KHCA/KCAL Update 12/19/25

December 19, 2025

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The Latest News

Kansas Nursing Facilities and Nursing Facilities for Mental Health Rate Setting 102 Training

Please join as KDADS invites nursing facility administrators, corporate finance and reimbursement staff, cost report preparers, and others to attend a Kansas Nursing Facility Rate Setting 102 webinar in January.

The webinar will be presented by the State’s nursing facility rate setting contractor, Myers and Stauffer, and will dig deeper into the Kansas Medicaid nursing facility reimbursement methodology than the annual rate setting 101 presentations. Specific topics that will be discussed include: nurse staffing ratios, staff retention, Medicaid occupancy, quality measures scoring, and changes of ownership and their potential impact on quality incentive components. The webinar will be repeated at two different sessions— see below links for each WebEx event.

Time will be reserved at the end of each webinar session to address questions from participants.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Thursday, January 8, 2026, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

If you have questions about the event, or would like to submit related topic suggestions for the webinar please email: kdads.costreports@ks.gov

FREE Recurring Monthly Members Only MDS Call

January 14, 2026 @ 10:00 AM

Calendar invited will be sent on January 5, 2026.

We’ve heard from many members about the need for additional support and resources for MDS nurses. In response, KHCA is launching a new monthly Members-Only MDS Call beginning January 14, 2026.

This first call will be guided by two seasoned MDS leaders—Cynthia Pendleton (Americare) and Rachel Dautenhahn (RecoverCare)—who will help facilitate discussion, answer questions, and share best practices.

Because this is a brand-new group, we encourage participants to submit any MDS-related questions in advance. Your input will help shape the conversation and ensure we address the topics most important to you. We’re excited to provide a space for members to connect, collaborate, and strengthen their MDS knowledge.

Submit your MDS question here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SM3JBVN

All submissions will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Medicare Advantage Plans Denying, Delaying Medically Necessary Post-Acute Care Often, AHCA Survey Finds

Provider Magazine (12/1, 151K) reported, "With more than half of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, a survey from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) finds that MA plans are denying or delaying medically necessary post-acute care, often against medical professionals’ recommendations, on a daily and weekly basis." AHCA President and CEO Clif Porter said, "This constant hoop-jumping is resulting in too many skilled nursing patients being discharged too soon against medical advice, threatening their recovery."

CMS To Require Medicare Advantage Plans To Submit Data On Initial Coverage Decisions, Appeals

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (12/18, Marselas) reports CMS "will soon require all Medicare Advantage plans to submit data on initial coverage decisions and appeals they process," the agency announced in a Wednesday memo. While "the mandatory reporting would begin in 2027," the agency "is currently seeking insurance company volunteers to test a pilot starting in the second half of 2026." AHCA Vice President for Reimbursement Policy and Population Health Nisha Hammel said, "This is an important step on the path to ensuring that Medicare Advantage plans offer the transparency necessary for seniors and their families to make informed decisions."

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

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."

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: