December 13, 2024

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.

The Latest News

An Important Message to our Members

Dear Members,

We want to inform you that Linda MowBray, President and CEO is currently on Family and Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA) and will not be responding to emails or work-related text messages. During this time, we want Linda to be able to fully focus on her husband and his needs.

To ensure continuity and support during Linda’s absence, Polly Berkley will handle many of the requests and inquiries that would normally go to Linda. Polly can be reached at pberkley@khca.org or by phone at the office 785-267-6003.

Questions related to:

Membership, contact Director of Membership Jennafer Sumner at jsumner@khca.org
Financial matters, contact Director of Finance Kristin Plantz at kplantz@khca.org
Webinars, CE’s and the AIT program, please contact Special Programs Coordinator, Teresa Keating at tkeating@khca.org

As always, you can reach the entire team at khca@khca.org

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Providers for IDR Panels Needed

Please consider getting your name on the list of providers willing to serve on the KDADS IDR Panels. We need participants that are actual providers of care on the panel to bring real perspective to the decisions being made. Please let the Association know when you are selected to serve on a panel.

Please email the following information to Rebecca Hedrick, Rebecca.Hedrick@ks.gov CMP Program Manager at KDADS to be added to the list of providers willing to serve. The conflict-of-interest information is included here.

The name of the adult care home where you are currently employed
The type of adult care home/level of care you are involved with (SNF/NF, ALF/RHCF)
Your role/title at the adult care home (social services designee/activity director, operator, administrator, director of nursing, etc.)
Conflicts of interest

KMAP Web Updates

The KMAP Public Portal has been updated with the following updates:

General Bulletin 24255 regarding Medicare Part D copayment assistance for calendar year 2025
General Bulletin 24262 regarding anesthesia conversion factor for calendar year 2025

KanCare Claims Resolution Logs

The KanCare 2.0 Open Claims Resolution Log and the KanCare 2.0 Closed Claims Resolution Log are now available on the Bulletins page under the Publications heading on the KMAP website.

A standard global message has been added to alert providers. A standard RA banner message will appear on those available the weeks of December 16 and 23. Let me know if you have any questions regarding these updates.

HHS Official Says Providers Should Prepare For New HIPAA Audits

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (12/12, Marselas) reports, "Skilled nursing operators and other health care providers should prepare for a new round of audits designed to ensure compliance with federal cybersecurity and patient privacy laws, a Health and Human Services official said Wednesday." HHS Office for Civil Rights Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity Nicholas Heester "said his team is preparing to take another look at how well operators are meeting requirements."

CMS Updates Guidance for Mandatory Off-Cycle SNF Provider Enrollment Revalidations

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted the ninth update to sub-regulatory guidance for the SNF Mandatory Off-Cycle SNF Provider Enrollment Revalidation process. This update includes three significant changes and updates of which providers need to be aware. READ MORE

Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Strengthen Pipeline Of Health Care Professionals In Rural, Underserved Areas

McKnight’s Senior Living (12/13, Gaivin) reports, "US Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI) have introduced the Strengthening Pathways to Health Professions Act, aimed at increasing and strengthening the pipeline of health care professionals in rural and underserved areas by enabling scholarship and grant recipients to keep more of their awards." The legislation "is endorsed by 50 national and local organizations, according to Tokuda," including AHCA/NCAL. AHCA/NCAL said it will "continue its advocacy around policies that help bolster the health care workforce that supports our nation’s LTC residents."

Now Available: AHCA/NCAL Webinar Regarding CMS Surveyor Guidance Changes

AHCA/NCAL is offering a new webinar, Preparing for Upcoming CMS Guidance Changes: Key Updates and Action Items for Compliance , to provide important information about updated surveyor guidance recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

On November 18, 2024, CMS released Revised Long-Term Care (LTC) Surveyor Guidance: Significant revisions to enhance quality and oversight of the LTC Survey Process. The memo included significant changes to guidance in Appendix PP related to the updated regulatory areas. The changes will be effective, and surveyors will begin surveying based on the revised guidance, on February 24, 2025.

This webinar walks learners through each of the changes to guidance, the updates to the Critical Element Pathways, and provides some tips/action items to be compliant ahead of the effective date. It is free for AHCA/NCAL members and is $65 for non-members.

Please send all questions to r egulatory@ahca.org. Email educate@ahca.org if you need assistance with registering.

Call for presentations

An essential service to our association is offering high quality training and education to our members. We invite you to join us in our commitment to delivering timely, relevant, and engaging information as we prepare for our 2025 Education Calendar.

We are looking for topics that fit skilled nursing, assisted living, home plus and residential health care communities.

Click here to learn more on our needs and how you can submit a proposal.

Antipsychotic meds worsen behavior, study shows; MDs defend, call for alternatives

A new study of nearly 500,000 nursing home residents who were prescribed antipsychotic medications has found an increase in negative behaviors compared to those who were not given such drugs. READ MORE

Now Available: AHCA/NCAL Webinar Recording on Encouraging Vaccinations

In this webinar, AHCA/NCAL’s Dr. David Gifford, Chief Medical Officer, and Courtney Bishnoi, Vice President of Quality and Programs, along with HHS’s Kelly Langford, Online Communications Director, shared resources and strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake among long term care residents and staff. READ MORE