November 18, 2024

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The Latest News

A Message from the Office of the State Fire Marshal

HealthCare Fire Note Book

We’ve developed a helpful tool for all facilities to use in organizing their documentation. During our inspections, we’ve found that many facilities either don’t keep their documentation in a centralized location or are missing important records altogether. With this new tool, we aim to address these issues and alleviate some of the time constraints we’ve encountered during inspections.

If anyone has questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us.

Thanks,

Brenda McNorton

Chief of Inspections

Office of the State Fire Marshal

800 SW Jackson Suite 104

Topeka, KS 66612

TEL: 785-296-0656

FAX: 785-296-0151

brenda.mcnorton@ks.gov

A Message From KDADS: MS2004-Cost Report Communication

Click here for the communication that went out to NFs on either 10/29 or 10/30 re: needing to use the most recent cost report form. The MS-2004 NF Cost Report form is posted here:

https://www.kdads.ks.gov/partners-providers/aging-services/nursing-facility-and-adult-care-home-programs

ATTENTION: Starting with the 2024 cost reporting season, which will be due on February 28, 2025, KDADS will no longer accept cost report documentation with revised dates prior to the year 2023. Additionally, the instructions for completing the Cost Report (MS-2004) and Monthly Census Summary (AU-3902) forms have been revised in order to reflect KDADS' current processes for submission and completion of these documents.

Department of Labor Overtime Rule Struck Down

This past Friday, a federal judge in Texas struck down the “Overtime Rule” from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that would raise the minimum salary threshold for employees who are classified as “exempt” from payment of overtime wages under the white-collar exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Under this DOL rule, the salary threshold requirements for employees to be classified as “exempt” under the “white collar” exemptions increased in stages, the first going into effect on July 1, 2024. The next increase was scheduled for January 1, 2025. For more background about the rule, please read AHCA/NCAL’s analysis developed when the rule was finalized (login required).

DOL could possibly appeal and try to get the rule reinstated in these few remaining weeks, but the incoming Trump Administration would likely not be in favor of such an appeal.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact AHCA/NCAL’s Dana Ritchie at dritchie@ahca.org.

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM AHCA: This power point is provided to the State Affiliates related to some vital information related to NHSN reporting changes and ALSO QRP reporting issues experienced by providers. READ MORE

CMS Daily Digest Bulletin

CMS Leadership National Call Update November 20, 2024 – REVISED AGENDA
MLN Connects Newsletter: Nov 14, 2024
CMS Innovation Center Reimagines Rural Health Care Approaches
Register Now for the CMS Optimizing Healthcare Delivery Conference!

Click here to read more.

Coalition Calls For Passage Of Bill To Boost Access To Assisted Living For Some Veterans

McKnight’s Senior Living (11/15, Bonvissuto) reports, "A coalition of senior living and Alzheimer’s advocacy organizations is urging House Veterans’ Affairs Committee leaders to advance legislation during the lame duck session that would open access to assisted living for some veterans." The "major organizations advocating for senior living providers," including NCAL, "co-signed a letter dated Nov. 13" in which they "asked Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), the committee’s chair, and Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), its ranking member, to support HR 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Health care and Benefits Improvement Act." The bill "would require that participating facilities be located in geographically diverse regions, with at least one test site serving veterans in a rural or highly rural area and at least one being a state home."

Trump wants to put HHS in hands of RFK Jr., whose views on senior care remain out of view

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he was nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Watchers in the skilled nursing sector generally reacted to the news with some confusion, though not outright surprise. The top Trump transition official had said last week that RFK Jr. would not be chose n for the HHS post.

While known widely for his vaccine skepticism and his vow to dissemble agencies overseeing health research and food regulations, it’s unclear what policy changes Kennedy might have in store for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or other agencies that heavily influence the sector. READ MORE

AHCA/NCAL President And CEO Clif Porter Outlines Key Priorities For Industry

In an episode of "Perspectives in Long Term Care" for Provider Magazine (11/13, 151K), "host Debbie Stadtler talks with" newly-appointed AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Clif Porter, who "shares his career journey and deep commitment to the long term care industry, emphasizing the importance of people and community in shaping his vision." Porter "provides insights into the current challenges facing long term care" and "outlines his key priorities, such as workforce development, regulatory reform, adequate reimbursement, and quality improvement." Porter also "discusses the need for alignment among members, staff, and stakeholders to address the caregiver shortage through a comprehensive, industry-wide plan."

AHCA/NCAL Urges Congress To Pass Key Legislation During Lame Duck Session

Lawmakers Should Pass Bipartisan Bills To Protect Access To Care For America’s Seniors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress returns this week, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) urges our nation's lawmakers to pass key legislation during the lame duck session to ensure America's seniors and individuals with disabilities have continued access to quality long term care.

“America's seniors can't wait. Let's advance common sense policies that develop our long term care workforce and protect access to care," said Clif Porter, president & CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “Our priority is and always will be working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to ensure every senior has access to the high-quality care they deserve. Lawmakers have introduced several bills during the 118th Congress that will move us in the right direction, and they should act swiftly to pass this legislation before the end of the year."

AHCA/NCAL supports legislation that focuses on meaningful support and programs to bolster the long term care workforce, including streamlining the visa process for international doctors, nurses and their families and expanding training programs for developing certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The association also encourages Congress to extend certain telehealth flexibilities given during the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent cuts to Medicare, both of which help ensure seniors have continued access to care. READ MORE

Education Spotlight

Webinar: Welcome to the World of Dietary! LTC Refresher Course

December 12th, 2024 - 10:00AM - 2:30PM

Dietary department need a refresh? Sharpen your dietary knowledge and establish effective dietary department systems when you join Proactive for this virtual workshop. This 4-hour training will review team building, food service regulations, documentation requirements, IDT collaboration, preventing common deficiencies and much more! Co-presented by a dual Registered Dietitian and Nursing Home Administrator and a nurse/legal nurse consultant, your team will gain insights into the dietitian role, effective dietary systems and recommended QA oversight and management duties of the facility administrator! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to elevate the quality of your dietary department.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the importance of staff development, training, and teamwork in the dietary department.
Identify the regulatory requirements pertinent to the dietary manager role.
Identify survey procedures surveyors will follow to assess compliance with dietary related requirements.
Recognize areas of common deficiencies and how to avoid them.
Discuss integration of systems between nursing and dietary departments.
Describe best practices for implementing and/or improving assessment and documentation practices pertinent to systems related to nutrition and hydration.
Understand the role of the dietary manager in collaborating with the IDT to manage systems related to nutrition and hydration and reducing weight loss in LTC facilities

Click here for more details.