November 20, 2024

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The Latest News

CMS issues ‘significant’ survey changes for 2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday issued "significant revisions” to its long-term care surveyor guidance, with changes affecting everything from admission and discharge standards to the use of psychotropic medications and newly adopted infection prevention practices. READ MORE

McKnight's LTC News: ‘Vigilance,’ ‘solid systems’ needed ahead of extensive survey changes, nursing home experts warn

Skilled Nursing News: CMS Unveils Major Changes for Nursing Home Surveys for 2025

Trump to tap Dr. Oz to head CMS

President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he will nominate TV personality and unsuccessful Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, as the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. READ MORE

The latest Your Top-Line publication for skilled nursing centers in your state are now available!

Your Top-Line is a LTC Trend Tracker℠ publication that includes metrics and graphics outlining skilled nursing center's progress on Five Star performance, the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative, their journey through the Quality Awards program, and other necessary data to help skilled nursing centers achieve their desired goals.

If you need help downloading your report, please e-mail Jennafer Sumner at jsumner@khca.org

Virtual Regional Round Table Discussion

Please join survey certification and credentialing commissioner Lacey Hunter and assistant commissioner Dawne Altis for a virtual session of Adult Care Home regional round tables next Tuesday, November 26th, 2024, from 12pm-2pm. Topics will include:

• State Licensed Only Involuntary Discharge Reporting (Assisted Living, Residential Health Care, Home Plus)

• Changes to CCRC since July 1, 2024

• Receivership - what is it and how do you apply for it

• Top deficiencies cited

• Survey consistency

• CMPs and Other Enforcement

• NATCEP Bans and Waiver Process

Please register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYudeGpqD4iGNBuGehQyxvIq9AekkdxzFi8

New NAHC Home Care Salary & Benefits Report Available

The 2024-2025 Home Care Salary & Benefits Report, published by HCS in cooperation with NAHC, is now available. This year’s study had 1,079 participants and covers 55 jobs and 20 fringe benefits. Attached is a press release on Home Health Directors of Clinical Services to share with members.

Also, the HCS Corporate Compensation study is underway, deadline 12/2. It covers salaries for top executives with oversight for multiple agencies or larger revenue Visiting Nurse Associations/VNS. Questionnaires are available on the HCS website.

Watch Now: “What We Didn’t Get to Say in Orlando”

The recording of AHCA/NCAL’s special session, "What We Didn’t Get to Say in Orlando," is now available to watch on-demand. Presented last week at the Fall Conference for CEOs and Executive Leaders, this session features AHCA/NCAL Principal Mark Parkinson, President and CEO Clif Porter, and AHCA Board Chair Phil Scalo. Originally prepared for Delivering Solutions 24, which the Association was forced to cancel last month, the session honors Parkinson’s 14 years with AHCA/NCAL, and introduces Porter as the new president and CEO.

WATCH NOW

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."

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.