Capitol Line Weekly Newsletter |
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Announcing our tradeshow vendor superlative winners: The Nurse Network, Preferred Therapy Solutions, and Glendale Dining Services!
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HCBS Value Based Payment Requirements Updated
DSS Home and Community Based Waiver Providers and Home Health Care Providers participating in the DSS Value Based Payment (VBP) initiative may receive another 1% rate increase on certain prior period claims. However, to receive the second VBP, providers already enrolled in the initiative must sign the Use Case with Connie and participate in the Trauma Informed Care Racial Equity Lens training as described below - and please note that the training requirement has been modified to a lower level of required staff participation:
- Signing the Use Case: Sign the Use Case with Connecticut’s Health Information Exchange (HIE)(Connie) by no later than June 1, 2022.
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NEW Trauma Informed Care Racial Equity Lens training: Supervisors and Managers must complete the Cultural Humility training and 25% of non-management staff must complete Health Literacy and Self-Management training by no later than June 15, 2022.
HCBS members may be interested in the June 21 HCBS Provider Conference where DSS will be presenting. More information can be found here.
Blast Fax Regarding Possible Payment Scam
DPH has issued Blast Fax 2022-23 informing nursing homes that a few facilities have reported receiving phone messages from a caller claiming to be associated with FLIS. Apparently, this anonymous caller is leaving messages asking for payment on past due licensing and/or PPM fees. The Blast Fax warns that this is a possible scam.
Update on Exercise Exemption for Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Nursing Homes
As noted last week, CMS updated previously-issued guidance to reconfirm that the actual natural or man-made emergency exemption continues to apply to COVID-19. More information on how this applies to nursing homes is available here.
Update on Exercise Exemption for Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Home Health, Hospice and PACE
CMS updated previously-issued guidance to confirm that the actual natural or man-made emergency exemption continues to apply to COVID-19. Read this LeadingAge article on how the changed guidance will impact home and community-based providers like home health, hospice and PACE programs.
Home Health and Hospice Updated Blanket Waiver Charts
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has continued to update waivers to support providers during the Public Health Emergency. LeadingAge has updated charts of what waivers have been made permanent, ended, or remain in place for both home health and hospice. Read the full article here.
All Eight County Rates of Transmission Remain High
All of the state's eight counties currently remain classified as having high transmission rates by the CDC. The appropriate CMS and CDC guidance should be followed for these conditions.
FAQs from April 14 Nursing Home Acuity Rate Stakeholder Webinar Now Posted
In April, representatives from Myers and Stauffer LLC presented a stakeholder update on the nursing home acuity rate system implementation. The FAQs from that presentation are now posted on the DSS Acuity Based Reimbursement website.
Nursing Home Rate Letters
DSS has confirmed that nursing homes will receive a rate letter this July regarding their July 1, 2022 base rate. The rate letters will be issued the same as last year – via email, the portal and posted to the DSS webpage, and they should be issued right around July 1, 2022 or shortly thereafter. A nursing home’s quarterly adjustments will be reported via their portal accounts on a quarterly basis.
DSS Updated Information on Enhanced Health Care and Pension Benefits for Nursing Facility Employees
DSS has now posted an updated file for the Enhanced Health Care and Pension program and has extended the review period out by a week to June 10 so as to allow impacted nursing homes time to review. Link to updated post
DSS Provider Bulletins and Messages
HUD Survey of Communities with Section 232 Loans
HUD’s Office of the Inspector General has posted a survey it conducted of all 2,042 nursing homes in the Section 232 program to assess COVID impact on financial health. Section 232 is an FHA mortgage insurance program that insures HUD-approved lenders against financial loss from mortgage defaults through HUD’s Office of Residential Care Facilities (ORCF). Section 232 mortgage insurance is available on mortgages that finance residential healthcare communities, such as nursing homes, assisted living, and board and care communities. The HUD OIG’s memo describing the survey also describes Congressional efforts to protect these types of communities from financial distress. See the full OIG memorandum here.
Department Of Labor Reports Job Openings at Record Highs
- Job openings decreased slightly to 11.4 million. The largest decrease in job openings was in health care.
- 4.4 million people quit their jobs.
- New hires and separations held steady at around 6.6 million and 6 million respectively.
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CMS, CDC and State Covid-19 Links and Resources |
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The NFP HR Compliance Corner
LeadingAge Connecticut's Diamond Partner, NFP, is pleased to provide our members with access to their Human Resource Compliance Corner
Executive and Commissioner Orders-Blast Faxes
A complete listing of Executive and Commissioner Orders can be found
here. A listing of DPH Blast Faxes can be found here. Practitioner and Facility Guidance documents can be found here.
LTC-MAP June Duty Officer
Brian Gudelski
860-207-9270
Back-Up Duty Officer: Andy McGuire
203-648-7116 - Cell
860-390-1949 - Work
Value First GPO: A Resource for Affordable Products and Supplies
Value First is the LeadingAge owned GPO and a trusted resource for your purchasing department. Our contact for Value First is Den Miciletto, Value First Sales Liaison. Mobile 917.370.6518, Office 518.867.8383 ex.160, Fax 518.867.8384
Schedule for Member Calls
Nursing Home Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m.
CCRC/Assisted Living Community Every other Thursday at noon
Nursing Director Tuesdays at Noon
Affordable Housing Third Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Human Resource Second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m.
Social Work Second Wednesday of the month 11:30 a.m.
Building Engineering Last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Recreation Second Tuesday of the month at noon
CFO Roundtable June 30 at 9 a.m.
Mission Roundtable TBA
LeadingAge national Monday and Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
The Benefits of Your LeadingAge Connecticut Membership
Please Keep Us Up to Date on Your Major Staffing Changes
In an effort to keep our contact information current with our members and their staff, we request that you notify our office manager, Nurka Carrero, as soon as possible when you have significant staffing changes. Thank you!
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LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Call on Monday
On Monday June 6 at 3:30 PM Eastern, hear from Dr. Elizabeth Goldberg, a geriatrician and clinical researcher at Brown University. She’ll discuss a study on which she was lead author, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society on the different symptoms and impact of COVID on older people compared to younger people. She’ll offer LeadingAge providers specific guidance on what to watch for with new variants and how prevention and treatment should be framed to best serve older adults. If you have not registered for LeadingAge Update Calls, you can do so here. You can also find previous call recordings here. Note that to access recordings of the calls you need a LeadingAge password. Any staff member of any LeadingAge member organization can set up a password to access previous calls and other “members only” content.
National Coronavirus News, Tools and Resources
COVID-19 Funding Action Alert
Congress Must Pass New COVID-19 Funding Now!
White House Releases Mental Health Fact Sheet
The White House released a fact sheet on all of the Administration’s efforts to date on their strategy to address the National Mental Health Crisis.
LeadingAge Comments on FY 2023 Hospice Wage Index Proposed Rule
LeadingAge submitted comments on behalf of hospice members to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding hospice payment, regulation, and quality for Fiscal Year 2023. Read the full article here.
HCBS Settings Rule Strategy
A new LeadingAge article on CMS and ACL’s recently released HCBS settings rule strategy can be found here.
SNF PPS Rule Resource Page
LeadingAge has created a separate webpage for resources related to the FY 2023 SNF PPS Proposed Rule. On this page, you will find the LeadingAge summaries of the rule, a letter writing campaign Action Alert, and tips for commenting on the rule. Access the page here. Some resources on this page require LeadingAge login. Members who do not currently have a LeadingAge login can go here to create one using their work email addresses.
Provider Relief Fund Page on LeadingAge Website
LeadingAge has co-located all articles, tools, letters and resources on Provider Relief Funds on a single web page to make it easier for members to find the key dates and information they need. Members can find a link to the page on the Coronavirus Resources page under Provider Resources in the left-hand column.
LeadingAge Member Resources
Get Connected with LeadingAge
LeadingAge offers a variety of ways for members to engage with one another and get involved from listservs and networks to advisory groups, committees and board service. We encourage you to take advantage of your membership and connect with your peers to learn, share and grow. Get connected!
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Caring Hands Recognition Luncheon
Our Caring Hands Award and Recognition Luncheon will return on June 15 with our special guest, WFSB Personality Scot Haney! This special event honors exceptional nursing assistants throughout the continuum. We can't wait to see you there!
The TANGO HR Forum
2022 Legislative Update with the Connecticut Department of Labor
Hosted by Diamond Partner NFP and TANGO
June 8
Complimentary to all Nonprofits!
CT Coalition on Aging’s 2022 Carlson Forum
“Redefining Connection in These Times of Change”
June 9, 2022, 9:00am-Noon via Zoom
Defining why social isolation is a critical health and mental health risk for older adults and what solutions have been proven effective.
Preparing for SNF Quality Program Changes
Thursday, June 10, 9:00 - 11:00am
Presented by Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA, President/CEO, Celtic Consulting
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Launches Free Brain Health Academy
The nonprofit UsAgainstAlzheimer’s has launched a new series of free online courses to equip healthcare providers and wellness professionals with the knowledge and resources to help people reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. To learn more and register for courses click here.
Annual CTHCPE Provider Conference
Breakfast Conference on June 21 at the Aqua Turf Club
Defending Your Decisions: Managing Post-Pay Audits
Wednesday, July 13, 9:00 - 11:00am
Presented by Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA, President/CEO, Celtic Consulting
Dementia Symposium featuring National Expert Teepa Snow
Thursday, August 4
SAVE THE DATE!
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CMS Website Resources
National Government Services News
National Government Services shares important Part A information on their website. Click on www.NGSMedicare.com, determine your Medicare contract. On the Provider Specific Portal Home Page, under Latest Part A News Articles click on the View All News Articles link. Note: you may have to accept the CPT Point and Click Agreement in order to access this information.
NGS Medicare Educational Sessions and Training Events Calendar
Visit the National Government Services Web site for details at NGS Medicare.
Medicare University Computer-Based Training Course Listings
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Nearly 7,000 State Employees Have Filed Retirement Paperwork
CT Inside Investigator, May 31
Connecticut’s anticipated retirement tsunami may be coming true, as figures from the Office of the State Comptroller show that nearly 7,000 state employees have either applied to retire or have filed an “Intent to Retire” with the state.
M&T Bank Plans $25 Million Investment in Communities
CBIA
Focus on mission-driven investments in Connecticut
Hartford Courant, June 1
A contract with Aetna to become the state’s Medicare Advantage administrator for the state health plan that will save $400 million over three years is another blow against Connecticut’s sizable debt, Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday.
Pfizer Seeks Authorization of a Coronavirus Shot for Children Under 5
The Washington Post, June 2
Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, on Wednesday finished submitting an application for regulatory authorization of a coronavirus vaccine for children younger than 5, according to two people familiar with the matter.
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