As you know on June 6, 2022, CMS started the countdown on the expiration of the Temporary Nurse Assistant (TNA) program. This gave four months for all TNAs to transition to CNAs or other positions in your SNF. AHCA NCAL pushed to have the TNA program extended, but that has not occurred.

Effectively, the TNA program is done. That is not to say that the person working as a TNA can no longer work in your facility. They can but must have transitioned to another position that does not require them to have a certificate or licensure in order to do that job.

AHCA NCAL continues to push both Congress and CMS to extend the program or to make it permanent. Until that occurs, the TNA program has expired.

Ever Wondered About the National Quality Award Program?

Below are three ways in which you can get involved with the national Quality Award Program.  

1.  National Quality Award Intent to Apply - November 15: Applicants who submit an Intent to Apply will save money on their overall application fee. No paperwork or application is needed. You can access help documents for the Quality Award Portal here. Submit your ITA payment by logging in to the Quality Award Portal.  

2.  Examiner Application - November 10: One of the best ways to understand the demands of the criteria is to serve as an Examiner. The Quality Award Program is looking for individuals interested in learning more about quality improvement and performance excellence to serve as Examiners. Benefits of volunteering with the program include in-person and online training on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Criteria, CEUs, opportunities for professional development, and networking with other industry professionals. Click here to learn more. 

3.  Quality Award Board Nominations – November 10: The Quality Award Board is seeking self-nominations for their upcoming election process. The 12-member board has oversight over key functions and the strategic direction of the program. For more information, please visit the board website.  

For questions, please contact us at qualityaward@ahca.org.  

With the implementation of the new fingerprint clearance card legislation, AHCCCS has determined that the managed care organization’s case managers will not be required to be fingerprinted.

This has been a source of confusion since the legislation was first developed. At that point, ADHS had been telegraphing to us that fingerprinting of the CMs would need to take place as they could have direct contact with residents. We are seeking clarification from ADHS on this and other issues. In the meantime, please make note of this and let us know if you have any questions.

ADHS Tuberculosis Screening Regulation Summary

ADHS has added a TB Screening Regulatory Summary to assist facilities in understanding the requirement at Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R9-10-113.

In the summary the term “individuals” includes each individual who is employed by the health care institution, provides volunteer services for the health care institution, or is admitted to the health care institution. It also identifies what documentation facilities will need for individuals for their initial/baseline screening and annual screening in a format that is clear and easily understood.

Lastly, the summary includes useful links to resources such as a TB risk assessment, TB signs/symptom screening form and TB training/education for staff. Please contact AHCA’s Kay Huff with further questions.

Top 10 Cited Deficiencies for Assisted Living Centers

The top cited deficiencies continue to change. Currently the top cited deficiency for assisted living is A.R.S. 36-420.01 - Health care institutions; fall prevention and fall recovery; training programs. This has been cited 15 times, which is twice that of any other deficiency. Keep in mind that this rule has most often been cited for failing to provide training to staff.

The second most cited deficiency is Administration at R9-10-803.A.9. (Fingerprint requirement). This rule was cited 7 times and was most frequently cited for failing to provide documentation that agency staff had met the fingerprint requirement.

Below is a list of the most frequently cited deficiencies in AL Centers in the past three months. Please contact AHCA’s Kay Huff with further questions.

In April 2022, AHCCCS reinstated provider enrollment requirements that had been suspended during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Beginning in October, AHCCCS will start a 10-month process of disenrolling providers who have not complied with multiple re-registration requests.

Any provider who has not completed the revalidation process in the AHCCCS Provider Enrollment Portal will receive written notification to submit an application. Providers who do not respond will receive written notification of pending disenrollment and appeal rights.

To avoid termination and/or loss of billing privileges, providers must respond and take action, following specific actions outlined in the letter, within the noted time frames. Failure to complete these actions result in disenrollment and claim denials.

What Providers Need to Know:

• Providers who need to complete the revalidation process or meet additional screening requirements will be notified in writing through United States Postal Service mail.
• AHCCCS will review the submitted application and issue a written notice upon completion.
• Providers that have an expired license will be notified in writing to submit the current license or certification.
• Providers who fail to respond to the request could experience delays such as termination and/or loss of billing privileges.

Providers with questions, those who are no longer participating as a Medicaid provider, and those no longer employed with an organization, are asked to contact APEPTrainingQuestions@azahcccs.gov.

AHCCCS Reinstates Medicaid Prior Auths Starting October 1, 2022

Although we were asking that AHCCCS ALTCS prior authorizations follow the federal public health emergency (PHE), AHCCCS has decided to reinstate them starting October 1, 2022.

So effective October 1, 2022, MCOs may return to standard prior authorization practices for inpatient rehabilitation, long term acute care, assisted living, and skilled nursing facility admissions.