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/dailyupdates
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Kansas Attorney General Candidate Roundtable Forum on Health Care
Last night, July 7, 2022 KHCA/KCAL co-sponsored a candidate forum for individuals running for Kansas Attorney General. The event was held at Topeka Country Club and was well attended by members of several health care associations. Originally scheduled to attend were candidates Kris Kobach (R), Kelly Warren (R), Chris Mann (D) and Tony Mattivi (R). Chris Mann became ill with Covid-19 on July 5th and had to cancel. He did however, provide a written statement. At 3:30pm on the afternoon of the event, a representative from Kris Kobach’s office informed us that Kobach had another meeting scheduled and would be unable to attend our event. He too, provided a written statement.
Candidates Tony Mattivi and Senator Kelly Warren took turns answering questions that the sponsoring health care associations put forth. Each was limited to a 90 second response and again took turns being the first to field a question. Some of the sample questions included
- The explosion in the number of health care staffing agencies, and their continued lack of government oversight, during the pandemic has pushed many in long-term care to the brink of closure and presented challenges for all of the health care industry. As attorney general, how will you protect health care consumers and the Medicaid program from potential price gouging and questionable business practices that have been an issue through the last couple of years?
- Seniors in Kansas continue to be targets for exploitation and abuse, whether from scammers, powers of attorney, caretakers and their own friends and family. Elder abuse often goes unreported or uninvestigated. As attorney general how will your office increase protections for seniors and ensure that elder abuse and financial exploitation cases are better investigated and prosecuted?
- Sometimes consolidations are necessary to maintain access to healthcare for Kansans. Tell us your thoughts on mergers and acquisitions and how you view competitive markets and competition in the healthcare sector.
- We continue to face serious staffing shortages and financial challenges in health care, and new government regulations and mandates only exacerbate those challenges. As attorney general, how will you protect Kansas from new government intrusions that do nothing to expand quality and access to care?
Those in attendance found the information valuable and informative. The candidates made very positive comments about the attendance and the depth of the topics covered.
Below is a link to the recording that you can download. If the app asks you to sign in, just click “download” and it will begin.
Below is the contact information for the two candidates who attended, should you have questions or wish to thank them for their interest in long-term care.
Tony Mattivi
3118 SW Muirfield Ct.
Topeka, KS 66614
Kellie Warren
14505 Falmouth St.
Leawood, KS 66224
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KHCA/KCAL members Charisse and Clint Arndt (owner/operator Sunflower Care Homes Emporia & Baldwin) speak with Attorney General Candidate Senator Kelly Warren as others look on. |
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Attorney General candidates Senator Kelly Warren and Tony Mattivi. |
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The Long Term Care Survey manual, Phase 3 is now available for pre-order!
Order your copy today for September delivery.*
Phase 3 of The Long Term Care Survey manual includes all the updates from CMS' three-phase implementation.
Survey guidance for Phase 3 was released in June 2022. Surveyors will begin using this guidance on October 24, 2022.
Save money by ordering through KHCA!
Learn more about updates to this important resource and place your order today! E-mail Jennafer Sumner with desired quantity.
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
We have had many questions about guidance for continuing screening. This week’s update will be the information Linda received from Pam Truscott, Director, Clinical and Regulatory Services for AHCA. She sent Pam a follow up question of: “Would you take this as permission to stop temps?” READ MORE
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Staffing Shortages Changing SNF Infection Prevention Practices
Skilled Nursing News (7/7, Zorn) reports the role infection preventionists "play in day-to-day operations for skilled nursing facilities is one of the many lessons operators have learned over the course of COVID." As "staffing shortages continue to hurt the industry, operators have had to get creative with how they fill the position and comply with industry standards." CMS outlined "new requirements for IPs in its updated guidance to surveyors for nursing homes to participate in Medicare and Medicaid released last week," and although "the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is pleased to see CMS acknowledge that many staff play important roles in infection prevention and control...the guidance does not change the fact that most often infection preventionists in nursing homes are nurses and the industry is in the midst of a nationwide nursing shortage." AHCA/NCAL said, "Our members have been eager for CMS to release the interpretive guidance for this infection preventionist requirement that took effect three years ago."
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2022 Staff Recognition Program Nomination
The 2022 Staff Recognition Program is here again and this is a way for you to honor your staff and volunteers. Our yearly awards ceremony is just a small way of honoring some of the great men and women who care for the elders of our great state! The time taken from your busy schedules to fill out this nomination is very much appreciated.
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CMS Reemphasizes State Surveyors Not Required To Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (7/7, Berklan) reports CMS "has held audiences with skilled nursing providers, made presentations and entertained comments in recent months to assure operators that regulatory actions are being done with best intentions." However, "there’s one area that remains a particularly sore spot with nursing home operators, and that point was re-emphasized at the recent NADONA annual meeting in New Orleans." According to CMS Division of Nursing Homes Director Evan Shulman, "state surveyors do not have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter any nursing home."
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Webinar: How Are You Feeling? Mastering Emotional Intelligence
7/13/2022
2pm - 3:30pm
Have you ever wished that you could take back something you said in anger or frustration? Do you accept criticism with grace or become defensive? Does the stress in your life cause you to act impulsively? Emotional intelligence is all about being the master of your own behavior. More than knowing the right time or place for a conversation, emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor and control your emotions to achieve improved communication and social interactions. This session offers strategies and resources for supporting a culture of heightened self-awareness and the development of skills to improve interpersonal communication, teamwork, and successful mediation of conflict.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the content and core elements of emotional intelligence (EI);
- Describe the ways in which mastering EI will improve morale, social, and work-related interactions; and
- Create effective education and training practices to support the development of EI as a cornerstone of the organization’s culture
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Webinar: How Are You Feeling? Mastering Emotional Intelligence
7/13/22 2:00PM-3:30PM
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Joint Provider Fire Marshal Training - Topeka
7/13/22 8:00AM-5:00PM
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Joint Provider Fire Marshal Training - Wichita/Livestream
7/14/22 8:00AM-5:00PM
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Assisted Living FCS, NSA and HSP Lunch and Learn
Topeka, KS
7/15/2022 12:00PM-4:00PM
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Webinar: The Proficient Infection Preventionist Series: Adept Antibiotic Stewardship for the Infection Preventionist
7/19/2022 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Documentation for Social Services
7/26/2022 2:00PM-3:15PM
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Dynamic DON
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.
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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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