistance (PCA)
• Mental Health
• Autism
An update to the fee schedule will be posted on the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program Web site with an effective date of July 1, 2022. More information can be found here.
July 2022 Updates to Nursing Home 5 Star Ratings for Staff
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates nursing home quality using a star system and makes public this rating on its Care Compare website. The rating system is calculated based on ratings in three areas, inspections, staffing and 15 quality measures.
Currently the staffing rating is based on two measures, RN and total nurse staffing hours per resident day (HPRD). CMS recently added four new staffing measures to the calculation of the staffing star rating on for the July 2022 refresh including:
- Total nurse (registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse, and nurse aide) staffing hours per resident per day on weekends;
- Total nurse staff turnover within a given year;
- RN turnover within a given year; and
- Number of administrators who have left the nursing home within a given year.
Unlike the current methodology of plotting RN and total nurse staffing hours per resident day on a grid to determine the rating, the new calculation will be based on a point system. Each of the six measures will be converted into points based on a facility’s ranking compared to all other facilities in the country. The points for all six measures will then be tallied, and a staffing star rating will be assigned. A separate RN rating will not be calculated or reported.
Another change, unlike the current methodology that adds a star to the overall rating if the staffing rating is four or five stars and is greater than the health inspection rating, the methodology that will be used at the July refresh will only add a star to the overall rating if the staffing rating is five stars.
CMS posted a fact sheet that summarizes the methodology changes that will be used for July ratings. Details on how ratings will be calculated can be found in the
These changes will be incorporated into the Quality Metrics Five-Star Analysis Reports following the July refresh and are expected to be distributed to members in mid-August.
A Fresh Look at Caregiving: Direct Care Workforce Solutions Webinar
As the long-term care sector faces a crisis in the supply of direct care workers, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to think differently about the compensation, skills development, mobility and value placed on this workforce which provides critical services to a diverse and complex population. Join the Long-Term Quality Alliance on Tuesday, July 26 at 2 p.m. for a solutions-focused interactive panel discussion of promising practices and areas for stakeholder collaboration. LeadingAge’s Senior Vice President of Research Robyn Stone will join speakers Carol Raphael of Manatt, Carrie Amero with AARP, and Joe MacBeth with NADSP. Learn more and register.
CDC Updates Guidance on MDROs in Nursing Homes
CDC has released updated guidance for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in nursing homes to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This updated guidance expands the use of EBP to include any residents of a nursing home with an indwelling medical device or wound, as well as residents with known infection or colonization with an MDRO. These updated recommendations are meant to protect nursing home residents and staff from spreading MDROs, which can cause serious and hard to treat infections, while avoiding restrictions on resident activities or a need for private rooms, unlike with Contact Precautions. Recall that newly released RoPs guidance on infection control includes a section on MDROs.
NIC Intra-Quarterly Occupancy and Market Fundamentals Reports: Good News
The National Investment Center (NIC) released its latest Intra-Quarterly Report this week, and overall occupancy for both IL and AL improved this quarter over last, to 83.9% and 78.8% respectively. In a Complimentary Market Fundamentals Report, NIC MAP Vision data also showed a promising improvement in nursing home occupancy over last quarter.
Diverse Elders Coalition Website Training Resources
Diverse Elders has launched a new website featuring updated information on their trainings, including the Caring for Those Who Care curriculum, which is a resource for aging professionals to learn about the unique needs of diverse family caregivers. The training curriculum will equip professionals with insights into the lived experiences of the following populations: African American and Black Caregivers, American Indian and Alaska Native Caregivers, Chinese American and Korean American Caregivers, Hispanic and Latino Caregivers, LGBTQ+ Caregivers, and Southeast Asian American Caregivers.
American College of Physicians Recommends LTC Financing Reform
In a position paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Ryan Crowley, senior associate for health policy at the American College of Physicians described the aging of the population, the need for long-term services and supports (LTSS) and called for financing reform to support the increased number of people who will be needing help.
Medicaid Provider Bulletins
Temporary Nurse Aide Status
DPH has clarified the rules regarding the use of Temporary Nurse Aides (TNA) in the state. As you know, in April the state of Connecticut had extended the state’s TNA program to June 30, 2022, and DPH has now clarified that no new TNA can be hired after that date. However, currently employed TNAs are subject to the CMS regulations which allow TNAs to work and transition to full CNAs up to October 6, 2022.
County Rates of Transmission Are High or Substantial
The state's eight counties remain classified as having either a high transmission rate or substantial transmission rate by the CDC. The appropriate CMS and CDC guidance should be followed for these conditions
Election Guidance for Non-Profits
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CMS, CDC and State Covid-19 Links and Resources |
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The NFP HR Compliance Corner
LeadingAge Connecticut's Diamond Partner, NFP, is pleased to provide our members with access to their Human Resource Compliance Corner
Executive and Commissioner Orders-Blast Faxes
A complete listing of Executive and Commissioner Orders can be found
here. A listing of DPH Blast Faxes can be found here. Practitioner and Facility Guidance documents can be found here.
LTC-MAP July Duty Officers
Dave Bouchard (July 1 - 15)
860-207-9270
CT LTC-MAP Duty Officer: Vinnie DeSanti (July 16 - 31)
860-207-9270
Back-Up Duty Officer: Andy McGuire
(On vacation July 24 - July 31)
Cell - 203-648-7116
Office - 860-390-1949
Back-Up Duty Officer: Jim Garrow
(Covering July 24 - July 31)
Cell - 860-944-2803
Office - 860-793-8600
Value First GPO: A Resource for Affordable Products and Supplies
Value First is the LeadingAge owned GPO and a trusted resource for your purchasing department. Our contact for Value First is Den Miciletto, Value First Sales Liaison. Mobile 917.370.6518, Office 518.867.8383 ex.160, Fax 518.867.8384
Schedule for Member Calls
Nursing Home Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m.
CCRC/Assisted Living Community The first Thursday of the month at noon
Nursing Director Tuesdays at Noon
Affordable Housing Third Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Human Resource Second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.
Social Work Second Wednesday of the month 11:30 a.m.
Building Engineering Last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Recreation Second Tuesday of the month at noon
CFO Roundtable TBA
Mission Roundtable TBA
LeadingAge national Monday and Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
The Benefits of Your LeadingAge Connecticut Membership
Please Keep Us Up to Date on Your Staffing Changes
In an effort to keep our contact information current with our members and their staff, we request that you notify our office manager, Nurka Carrero, as soon as possible when you have significant staffing changes. Thank you!
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LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Calls on Monday and Wednesday
If you have not registered for LeadingAge Monday and Wednesday 3:30 pm Update Calls, you can do so here. You can also find previous call recordings here. Note that to access recordings of the calls you need a LeadingAge password. Any staff member of any LeadingAge member organization can set up a password to access previous calls and other “members only” content.
National Coronavirus News, Tools and Resources
White House Summit on the American Rescue Plan
More than $40 Billion Committed to Strengthening Our Workforce
On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, LeadingAge participated virtually in the “White House Summit on the American Rescue Plan and the Workforce” hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris. It was announced at the event how over $40 Billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund investments have been committed to strengthening our workforce. The Summit highlighted ARP investments across the areas of “care and public health, expanding access to the workforce for underserved populations and expanding the workforce.” A White House Fact Sheet provides the official Summit highlights and an overview of the initiatives that panelist highlighted during their remarks and here is an article on the White House Summit.
Action Needed Now to Shore Up Aging Services Workforce: Findings from LeadingAge Snap Poll
The workforce situation for aging services providers across the continuum is not improving. This was the top finding in a recent snap poll of LeadingAge members. Read more about the snap poll results and policy opportunities to address the aging services workforce shortage here.
National Annual Meeting Registration
Life Plan Community July Member Network Meeting
Mark your calendars for the next LPC Member Network meeting which will be Thursday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m. with a focus on the workforce crisis and policy work being done by LeadingAge. You can sign up by emailing Dee Pekruhn at [email protected] if you’re not already a regular attendee. All are welcome.
Larry Minnix National Leadership Academy Applications Open
Developing your own leadership style and approach requires self-reflection and uncovering your unique leadership attributes. Embark on this journey alongside your aging services peers through the 2023 LeadingAge Leadership Academy. Applications are due August 1 and the program begins in February 2023. Learn more and start your application.
Provider Relief Fund Page on LeadingAge Website
LeadingAge has co-located all articles, tools, letters and resources on Provider Relief Funds on a single web page to make it easier for members to find the key dates and information they need. Members can find a link to the page on the Coronavirus Resources page under Provider Resources in the left-hand column.
LeadingAge Member Resources
Get Connected with LeadingAge
LeadingAge offers a variety of ways for members to engage with one another and get involved from listservs and networks to advisory groups, committees and board service. We encourage you to take advantage of your membership and connect with your peers to learn, share and grow. Get connected!
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Best RAI/MDS Practices and Insights
Wednesday, July 27 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
The LeadingAge Learning Hub is offering a webinar, “PDPM, OBRA, and Case-Mix: Considerations for Using the MDS” on Wednesday, July 27 from 2:00 – 3:30 PM. Experts Alicia Cantinieri and Melanie Tribe-Scott both of Zimmet Healthcare Services Group, will discuss the admission and information gathering process for accurate assessment and a quality plan of care; consider best practices for interdisciplinary team collaboration; identify reimbursement drivers and care planning triggers; and suggest how to organize RAI processes and options to ensure compliance with CMS guidelines.
The Dynamic DON Webinar Series
Eight Consecutive Wednesdays beginning August 3
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
This 8-week webinar series runs August-September 2022 and focuses on skill
building for serving effectively as the Director of Nursing with emphasis on
effective leadership and staff engagement, nursing operations and systems
of care for common conditions treated in the LTC setting.
Annual Dementia Symposium with Teepa Snow
Focus: Fall Prevention and Communication Strategies
Presented by National Dementia Expert: Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Thursday, August 4
9:00am – 3:30pm
Program will be at the Aqua Turf Club
Everyday Assistive Technology Series with AARP CT and Oak Hill
AARP CT and the New England Assistive Technology Center at Oak Hill are hosting a series of events on the topic of “Everyday Assistive Technology.” This six-part series will provide attendees an opportunity to learn more about how widely available devices and new technologies can help older adults and people with disabilities live safely and independently at home. All events will take place at Oak Hill, 33 Coventry Street in Hartford, and will include a tour of the Smart Home on Wheels, a mobile demonstration center where individuals and groups can learn more about how technology can support independent living. Events are free, but registration is required. More information can be found here.
Now Available: June LeadingAge Webinar Recordings
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Home Health PEPPER Reports Now Available
CMS released fourth quarter calendar year 2021 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) for home health agencies. These reports summarize provider-specific data for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper payments. Agencies can use the data to support internal auditing and monitoring activities. Visit the Distribution webpage to find out how to get your report and visit the PEPPER Resources webpage to review user's guides, recorded training sessions, FAQs, and examples of how other providers use the report.
July 19 National Stakeholder Call with CMS Administrator
On this July 19, 1 – 2pm call, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, CMS Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer Jon Blum, and other members of the CMS leadership team will provide an update on CMS’ recent accomplishments and how [its] cross-cutting initiatives are advancing CMS’ Strategic Plan. This call will provide an opportunity to learn more about how stakeholders can partner with CMS to help implement its Strategic Plan and key initiatives. RSVP here.
CMS Website Resources
National Government Services News
National Government Services shares important Part A information on their website. Click on www.NGSMedicare.com, determine your Medicare contract. On the Provider Specific Portal Home Page, under Latest Part A News Articles click on the View All News Articles link. Note: you may have to accept the CPT Point and Click Agreement in order to access this information.
NGS Medicare Educational Sessions and Training Events Calendar
Visit the National Government Services Web site for details at NGS Medicare.
Medicare University Computer-Based Training Course Listings
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A Quarter of the 151 State House Races Will Go Unchallenged: ‘This Year’s Number Is Unusually High’
CT Insider, July 11
Twenty five percent of upcoming races for the state House of Representatives will be uncontested, with 14 Republicans and two dozen Democrats currently running without opposition, according to a Hearst Connecticut Media analysis of campaign filings with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
Long Covid May Be Long Tail of Risk for Insurers
WSJ, July 11
Insurers are used to dealing with the unexpected, but trying to figure out the Covid-19 pandemic’s lasting effects might be especially challenging.
CCRC Caregiver Staff Turnover Tops 50 Percent in Some Areas
McKnight’s, July 13
CMS Opens Up on Approach to Developing Minimum Staffing Requirements
McKnight’s, July 14
‘Politics Got in the Way of Public Health’: Experts Question If CT Is Losing Battle Against COVID
CT Insider, July 15
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, officials in Connecticut and elsewhere spoke proudly of “following the science” — of making decisions based less on what was easy or convenient and more on what would protect the most people from a spreading pathogen. But more than two years into the crisis, some experts in virology, epidemiology and medical ethics say the opposite has happened, that top officials have made decisions primarily based on political expedience, with little regard for the science.
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