KHCA/KCAL Update 12/17/25

December 17, 2025

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The Latest News

A Year-End Update from Clif Porter: 2025 AHCA/NCAL Annual Report Now Available

This past year has been busy, eventful, and filled with successes for the long term care profession. It is with your efforts and support throughout the year that we have been able to push our profession forward, and I know there’s no better place to be as we head into 2026.

I encourage you to watch the video below wrapping up 2025 and discussing membership as we approach the new year.

We also have released our 2025 Annual Report, which outlines AHCA/NCAL’s overarching goals over the past 12 months, as well as our success and achievements.

I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished over the past year. Our successes highlight our strength and impact when we work together and remain strong. Most of all, though, I’m excited for what 2026 holds for us. As always, we have a lot of work to do, but I am confident we will be ready for whatever comes our way.

Have a wonderful holiday season. Let’s rest, regroup, and get ready to move ahead united and stronger than ever!

Clifton J. Porter, II

President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL

SNFs Added 8,400 Jobs In November, Bureau Of Labor Statistics Data Show

Park Place Live (12/16, Connole) says that on Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics "delayed [its] national employment report showing skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) added 8,400 jobs in November when compared to October of this year." And "year-to-year, SNFs employed some 60,000 more people last month when compared to November 2024 at 1,568,500 vs. 1,508,500." Former AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson "said the post-pandemic employment performance continues to improve."

Expanded Screening, Vetting Process For Certain Visa Applications Takes Effect

McKnight’s Senior Living (12/17, Gaivin) reports, "The State Department’s expanded screening and vetting process for certain visa applications went into effect on Monday," requiring "applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas" to "adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public.’" This "new process may not significantly affect the long-term care" workforce. AHCA/NCAL Associate Vice President of Constituency Services and Workforce Dana Ritchie said, "Immigrants make up a significant portion of our long term care workforce. ... Expanding and streamlining legal pathways for international caregivers to serve our nation’s seniors is critical in order to maintain their access to high-quality care."

Don’t Miss the 2026 National Quality Award Application Deadline

Next year marks a special milestone – the 30th anniversary of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program! For three decades, this program has helped long term and post-acute care providers strengthen their systems, improve outcomes, and celebrate excellence in care.

If you are planning to apply for a 2026 National Quality Award, please remember that applications are due by January 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM CT. READ MORE

No NAC & Facility Standards Call this Friday!

There will not be a NAC & Facility Standards call this month. However, you can find the latest findings below. Please note that the data portion of the Reflections has not changed since November, as the period from October 1 through the current December is considered FY2026, and QCOR has not yet made FY2026 data available for retrieval. The findings do include some notable items, primarily related to complaints, as well as survey findings from surveys that were initiated prior to the shutdown but not delivered until November 17.

Latest Findings

Reflections without QCOR Data

In Case You Missed It

KHCA’s AIT Program: Celebrating Success and Leadership!

Over the past three years, KHCA’s Administrator-in-Training (AIT) Program has been an incredible success. We’ve had the privilege of working with so many talented individuals who have gone on to become licensed nursing home administrators.

Today, we want to take a moment to celebrate and congratulate, another AIT and their hard work and dedication, Brenton Maltsbarger. We’re proud to be a part of your journey! Congratulations on passing your exam!

If you are interested in signing up for KHCA’s AIT program you can find more information on our website or you can always reach out to Teresa Keating.

CMS Formalizes Indefinite Suspension of SNF Provider Enrollment Revalidation Deadline

As shared earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) informed AHCA that the mandatory off-cycle SNF provider enrollment revalidation deadline of January 1, 2026, has been suspended indefinitely. CMS posted a formal notice in the December 11, 2025, MLN Connects Newsletter, sharing that it “will provide additional information in future updates to this guidance.”

Key CMS links providing additional details:

AHCA has been relentlessly advocating to CMS about this issue, and we appreciate the agency granting our request for relief given the many difficulties providers have faced recently and throughout the process.

Learn more about what SNF providers should do next. READ MORE

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

With this celebratory season, always comes a spike in viruses and infections…everything from norovirus to COVID outbreaks (which is already occurring), influenza and the increase in the number of MDROs, either actual or potential requiring Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP). In one of the entries this week in the LTC National Infection Prevention Forum, there was a discussion of “terminal cleaning”. Uh oh! It’s different from day-to-day cleaning? Yep! Terminal cleaning—also known as discharge cleaning or deep cleaning—refers to the thorough disinfection and preparation of a resident's room after they have been removed from isolation procedures including EBP, discharged, transferred, or passed away. This process goes beyond routine daily cleaning to eliminate pathogens, reduce the risk of cross-contamination, and create a welcoming, safe environment for the next occupant. READ MORE

Upcoming iQIES Service Center Hold Times

Due to the Payroll Based Journal quarterly deadline, the iQIES Service Center is projecting an increase in the volume of calls and emails between January 2, 2026, and February 14, 2026.

Did you know:

There are a variety of methods to contact the CCSQ Service Center: READ MORE

Are you an ahcancalED website user? They need to hear from YOU!

As part of our ongoing efforts to provide the best website and services possible, AHCA would like your feedback via online survey.

This short survey only takes a few minutes, and your feedback is invaluable to helping improve their platform.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Education Spotlight

Aging Services Day

Mark your calendar for Aging Services day, January 21, 2026.

Aging Services Day is a collaborative event put together by Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living, LeadingAge Kansas and Kansas Adult Care Executives where Long Term Care Providers gather at the State Capitol to champion the needs of our elderly in Kansas. We will meet in the morning for education at The Beacon then go to the Capitol for a full afternoon of legislative advocacy on issues that are crucial to the LTC Profession with our Kansas Legislators. It’s a powerful opportunity to allow your voice to be heard and influence positive change for LTC providers and the population we care for. Be part of the movement for better aging services. READ MORE

This event is sponsored by: