June 12, 2023
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The Latest News
Members Only Nurse Advisory Call & Facility Standards Call

We will not have our Nurse Advisory and Facility Standards call as normally scheduled this month. We hope you are joining us in Wichita at the Nurse Leadership Conference instead! Below you can still find the latest survey findings from Linda Farrar.
Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.25 Quality of Care Requirements

6/13/2023 1:30PM - 3:00PM

Click here for more details.
THIS WEEK: KCAL District 1 Round Table

Thursday, June 15, 2023
1:30PM - 3:00PM
Mission Chateau Assisted Living
4100 W 85th Street
Prairie Village, KS 66206
(Enter on the North Side)
Located on the west side of Mission Road, a block south of Corinth Square.

Assisted Living Round Table with Kansas Center for Assisted Living Board Members and KHCA/KCAL President/CEO Linda MowBray

Includes all Assisted Living, Home Plus, and Residential Health Care Communities in Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte Counties.

If you plan to attend this meeting, please RSVP to Teresa Keating by emailing tkeating@khca.org. Please indicate your name, what community you are with, and a phone number where you can be reached. You will then be sent a calendar invite.
In Case You Missed It
KDADS Posts FY24 HCBS Rates

Please click here for a list of the HCBS rates across all waivers that will go into effect July 1, 2023.
Focus MDS Update of the Week
Since their release on April 3, 2023, the final MDS Item Sets version 1.18.11v2 and the draft MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual version 1.18.11 were updated. For the next few weeks, AHCA will be focusing on a different section to highlight changes and what members need to know.

Changes to Section B
Since their release on April 3, 2023, MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft RAI guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections. Changes to section B include: 
  • Incorporation of the Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADES).
  • Health Literacy, which allows for standardized data collection across all health care settings. 

AHCA has created an MDS Section B resource document to help providers understand the changes. The information in the resource document outlines key changes to MDS Section B, Coding Instructions/RAI Guidelines for each item, and Actions to Consider for implementation across a facility.

It is important that facilities develop a training plan to ensure all staff impacted by the changes are well versed in them. 

Additional Resources:

Please email regulatory@ahca.org with any questions.
Supreme Court Upholds Resident Right to Sue Publicly Owned SNFs

In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday morning ruled that nursing home residents and their families can sue publicly owned nursing home facilities under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act. READ MORE

CMS Urging Hospitals To Revamp SNF Discharge Process

Skilled Nursing News (6/7, Stulick) reports, "As hospital advocates criticize low reimbursements to nursing homes and home health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is bearing down on hospitals to revamp their discharge process when releasing patients to SNFs." The agency, "citing areas of concern related to missing or inaccurate patient information upon discharge...is requiring that hospitals have an effective planning process for this transition in care." In a memo, "CMS suggested hospitals review several resources to improve discharge policies and procedures, including a ‘re-engineered’ discharge toolkit, collaborating with SNFs to standardize a process, and conduct case reviews of previous discharges to improve outcomes of future transitions in care." The American Hospital Association "submitted a letter this week to CMS on the SNF proposed payment rule, calling for higher reimbursements to SNFs." AHA’s "recommendations fall in line with suggestions from the" AHCA/NCAL "to rethink how the payment rule is calculated." 
AHCA/NCAL To Present 2023 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award To Two Honorees

HealthLeaders Media (6/8, 118K) reports that during AHCA/NCAL’s "Annual Congressional Briefing event this week, the organizations will present an advocacy award to two honorees." HMG Health care Government Relations Director Leticia Caballero and Marquis Limited Founder and President and Tryko Partners’ Health care Division Principal/Partner Norman Rokeach "will be recognized as recipients of the 2023 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award." This "award is given to AHCA/NCAL members who work directly to educate members of Congress about the issues and needs of long-term and post-acute care and patients, and how to advance quality care." AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "I applaud all of these providers for taking this important first step in their quality journey. ... The work that they have accomplished lays the groundwork to continue to improve the lives of the individuals who live and work in long-term care." 
Upcoming Education
Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Helps and Hints for Housekeeping

6/27/2023 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Click here for more details.
6 Week Series: Restorative Nursing Excellence: Revitalizing Programs and Restoring Function After COVID-19 

Every Thursday from June 22-July 27 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.30 Physician Services & §483.35 Nursing Service Requirements

7/11/2023 1:30PM - 3:00PM

Click here for more details.
Adult Care Home Operators Course

7/12/2023 9:00AM - 7/24/2023 10:00AM

Click here for more details.
Administrator in Training (AIT) Program

We are excited to announce our new AIT Program! Click here for more details.

Questions? Email Teresa Keating at tkeating@khca.org
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