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Tuesday's Message from the President & CEO Mark Parkinson
Breaking Development on Staffing Rule
There has been an interesting development relating to the minimum staffing rule. CMS accidentally posted the minimum staffing study on its website. The study apparently concludes what we have been saying all along. Namely, that it’s not possible to have a one size fits all policy.
An astute reporter from KFF Health News saw the study on the website and downloaded it. They then wrote a story about the study. CMS has since removed the study from its website.
This is interesting and helpful, but it does not mean that CMS will not issue a rule. Earlier Tuesday, I presented at a conference with a CMS official, and she announced that the rule would be issued in the “summer,” and it would be very soon. Jon Blum’s comments in the article suggest that CMS may try to use earlier data points to justify the rule, but it’s going to be quite hard to justify doing that. This should improve our lobbying position on the Hill.
We are still processing all of this, but I wanted you to be aware of this almost unbelievable development.
Sincerely,
Mark Parkinson
President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for AHCA/NCAL membership. Dissemination, distribution or copying the contents of this email beyond this group is strictly prohibited.
CMS Study Falls Short In Effort To Establish Minimum Staffing Levels For Nursing Homes
CMS vows to move forward with staffing proposal ‘soon’ despite ‘inconclusive’ research
Federal officials vowed Tuesday night to issue a nursing home staffing requirement “soon,” despite the premature publication of a federal study that appears to support skilled providers’ objections regarding the feasibility of such a measure. READ MORE
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TOMORROW! SNF and LTC Open Door Forum on August 31
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will host an open door forum on Thursday, August 31 at 1:00 p.m. CT.
Advance registration for this webinar is required.
CMS will provide updates on the following:
- FY 2024 SNF PPS Final Rule
- Introduction and Payment Updates
- SNF Value Based Purchasing updates
- SNF Quality Reporting Program updates
- Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual
- MDS Crossover Rule
- August 2023 Performance Score Reports
- SNF/NH Measures Update
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Nursing Homes Weighing Infection Prevention Measures As COVID-19 Cases Rise
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/29, Towhey) reports, "With no new masking guidance from federal health officials as COVID cases climb, nursing homes are carefully navigating when to require masking and other infection prevention steps to head off outbreaks." The CDC "reported 7,880 nursing home COVID cases as of Aug. 20, adding to an uptick that started in mid-July." A spokeswoman for AHCA/NCAL "told McKnight’s on Monday that the organization encourages the LTC community to use common-sense infection control practices," adding, "Long-term care providers continue to follow CDC guidance and CMS regulations on infection control and prevention, including testing and masking protocols. ... The good news is that we are better equipped to prevent and manage COVID-19 than ever before thanks to life-saving vaccines and treatments."
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
With a rising number of facilities reporting sporadic COVID positives in both staff and residents, I thought it would be a good idea to re-share the CDC “Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic” guidelines. This was posted in a daily update on 8-24-23 in the LTC National IP Forum Members: READ MORE
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Federal Staffing Mandate Would Cost Sector $11.7B Annually, Updated Analysis Shows
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/28, Marselas) reports that regarding the proposed federal minimum staffing mandate, "a standard of 4.1 hours per patient per day could cost the skilled nursing sector $11.7 billion annually, according to an updated analysis by consulting and advisory firm CliftonLarsonAllen." This figure is "up from a projected $11.3 billion in January, and an increase of $1.7 billion in the 13 months since CLA issued its first estimate in mid-2022." The article adds, "The potential cost has been pushed higher by inflation and continued wage pressures, as the current staffing shortage continues to play out nationwide." Moreover, last Wednesday, AHCA "forecast some 446,000 residents would be displaced if a 4.1 standard came into effect."
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KHCA Annual Business Meeting
The Annual Business Meeting, held during the Kansas Health Care Association’s 73rd Annual Convention and Trade Show is scheduled as follows:
Friday, September 29, 2023
10:00- 11:00 AM
Kansas Star Event Center
785 Kansas Star Drive
Mulvane, KS 67110
Please plan to attend.
Click here to view reports as they become available. The member login information is required.
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73rd Annual Convention & Trade Show - September 27 - 29, 2023
Registration is open for the 73rd Annual Convention and Trade Show!
Here’s just a snippet of the educational offerings that are scheduled so far:
- Courageous Leadership – Living a Life of Influence
- Managing Change in Senior Care
- Achieving Great Customer Service
- Child Care in LTC – creating a win/win
- Becoming an AIT Preceptor
- Differentiating Dementias
- Interventions to Better Connect Through Behavioral Expressions
- Ethics: Truth, Transparency and Trust
- Data and Quality Improvement in Assisted Living
- Medicaid Reimbursement Transition to PDPM Effective July 1, 2024
- KCAL Annual meeting with Board Elections
- KHCA Annual meeting
- AL Regulatory Networking
- SNF Regulatory Networking
- Staff Awards Recognition Lunch
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Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.45 Pharmacy Services Requirements
9/12/2023 1:30PM - 3:00PM
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Meaningful Meetings
9/26/2023 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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73rd Annual Convention and Tradeshow
9/27/2023 2:00PM - 9/29/2023 4:00PM
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Wound Champions in the Post-Acute LTC Setting
10/24/2023 8:00AM - 5:00PM
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
We are excited to announce our new AIT Program! Click here for more details.
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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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