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
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AHCA To Ask CMS To Spread Medicare Reimbursement Cuts Over Three Fiscal Years
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (4/14, O'Connor) reports the American Health Care Association "will ask the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reduce the pain of planned Medicare reimbursement cuts by spreading the reductions over three fiscal years rather than one, McKnight’s has learned." CMS on Monday "announced plans to adjust nursing home Medicare payment rates downward by 4.6% in the next fiscal year to account for unintentional overpayments in the transition to the Patient Driven Payment Model." AHCA "sees spreading the PDPM cuts over three years as a more humane way for operators to deal with the government’s overpayments, especially as many facilities are struggling with pandemic-related drops in occupancy, staffing challenges and higher operating costs." AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "Many nursing homes already face imminent closure."
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
With the Temporary Nurse Aide program coming to an end on September 5, 2022, and after a wonderful NAC call this morning, it may be time to “hone” or develop a position for those who will not continue on as a TNA or CNA in your center. There are many, many tasks that don’t involve “hands-on” care that help residents and take some pressure off your CNAs. Some facilities call that position “Hospitality Aide”, or “Compassionate Partner in Care”. It doesn’t matter what you call them, there is a big need for their services.
“The Hospitality Aide works alongside the nursing department preforming non-nursing, non-direct/hands-on duties pertaining to the comfort and well-being of the patients of the facility.” So what kind of tasks can a non-certified nursing staff do? The list is nearly limitless. READ MORE
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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Bipartisan Bill Removing Barriers to Health Care
~~ Senate Substitute for House Bill 2279 Allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to Provide More Care to Kansans~~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that she signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2279. The bipartisan bill expands access to health care in Kansas by removing barriers, allowing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice independently. READ MORE
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Experts Urge Caution As Nursing Home COVID-19 Deaths Decline
Skilled Nursing News (4/14, Zorn) reports, "While nursing home COVID-19 death rates have plummeted – with just 1,000 nursing home resident and staff deaths reported over the past four weeks – some health care experts don’t think the sector is out of the woods quite yet." Amid the spread of the Omicron subvariant BA.2, "health officials are urging operators to avoid becoming complacent as the next wave may already be here." American Health Care Association Chief Medical Officer David Gifford, MD, MPH, said, "We expect to see this virus have new variants. ... And so we just have to remain vigilant just like we do every year with influenza, and other respiratory viruses." AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "This pandemic is far from over. A surge of cases of the BA.2 variant in Europe threaten a COVID resurgence in the United States … It is clear that we are not out of the woods yet."
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Attention HCBS Providers: KDADS Workforce Incentive Program Update
We have hit the halfway point in our Workforce Incentive Program. A reminder that applications are due by April 29th. If you have not already, we urge you to fill out and send in your applications. If the applications are received by next Friday April 22nd, Witt O’Brien’s staff will have time to work with you to make sure your application is complete and correct to maximize your potential bonus opportunities. The application can be found at https://kdads.ks.gov/funding-opportunities.
Thank you for your continued feedback and collaboration. Please continue to refer to the website as we will be updating FAQs frequently. If you cannot find an answer to your questions online, please do not hesitate to email us at KDADS.workforce@ks.gov.
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AHCA To Provide Infection Control Training Through Online Platform
Apply for a 100% paid for scholarship from KHCA/KCAL here.
Provider Magazine (4/1, Kaldy, 151K) reports, "Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Project Firstline, AHCA/NCAL will help lead a ripple effect with" infection prevention and control training and education "that will provide engaging, innovative, and effective infection control training for frontline workers and others." AHCA/NCAL Clinical and Regulatory Services Director Pamela Truscott said, "The overarching goal is to improve infection prevention and control practices in long term care using an umbrella approach and an understanding that everyone plays a key role." AHCA Director of the Center for Health Policy Evaluation in LTC and AHCA Chief Medical Officer David Gifford said, "The training will be multimedia in nature, with some reading materials but also innovative videos, Power Point presentations with voiceover, and other offerings." Provider Magazine adds, "In the upcoming months, all the training will be available on the ahcancaled platform and available to everyone, not just AHCA/NCAL members."
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KMAP Web Updates
The KMAP website has been updated with the following updates:
- General Bulletin 22066 regarding important KMMS updates
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The document, ‘Workaround to Print or Save an Eligibility Verification as a PDF,’ has been added to the Helpful Information section on the KMAP website.
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Future of the CNA: Nursing Home Reform Efforts, Staffing Crisis Drive Changes in Key Role
Recent calls for nursing home reform and actions from regulators and lawmakers have drawn renewed attention to the role that certified nursing assistants currently play in care centers – and how their role could evolve. READ MORE
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LTSS Webinar: Caregiver Support – April 27
Caregiving can be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausting. All caregivers require support, regardless of who they care for and whether they are paid for that work. This webinar will help us better understand how to ensure caregivers’ needs are met.
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Vote Now! AHCA Documentary Honored as Telly Award Finalist
“Closed Doors, Open Hearts: Nursing Homes and COVID-19” has been shortlisted as part of the 43rd Annual People’s Telly Awards! VOTE NOW to help move us to the next round!
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Speaking face-to-face with your Members of Congress is the most effective way to advocate for the kind of quality care you want to provide in your centers.
AHCA/NCAL’s Congressional Briefing offers you that invaluable opportunity. Come to Washington, D.C. this June, and ask for what you need and want. You’ll get an update on the latest happenings in long term and post-acute care, make an effective and immediate plan of action with your colleagues, and then meet with your Representatives and their staff on Capitol Hill. It’s a priceless chance to use your voice, and one that you can’t afford to pass up. Click here for more details.
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8 Week Webinar Series: MDS Mastermind Insights for MDS Coding and Reimbursement Accuracy
Weekly webinars starting on May 4 and ending on June 22 from
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Members $352
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Improving Resident Relationships in Long-Term Care (IRRL)
The IRRL program is a federally funded, evidence-based intervention developed by Cornell University to prevent resident-to-resident aggression (RRA) in long-term care settings. This program educates staff on how to recognize and mitigate RRA. It empowers staff to help create a safer community for residents and reduce stressful events in the workplace.
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Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Competency in Infectious Diseases Common in Post-Acute Care Settings
4/19/22 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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Webinar: Restorative Nursing Series: ROM, Bed Mobility, Transfers, Ambulation, Dressing & Grooming, Amputation & Prosthetic Care (Part 3)
4/21/22 from 1:00PM - 2:15PM
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2022 Spring Joint Provider Surveyor Training
4/27/22 from 9:00 - 4:30 (Topeka)
4/28/22 from 9:00 - 4:30 (Wichita/Virtual)
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8 Week Webinar Series: MDS Mastermind Insights for MDS Coding and Reimbursement Accuracy
5/4/22 through 6/22/22 from 1:30PM - 2:30PM
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The AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit is Back! Registration Now Open!
Quality Summit will be held in Kissimmee, FL, May 16-18.
This year’s AHCA/NCAL Quality Summit delivers three days of education programs and awesome networking opportunities with like-minded, quality professionals in long term and post-acute care. The Quality Summit offers 30 sessions topics focused on leadership, recruitment and retention, infection prevention and PDPM.
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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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