KHCA/KCAL Update 10/29/25

October 29, 2025

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The Latest News

Don’t Miss Out: Submit Your Intent to Apply by November 13

The clock is ticking! The 2026 National Quality Award Intent to Apply is open, and the deadline is fast approaching: November 13, 2025, at 7:00 PM CT. Submitting your ITA is a simple but powerful step that sets your team up for success. READ MORE

Complete the Bronze Award application from beginning to end with coaching support along the way from expert facilitators at our Virtual Bronze Quality Award Workshop. More details can be found by clicking here.

Special Focus Facility program ‘not working,’ federal watchdog says

A federal watchdog Wednesday called on regulators to strengthen the Special Focus Facility program for nursing homes, saying that most facilities that graduate do not sustain improvements. READ MORE

ICYMI: Government Shutdown Updates

CMS Issues Updated Memo to Outline Contingency Plans During Government Shutdown

The memo details contingency plans for operations during the continued federal government shutdown, establishing that the activities, which are not allowed throughout the shutdown, are not legally authorized to be performed. READ MORE

CMS Lifts Claims Hold

CMS issued a special MLN Connects Newsletter, which included an update on the claims hold it put in place due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. READ MORE

FREE CNE November 13th at Noon. ZOOM only

Finding the Good When Good Seems to Not Be Found: Embracing the Changes That Accompany Age.

In cognitive aging, people joke I just study downward sloping lines. And there’s some truth in that. This presentation will talk about some of those physiological changes and declines, but will focus more on places where the lines don’t slope as much or how a person can alter that decline and how Carstensen’s Socioemotional Selectivity Theory of Aging plays out in

practice. LEARN MORE

License Expiration Grace Period Survey

In response to concerns voiced in the House Special Committee on Government Oversight KSBN is seeking interest and needs for a grace period for nurse’s license expiration date. They would appreciate your feedback. The data will be reported to the decision-makers to assist in possible legislative changes to the Kansas Nurse Practice Act. It is a short survey and can be completed fast. Thank you for your consideration in completing this survey to assist in legislative decisions.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE

In Case You Missed It

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

The October 17th issue of McKnights LTC Clinical Daily News had an interesting article titled, “Study: Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents were exposed to med combos linked to potential drug-drug interactions”. Polypharmacy has long been an issue for seniors…so much so that CMS used to include 9+ meds as a quality indicator. A past-president of the Kansas Medical Directors Association, spoke often about the dangers of polypharmacy and told providers that “if a resident takes 5 or meds, there is a 100% of drug-drug interactions”. In this world of elder care, who takes 5 meds? No one…15 or 25 is more realistic. The McKnights article stated, “The 12 most common DDIs involved central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs, anticholinergics, antihypertensives, opioids and diuretics. The DDI (Drug-drug interaction) with the longest median exposure duration (81 days) was concurrent use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and heart rate-reducing drugs. Using three or more CNS-active drugs was the most prevalent DDI, observed in 27.1% of all residents.” The article cited an article in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. READ MORE

Providers urge CMS to back off strict interpretation of survey citation requirements, rethink use of penalties

Leaders with the American Health Care Association tried to popularize “strict liability” as a buzzworthy new phrase at their annual convention last week, but their ultimate goal is to help providers — and surveyors — forget all about it.

Strict liability is the phrase AHCA has been using to describe federal regulators’ burdensome approach to surveying in recent years. It is characterized by surveyors’ need to cite any incident that seems to indicate noncompliance — even when staff did everything required to comply with patient safety rules, explained Holly Harmon, AHCA’s senior vice president of quality, regulatory and clinical services. READ MORE

Opinion: "Winners" Of AHCA/NCAL Annual Meeting Highlighted

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News’ Executive Editor James M. Berklan wrote in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (10/24), "As winner after winner crossed the stage during the closing session of the 2025 American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living annual meeting on Wednesday, it became abundantly clear: They really know how to do it right." Berklan continued, "The first ‘they’ being AHCA/NCAL itself," as it "put on a booming national conference for the first time in two years, thanks to a hurricane threat that caused last year’s show to be canceled," with attendance "second only to 2017."

Education Spotlight

DON Boot Camp

November 10 - 12, 2025

Olathe, KS

The KHCA Director of Nursing Boot Camp program is designed to support nursing professionals in Long Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facilities who are preparing for or serving in leadership roles. Whether you are a newly appointed Director of Nursing, an RN with potential to serve in the DON role, or a current DON that is looking for a refresher. The KHCA DON Boot Camp provides the knowledge, tools, and strategies to succeed. READ MORE