December 16, 2024

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The Latest News

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

Last week, the current and new regulations were provided related to Discharge Summaries because multiple facilities are being cited for lack of any or incomplete Discharge Summaries. That subject leads to the component of the Discharge Summary of Medication Reconciliation. READ MORE

From the KDADS CARE Department

We are sending out this message in response to recent worries which have been brought to our attention regarding the possibility that the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) will no longer be completing PASRR Level 1 Assessments prior to the end of calendar year 2024.

Please know, and be assured, that our current contract between the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Area Agencies on Aging is strong and that the AAAs will continue to complete PASRR Level 1 Assessments. If ever there are to be changes in any part of the CARE processes, such announcements will come from the CARE Team.

Please direct any further questions or concerns regarding this matter to the KDADS.care@ks.gov Inbox.

BREAKING: CMS launches nursing home staffing campaign with nurse recruiting websites

McKnights Long-Term Care News (12/16, Berklan) reported, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services debuted a pair of new web pages Monday morning, aimed at helping nursing homes and state inspection agencies recruit and educate new nurses.

Nursing Home Industry Preparing For Challenges In New Administration

Skilled Nursing News (12/13, Stulick) reported, "The nursing home industry has been on a wild ride this past year, with major regulation up in the air and a flip in the White House leaving operators unsure of whether they should applaud or brace for impact." The article highlighted challenges including the federal staffing mandate, Medicare Advantage, updates to Medicare revalidation processes, "eroding margins, tightening regulation, ever-present staffing challenges and inflationary pressures." The article added, "The incoming administration will, no doubt, bring its own challenges to the sector." The staffing mandate "promises to be ‘a nightmare’ for operators were it to come true, the American Health Care Association said in its lawsuit filing against the rule." Former AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "We had hoped it would not come to this; we repeatedly sought to work with the Administration on more productive ways to boost the nursing home workforce." New Hampshire Health Care Association President and CEO Brendan Williams also commented on the rule.

Senate Passes Bill With Provisions For Long-Term Care Options For Veterans

Seniors Housing Business (12/13, Spiess) reported, "The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan bill that includes provisions for more long-term care options, including assisted living, for military veterans." In "addition to other proposals to enhance the delivery of services by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)," the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Health care and Benefits Act "features the Expanding Veteran’s Options for Long Term Care Act, which includes the creation of a pilot program that will authorize the VA to provide assisted living residences for aging and disabled veterans." The "American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) spearheaded lobbying efforts throughout the legislative process, with support from" groups including NCAL.

McKnight’s Senior Living (12/16, Bowers) reports "senior living provider associations expressed cautious optimism Friday that" the bill "will find its way to President Biden’s desk before the end of the year and become law." NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea "told McKnight’s Senior Living that the group was ‘thrilled to see the significant progress made so far on this critical piece of legislation.’"

Members Only Nurse Advisory Committee (NAC) and Facility Standards Call – Friday, December 20, 2024 10:00 AM - 11:00AM

Join us at 10:00AM where Cynthia Pendleton, Facility Standards VP and Linda Farrar, KHCA Clinical Consultant will review recent SNF survey findings followed by Nurse Advisory Committee President, Michelle Novotny to discuss Nursing Scholarships, hot topics, and the latest happenings.

Latest Survey Findings

Reflections

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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.

In Case You Missed It

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: Free AHCA/NCAL Webinar Regarding CMS Surveyor Guidance Changes (On Demand)

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.