March 28, 2023
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Membership Reminder

As a reminder, the renewal deadline for your KHCA/KCAL membership is March 31st. We strive to give you a highly-valued return on your dues investment, and we look forward to serving you in the year ahead.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your membership status, please contact Kristin Plantz kplantz@khca.org.
The Latest News
CMS Announces PDPM Claim Edit Enhancements

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted MLN Matters article MM12896 (Revised) that explains provider actions needed related to recent instructions to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) Enhancements to Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) Claim Edits to Improve Claim Processing. 

CMS encourages skilled nursing facility (SNF) provider billers to review this updated guidance due to: 

  • Corrections to edits of SNF Type of Bill (TOB) 21X claims 
  • Changes to certain hospital overlap edits 

The effective date of the policy remains October 1, 2019. The implementation date of the claims system edits to correctly apply the policy for SNF claim payments impacted is April 3, 2023. 

Click here for more details.
Are you a current AIT Preceptor or are you interested in becoming one?    

If you are a current Preceptor we would love to have you on our list. Please contact Teresa with your Preceptor number at tkeating@khca.org. Are you interested in becoming an AIT Preceptor and shaping the future of the profession?  Our team is happy to walk you through that process. Click here for the KDADS information and give Teresa a call at 785-267-6003.
The demand for professionals with expertise in long term care is growing rapidly. The U.S. will need between 5.7 million and 6.5 million nurses, nurse aides, home health, and personal care workers to care for the 27 million Americans who will require long term care by 2050.​

Careers in Aging Week is dedicated to bringing greater awareness and visibility to the wide-ranging career opportunities in long term care and aging services, and to celebrate current employees in the profession.

Join us in celebrating and spreading the word about careers in aging on social media using the hashtag #CareersInAging.
In Case You Missed It
Member Only Legislative Update from Friday, March 24, 2023

The 2023 Legislative Session is in full swing . We strive to keep you informed as much as possible. Click here to read Linda's member's only update from last Friday. We will also archive these on our website. They will require the member username and password to view on our website.
Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

Let’s talk bedrails…again. Based on survey findings, a review of the regulations may help to clarify some questions.

F700 Bed Rails says.... Click here to continue reading.
Growing the Nursing Home Workforce Requires Investing in Caregivers to Create Good-Paying Jobs
 
The Biden Administration plans to establish a federal staffing mandate for nursing homes this year. Yet, the current proposal offers no resources or workforce development programs to help nursing homes implement the mandate. Experts have estimated that the mandate could require hiring nearly 200,000 more caregivers at an annual cost of $11.3 billion for their wages and benefits.
 
Despite significant increases to nurses’ wages in recent years, nursing homes are still facing a historic labor crisis and are struggling to compete against hospitals, other health care providers, and private industries for workers. The industry is primarily funded by Medicaid and Medicare and with fixed government reimbursement rates, nursing homes are limited in making additional investments in their staff. Moreover, the entire health care system is grappling with a nationwide shortage of nurses—even if nursing homes had the resources, there aren’t enough trained caregivers to serve a growing elderly population. READ MORE
Senators blast HHS’ restrictive coverage for Alzheimer’s drugs

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra came under fire Wednesday during a Senate Finance Committee meeting regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ restrictive national coverage determination (NCD) policy for new drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease. READ MORE
Upcoming Education: MDS - RAI Changes Workshop

6/12/2023 9:00AM - 4:00PM

This workshop has been specifically created to review the changes to the RAI manual starting October 1. Line by line coding instructions for new and revised sections. Click here for more details.
Nursing Scholarship Application

The Kansas Health Care Association's Nursing Advisory Committee (NAC) is pleased to sponsor the Joan Hamel Nursing Education Scholarship Program. KHCA will award up to $2,000 in scholarship grants to KHCA or KCAL member facility employees who wish to further their education. 

Click here for details on the Infection Preventionist Specialized Training Scholarship.
Click here for details on the general scholarship that includes Gero Nurse Prep, IV Certification and Nursing School ($500 per semester).

Questions? E-mail Jennafer Sumner at jsumner@khca.org
FREE Webinar: CMS’s new schizophrenia audits: What you need to know NOW

Apr 4, 2023 12:00 PM

New CMS schizophrenia and antipsychotic audits are coming. How can you protect your star rating?

If CMS identifies inaccuracies in MDS coding, the nursing home’s Five-Star rating will be downgraded by one star for six months, creating a significant negative ripple impacting your admissions, your community partnerships, and your facility's reputation among external stakeholders.

Join us for this important webinar to hear industry experts explain the CMS audit plan, its consequences, and how your facility can evaluate and mitigate your risk.
Education Spotlight
Assisted Living Conference

A full day of education for those working in the Assisted Living, Residential Health Care and Home Plus settings

TOPICS:
  • The Magic of Connection – Opening Keynote and Humorist Desi Payne
  • Writing a Plan of Correction – Joan Hudson
  • Making Life Meaningful – Amy Siple
  • Stay in Your Lane – Talking through KS Regulations
  • Top Questions the association receives and how to find answers in your Reg Manual – Linda MowBray
  • Workplace Resilience through the power of friendship – Amy Siple

Click here for more details.
Upcoming Education
Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.20 Resident Assessment & §483.21 Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plan Requirements

4/11/2023 1:30PM-3:00PM

Click here for more details.
FREE in person or ZOOM: We Need to Talk: The Transformative Power of Life and Death Conversations

4/12/2023 2:00PM-3:15PM

Click here for more details.
Assisted Living Conference
Lawrence, KS

4/14/2023 8:00AM-4:00PM

Click here for more details.
Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Thriving Therapy Departments

4/25/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM

Click here for more details.
Nurse Leadership Conference

6/13/2023 11:00AM - 6/14/2023 4:00PM

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

We are excited to announce our new AIT Program! All the details can be found here: https://conta.cc/3ixevxG

Questions? Email Teresa Keating at tkeating@khca.org
Looking for options for required Staff In-Service?

KHCA’s online learning platform is BACK! We’ve loaded the in-services for SNF and for AL first. The SNF in-service on Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation has been updated to reflect Phase 3 information.

Access the new learning platform by clicking here. 

Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
Attention Assisted Living and Home Plus Providers: FCS Refresher

We have frequent requests for FCS refreshers and people who want to attend the FCS section only of the Operators course. We now have it available on demand in a 75 minute webinar. It’s worth 1.5 CE’s on demand.

$20 Member Discount Code: KHCA018
Click here for more details.
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