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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Based on calls and reports from providers, COVID is on the rise again. And, as we all know, the holidays and all the gatherings and visits, it is anticipated the rate will go up exponentially in the near future. On November 14, 2023, CDC released guidance on “Testing and Management Considerations for Nursing Home Residents with Acute Respiratory Illness Symptoms when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-circulating”. Following is the guidance from CDC and should be implemented in nursing facilities immediately. The guidance has the following “introduction”: “The following practices should be considered when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are found to be co-circulating based upon local public health surveillance data and testing at local healthcare facilities. While these considerations are specific to care of residents residing in nursing homes, some practices could be adapted for use in other long-term care settings (e.g. assisted living communities).” READ MORE
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Kansas discontinues Medicaid coverage for 40% of recipients
Kansas has discontinued Medicaid coverage for about 40% of Kansans up for renewal as the nationwide “unwinding” effort nears its completion next year.
The KanCare Clearinghouse has renewed coverage for 191,321 people and discontinued coverage for 48,039.
The state has discontinued coverage for another 79,439 recipients because they either hadn’t filed a renewal application or had more information to file. Of those, 35,868 people are in the reinstatement window, meaning they can still submit their renewal applications and get their coverage backdated to the day they were discontinued if the clearinghouse approves them.
Kansas’ disenrollment rate ranks 16th in the nation, according to an update last week from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
But both Kansas officials and the foundation have pointed to differences that make state-to-state comparisons difficult.
The differences include whether a state has expanded Medicaid coverage (Kansas is one of 10 that hasn’t), when the discontinuations started (some states began as late as July 1), and how the discontinuations are handled (some states targeted people early that they thought were no longer eligible or didn’t respond to renewal requests during the pandemic).
As a result, disenrollment rates across various states range from 62% in Texas to 10% in Maine.
Congress initially approved continuous Medicaid enrollment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. At the end of last year, Congress approved ending continuous enrollment on March 31.
The federal government gave every state a 12-month deadline to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations in what’s known as the “unwinding” process.
More than 94 million people were enrolled in the Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program at the beginning of the unwinding process, an increase of more than 22 million from February 2020.
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Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 6 Opens January 1
The Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 6 opens January 1, 2024 and will remain open through March 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. Providers who received one or more PRF (general or targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payment(s) exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, must report on their use of funds in RP6. READ MORE
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Are you a current AIT Preceptor or are you interested in becoming one?
We have a high need of Preceptors in the KC area!
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.
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A Message from the President & CEO Mark Parkinson
2023: The Recovery Continues
Happy Holidays from the AHCA/NCAL Team
When I think about 2023, I am grateful and proud. AHCA/NCAL state executives and members have continued to step up in many ways, and we remain united. Before I discuss 2023 in more detail, I want to take a moment to highlight the 2023 Annual Report. This document outlines the Association’s overarching goals and strategies over the past 12 months, as well as our success and achievements.
Much of this is also thanks to the hard work and dedication of the smiling faces you see above. We couldn’t do it without you, our members. The entire staff at AHCA/NCAL thanks you for your ongoing support and wishes you a happy, healthy holiday season.
- THE RECOVERY CONTINUES
- FORTUNATELY, THE SECTOR HAS SURVIVED
- WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE IMPOSSIBLE MINIMUM STAFFING PROPOSAL
- NCAL HAD A GREAT YEAR
- OTHER NEW OFFERINGS FROM AHCA/NCAL
- MEMBERS SHINE IN 2023
- ENORMOUSLY GRATEFUL
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CMS Outlines Appeals Process For Medicare Beneficiaries Who Believe Hospitals Inappropriately Classified Stays As Observations Instead Of Admissions
ModernHealthcare (12/21, Bennett, Subscription Publication, 215K) reports that CMS "has outlined an appeals process for Medicare beneficiaries who believe hospitals inappropriately classified their stays as observations instead of admissions." Published Thursday, the proposed rule "aims to resolve a 12-year-old class-action lawsuit seeking redress for fee-for-service enrollees whose hospital or nursing home care wasn’t covered under Medicare Part A because hospitals designated them as outpatients." In a statement, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living said, "At first glance, AHCA/NCAL supports what CMS is aiming to achieve. While this rule will certainly be helpful, we urge Congress to resolve this issue permanently by eliminating the three-day-stay requirement or recognizing observation stays as qualifying stays."
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As Congress leaves town, providers face Jan. 1 pay cut
A 3.4% physician fee cut that affects key nursing home services is set to go into effect Jan. 1, and Congress did nothing to provide relief before adjourning for its winter recess.
The cut included in the 2024 Physician pay rule, which was finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in November, affects doctors working in nursing homes and other long-term care settings, as well as pay for therapists and other ancillary services. READ MORE
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Navigating OSHA Recordkeeping: Introduction, Insights, and NEW Regulation Continued
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will require electronic submission of 300, 300A, and 301 documents for employers in 'high-risk' industries with 100 or more employees. READ MORE
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The Semmelweis Times, Issues 13 & 14 - a newsletter from the KDHE HAI/AR Section
In Issue 13 - Respiratory Viruses Edition:
- Syndromic Surveillance: Using Kansas EDs to track respiratory viral trends
- Journal Club: RSV vaccines
- Healthy Humor
- Street Dog Coalition: Clinic Spotlight
- Midwest Antibiotic Discovery Contributions
- Upcoming KS Educational Activities
- Staff Highlight
- AR in Food Animals
- Q&A: Examining IPC through a Health Equity Lens
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For Goodness Flake, Keep Working on Your Quality Award Applications
There is snow time like the present! Completing a successful Quality Award application takes time to prepare. Over the next few weeks, keep working on your applications and submit them before the deadline on Thursday, January 25, 2024. But don't be in a flurry to get things done. If you have not already done so, take advantage of free resources to help! READ MORE
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RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
1/29/2024 8:00AM - 1/31/2024 5:00PM
Increase your knowledge of clinical assessment and care planning, completion of the MDS, the regulations surrounding the RAI/MDS process, and managing the PDPM by attending an AAPACN Resident Assessment Coordinator-Certified (RAC-CT) certification workshop. Having the RAC-CT credential behind your name shows you are a knowledgeable and capable MDS professional. RAC-CT certification is the nationally recognized gold-standard in resident assessment in the long-term care nursing profession. By earning this credential, individuals have shown their expertise in skilled nursing facility prospective payment system and minimum data set (MDS 3.0) assessment. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Preventing Elopement: Strategies for Resident Safety
1/9/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Falls and Accidents
1/16/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Survey Trends in Assisted Living
1/18/24 - 1:00PM-2:15PM
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Webinar: Care Plans for SSD's
1/23/24 - 1:00PM-2:30PM
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RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
1/29/2024 8:00AM - 1/31/2024 5:00PM
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
Looking for an AIT Program? Click here for more details on KHCA's Program.
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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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