KHCA/KCAL Update 11/26/25

December 1, 2025

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The Latest News

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

In the current LTC landscape of competitive cares in the LTC profession, Resident and Family Councils serve as essential platforms for advocacy, communication, and improvement. These groups empower residents and their loved ones to voice concerns, suggest enhancements, and collaborate with facility staff to elevate the quality of care and life. Supporting these councils isn't just a regulatory requirement—it's essential to ensure person-centered care. Today’s message outlines key federal regulations governing resident and family councils, drawn from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines and highlights best practices to ensure their effective implementation. By fostering robust councils, nursing facilities can build trust, address grievances promptly, and create a more inclusive environment. READ MORE

CMS Updates CMP Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) Website- New Application & State Fund Balances Available

The Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) website was updated by CMS this morning. The updates to the website are consistent with the QSO released in late September just before the federal government shutdown (summary email can be found here).

Newly available is a list of 2025 State CMP Fund Balances (as of Jan 1, 2025). Also, State CMP Funded Projects by Calendar Year and State Plan Resources.

The new Application and handbook are now posted and a FAQ document.

AHCA Regulatory team will be updating the CMPRP webinar resource we have for members according to these new materials and will launch the update by Friday December 5^th.

Update on Fed Loan Eligibility for Nurses and Others

From the desk of:

Dana Ritchie, CAE

Associate Vice President of Constituency Services & Workforce

American Health Care Association

As you may have heard, there are concerns about recent recommendation from the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. The committee, convened by the Department of Education, did not designate dozens of health care professional degrees – including advanced practice nursing, occupational therapy and the doctor of physical therapy degree – as a professional degree. Graduate programs will have a $20,500 annual limit with a $100,000 total cap, while programs defined as professional programs will have a $50,000 annual limit and $200,000 total cap. This means that many students would be subject to significantly lower loan limits. At a time when our country desperately needs more nurses and other health care workers, this is a missed opportunity as AHCA/NCAL recently noted.

The RISE recommendations were provided around changes made to student loans laid out in the budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4th of this year. This is not a final determination but a recommendation that is subject to additional steps. The Department of Education will now review these recommendations from the RISE Negotiated Rulemaking Committee and issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the future, which will be open for public comment. After the comment period, the Department of Education will issue its final rule for implementation. The changes are then set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to new borrowers. Existing borrowers will not be impacted.

AHCA/NCAL is involved with a coalition of other national organizations varying from nursing and therapy to others focused on this matter.

Finally, below are some articles and blogs with more details to have on hand.

Recent Recognition Of LATE Dementia Changing Understanding Of Cognitive Decline

The New York Times (11/28, Belluck, 20.6M) reported that a "recently recognized form of dementia" known as LATE is "changing the understanding of cognitive decline, improving the ability to diagnose patients and underscoring the need for a wider array of treatments." On its own, researchers say that "LATE, shorthand for Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, is usually less severe than Alzheimer’s and unfolds more slowly." The condition is "now estimated to affect about a third of people 85 and older and 10 percent of those 65 and older, according to" guidelines published earlier this year.

REMINDER: 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

Skilled Nursing Leaders Renew Calls To Eliminate Three-Day Stay Rule Amid New CMS Inpatient Procedure Changes

Skilled Nursing News (11/24, Mullaney) reports "skilled nursing leaders are renewing calls to eliminate the three-day stay rule in light of a policy change that" CMS "finalized last week." Specifically, the agency "is moving ahead with plans to phase out the inpatient-only (IPO) list, which details the procedures that Medicare covers only if the beneficiary receives the care as a hospital inpatient." AHCA/NCAL SVP of Reimbursement Policy John Kane said, "Regardless of their inpatient or observation designation, seniors must be able to access post-acute care in a skilled nursing facility when they need it without fear of considerable out-of-pocket costs."

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (11/24, Marselas) reports Kane added, "We will continue to advocate for policies that eliminate the antiquated policy of the three-day stay, and prevent any Medicare beneficiaries from falling through the cracks."

CMS unmoved by report calling for end of antipsychotics measure

Days after a national report called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to eliminate an antipsychotics quality measure because it limits access to treatment for some dementia patients, the agency maintained that curbing the “overuse” of such drugs remains a top priority. READ MORE