Mark Parkinson In Modern Healthcare: Long-Term Care Needs Long-Term Solutions
In case you missed it, Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), discusses the current crises that the long term care industry is facing and calls for action from Congress in a new op-ed published in Modern Healthcare.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated workforce and economic challenges within the industry. While long term care providers have received some financial assistance through the Provider Relief Fund, more is needed.
The labor shortage is the worst it’s ever been. Today, nearly every long term care facility in the country is facing a staffing shortage, as thousands of jobs remain vacant. Meanwhile, more than half of nursing homes and assisted living communities are operating at a loss due to chronic Medicaid underfunding and the ongoing costs to fight the pandemic. Approximately 1,800 nursing homes could permanently close without government assistance.
Solving these crises requires the public sector to take a forward-thinking approach. Parkinson calls on lawmakers to take advantage of the Build Back Better agenda and pass long-term solutions that will recruit more health care heroes to serve vulnerable seniors.
To read the full op-ed, click HERE.
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AHCA/NCAL 2021 Fall CEO Conference
The Conference offers a unique opportunity to network with other leaders in the field while taking time to explore cutting-edge business strategies that will help you tackle today’s challenges. Topics covered will include:
- Maintaining Census
- Population Health Management
- Staffing
- Lessons learned from COVID-19
Who Will Be There?
Executive leaders of national and regional multifacilities including owners, chief executive officers, corporate and executive staff, chief financial officers, purchasing officers, and other decision-makers and influencers as determined by AHCA and NCAL. Also invited will be members of AHCA/NCAL’s Independent Owner Council. While this conference is designed for multifacility c-level executives and owners in our sector, we highly advise as we evolve in the pandemic not only for multifacility owner-operators to attend but all owner and c-suite operators to make this trek to Colorado Springs.
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Population Health Management Summit
Population Health and Value-Based Care: Where Do We Go from Here?
Location: JW Marriott Washington, D.C.
Date(s): December 6-7, 2021
Come hear from nationally renowned speakers, innovators, and industry leaders on the exciting opportunities in population health and value-based care. Learn how to lead and grow, so you don’t get left behind.
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AHCA/NCAL Summary of HRSA Phase 4 and Rural Documentation Webinar
Last week, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) held its third Phase 4 and Rural distribution webinar focusing on documentation needed for the single application. HRSA also released detailed guidance on submitting Phase 3 Reconsideration Applications.
Highlights from the October 13 webinar include:
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HRSA emphasis on, “Failure to submit the correct supporting documentation may result in HRSA deeming your application ineligible for payment.”
- Review of five scenarios which health care providers have tax requirements, use financial documentation, and/or have organizational structures which fall outside of their standard application documentation requirements.
As part of this discussion, HRSA noted guidance on parent-subsidiary relationships contained in its reporting guidance. Additionally, in an October 15 transmittal, HRSA outlined Phase 3 Reconsideration Application key steps. Phase 3 Reconsideration detail is located here.
AHCA/NCAL has also provided a summary of last week's webinar for members to easily reference.
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HHS Extends COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Through January 2022
Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The new expiration date for the COVID-19 PHE is now set for mid-January 2022. Any decision to allow the PHE to lapse would come with 60 days of notice.
Telehealth flexibilities, enhanced FMAP, SNF-specific waivers (3-Day Stay, Spell of Illness) and other COVID-19 related Medicare, Medicaid, and regulatory waivers remain in place.
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ATTENTION ASSISTED LIVING PROVIDERS!
The Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) is seeking informal public comments as it continues to revise the assisted living regulations in COMAR 10.07.14. We are reviewing the changes and will engage in the process. We urge our members and the broader members of the sector to review the proposed changes and top over any feedback to HFAM and participate in the public informal comment process. Three more public meetings will be held to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to propose changes to the regulation. Specific sections of the regulation will be discussed at the first, second, and third meetings. The fourth meeting will include comments on all sections. These live on-line meetings are open to the public and are not being held in-person. You can pre-register via this AL registration form and view the draft of the proposed regulations that will serve as the starting point of these discussions.
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September 15, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., COMAR 10.07.14.00 - 10.07.14.21 (completed)
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October 19, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., COMAR 10.07.14.22 – 10.07.14.37 (completed)
- November 16, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., COMAR 10.07.14.38 – 10.07.14.64
- December 16, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., all sections
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Maryland Department of Health:
Resource Guide for SNFs
Reminder: Additional Resources for the Third Dose COVID-19 Vaccine
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) created resource guides for SNFs that are looking for additional resources for the third dose COVID-19 shots. The resource guides are broken down by region, so please review carefully to find resources for your center.
Carroll, Howard, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, and Harford Counties
Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties
Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert Counties
Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties
Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's Counties
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Free Online or In-Person Infection Control Training Now Available!
The Maryland Department of Health Project Firstline learning management system (NextThought) is now available as a free service for all Maryland healthcare workers, including Environmental Services staff.
A total of seven CDC-prepared courses are available as self-guided modules. Materials for the introductory infection control course are also provided in a format for group training sessions with a facilitator. Additional content for group training sessions will be released in October 2021.
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Health Care Cybersecurity Symposium
November 8, 2021
3PM – 5PM ET
Virtual
Managing Risk Within the Health Care Supply Chain
Registration is free.
Join us as we reflect on the past and plan for the future! Hear from industry leaders locally and nationally as they share perspectives on the changing cybersecurity landscape, supply chain vulnerabilities, and strategic matters, technical and cultural, including best practices for securing the health care supply chain.
Presentations will highlight the need to secure protected health information more than ever with the increasing use of telehealth, web-connected medical devices, and other third-parties, including impacts and lessons learned from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Questions
Contact Eva Lenoir
410-764-337
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Building a Culture of Safety in Long-Term Care
VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL EVENT
December 3, 2021 | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
This educational activity has been approved for 3.25 total
participant hours for Long Term Care Administrators.
OVERVIEW
This virtual half-day program will provide participants with a foundational program on how to build a culture of safety for long-term care. This program will provide participants with strategies to engage their staff in a culture of change and provide tools to build a strong safety culture in their organization. Participants will come away with ideas to implement the following week.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
Identify basic tools for building a safety culture
Describe the importance of measurement, feedback, and
education for performance improvement
List strategies to include the patient and family in safety
and quality improvement initiatives
Identify at least three strategies to employ for
improvement change in their organization
Registration:
MPSC Members: $30
Non-Members: $50
Learn more at:
Questions?
410.540.9210
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Did you miss an update?
Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
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