This message contains confidential information and is intended only for KHCA/KCAL membership. Dissemination, distribution or copying the contents of this email beyond this group is strictly prohibited. |
|
|
Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
On January 17, 2024, the AHCA State Affiliate Network Meeting was held with several important topics discussed. The first presentation was given by staff from the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF). CMS awarded a grant to the COE-NF a year ago to provide resources and training materials to nursing facilities that are certified by CMS for training and assistance with residents with behavioral health issues. From AHCA’s meeting notes: READ MORE
|
|
TOMORROW! Webinar: Care Plans for SSD's
1/23/24 - 1:00PM-2:30PM
|
|
Join us for Aging Services Day 2024!
Aging Services Day is a collaborative event put together by Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living, LeadingAge Kansas and Kansas Adult Care Executives where Long Term Care Providers gather at the State Capitol to champion the needs of our elderly in Kansas. We will meet in the morning for education then walk together across the street to the Capitol for a full afternoon of legislative advocacy on issues that are crucial to the LTC Profession with our Kansas Legislators. It’s a powerful opportunity to allow your voice to be heard and influence positive change for LTC providers and the population we care for. Be part of the movement for better aging services.
Priority deadline to ensure a meeting with a legislator is TODAY!
|
|
KMAP Web Update
The KMAP Public Portal has been updated with General Bulletin 24013 regarding staying enrolled as a KanCare provider and a reminder to revalidate.
|
|
A Message from the President & CEO Linda MowBray: Our Kansas Commitment
Week two of the Legislative session was surprisingly quiet with only one hearing related to our issues. The hearing was on HB 2345 - AN ACT enacting the supported decision-making agreements act; relating to decision-making assistance for adults. Click here for a briefing from the hearing. Click here for a link to the hearing.
Also of interest, a new version of the “No Patient Left Behind” bill was introduced Wednesday in the Senate Public Health and Welfare. The good news for long term care is this bill is targeting Medical care facilities. (h) "Medical care facility" means a hospital, ambulatory surgical center or recuperation center, except that "medical care facility" does not include a hospice that is certified to participate in the Medicare program under 42 C.F.R. § 418.1 et seq. and that provides services only to hospice patients.
The version introduced last year in the House (HB 2246) did indeed include adult care homes. That bill was gutted and replaced with the contents of involuntary discharge appeals rights for assisted living facilities and was later dropped from the consent calendar.
Next week a briefing will be presented in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 10:30am in room 548-S, on nursing staff shortages in Kansas.
The Bethell Joint Committee on HCBS and KanCare Oversight will meet Friday, February 2, 2024 at 9:00am in room 112-N. Those wishing to present testimony please contact lmowbray@khca.org and be aware of the following: the deadline to submit the electronic copy of your written testimony is 5:00 p.m. on January 25, with two paper copies to be delivered to office in Room 68-W of the Statehouse by 5:00 p.m. on January 26. For more information, click here.
KDADS budget will have a hearing in the House Social Services Budget Committee on February 14, 2024 with public testimony to be heard on the 15th. Look for more information on that in the coming weeks.
Don’t forget to register for Aging Services Day at the Capitol, February 1, 2024. Additional details in the next story.
In other news, KDADS hosted their monthly Stakeholder meeting today with representation from KABC, Ombudsman, KACE, LeadingAge KS, KHA, KFMC and KHCA. Once a quarter, statistical reports are provided on survey trends and findings. The documents listed below were reviewed.
4th Quarter Statistics from KDADS Stakeholder Call
Should you have questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me. As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
Linda MowBray
President/CEO
|
|
With ‘hundreds’ of facilities audited over schizophrenia, CMS pursues harsher antipsychotics stance
With half of nursing homes audited in a new process admitting to misdiagnosing schizophrenia patients, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is extending its drive to reduce the use of certain drugs intended to treat schizophrenia, psychosis and other behavioral health conditions. READ MORE
|
|
Follow Up Resources from today's NAC and Facility Standards Call
|
|
Messages from the Office of the State Fire Marshal
Space Heaters in Healthcare: The Office of the State Fire Marshal has received numerous phone calls and inquiries regarding the temporary use of space heaters to help regulate temperatures within the living spaces of nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
In accordance with the 2012 edition of NFPA 101, the Office of the State Fire Marshal does not permit the use of portable space-heating devices located within sleeping areas. READ MORE
Sprinkler Systems in Cold Weather: Every winter, Kansas is subject to cold weather that causes issues with sprinkler systems. Subsequently, our office receives questions regarding this topic. One question we frequently get is, can we empty our sprinkler system to keep it from freezing and use fire watch as a replacement? READ MORE
|
|
A message from LaShuan Bethea, NCAL Executive Director
U.S. Senator Casey, chair of the Senate Aging Committee, announced earlier this week that the committee will be holding a hearing focused on assisted living next Thursday, January 25th. The hearing was spurred by recent investigative reports in the in the Washington Post and New York Times, regarding elopements in memory care and the cost of assisted living/long term care, respectively. The last hearing that focused on assisted living by the Senate Aging Committee was over 20 years ago in 2003.
NCAL has met with Senator Casey’s office and members of the Senate Aging Committee and confirmed the hearing, titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults,” will focus on fact finding and understanding “challenges faced by assisted living facility residents.” NCAL has provided members of the committee credible research that demonstrates our members’ and the profession’s commitment to quality care.
We are grateful that NCAL Board member and Co-President of Gardant Management Solutions Julie Simpkins will testify at next week’s hearing and offer a provider prospective. Julie and the Gardant team serve a high Medicaid population and are committed to quality as evidenced by their significant participation in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. The committee is currently identifying other witnesses for next week’s hearing.
Additionally, the Senate Aging Committee has sent letters requesting information from the three largest assisted living providers. While the hearing is scheduled for January 25 th, the providers have been given until February 5 th to respond to the request. This may indicate that there will be additional hearings or follow up once the responses are received. This letter references both the NYT and WaPo articles and asks a series of questions of the providers. A copy of the letter is linked in Senator Casey’s announcement.
We are monitoring information related to the upcoming hearing and will continue to keep you posted.
Best Regards,
LaShuan
|
|
Upcoming Webinar: COVID-19 Immunization Strategies for LTC
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid will host a webinar on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. CT regarding strategies to increase immunization rates in long term care.
This webinar is geared toward nursing home leaders, medical directors, directors of nursing, and infection preventionists interested in collaborating with their staff, residents, and families to maximize COVID-19 vaccination rates at their facilities.
During the webinar, attendees will hear directly from nursing home teams that have developed successful strategies to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and fatigue, schedule onsite vaccination clinics, and address staff turnover to ensure residents receive timely vaccinations.
|
|
Resident Care Coordinator Training for Nurses in Assisted Living
Assisted Living homes are one of the fastest growing segments of Kansas Long Term Care. Homes that understand the importance of the Resident Care Coordinator know that the right nurse with the right systems can be the answer to providing excellence in resident centered care.
Join KCAL professional nurses for a full day of training specifically designed to give nurses in the state licensed only setting (Assisted Living/Home Plus/Residential Health Care) the tools they need to succeed. From “up-to- date” regulatory information to hints for designing systems, this course will provide “The Right Stuff” for a nurse to succeed as a Resident Care Coordinator.
|
|
Webinar: Optimizing Care: Antipsychotics in Long-Term Care
1/25/24 - 1:00PM-2:15PM
|
|
RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
1/29/2024 8:00AM - 1/31/2024 5:00PM
|
|
Aging Services Day - 2024
2/1/2024 8:30AM - 4:00PM
|
|
Webinar: The Impact of the MDS: Ripple Effect on Reimbursement
2/7/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks Related to Falls and Other Accident Hazards
2/13/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Webinar: The Impact of the MDS: MDS Influence on the Quality Measures
2/14/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
|
|
Resident Care Coordinator Training for Nurses in Assisted Living
2/16/24 - 8:30AM-3:30PM in Ottawa, KS
|
|
Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
Looking for an AIT Program? Click here for more details on KHCA's Program.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
