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. |
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As a reminder, the renewal deadline for your KHCA/KCAL membership is March 31st. We strive to give you a highly-valued return on your dues investment, and we look forward to serving you in the year ahead.
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A Message from Mark Parkinson
I am writing today to share the news that I will retire at the end of this year.
This hasn’t been an easy decision. I love this job. I love our mission. I love the work each of you do. And I’ve loved the opportunity to represent you in Washington, D.C. for the last 13 years. I’m confident this is the right decision. It’s been a great run, but I believe this is the right time for me and the right time for the organization.
My overwhelming emotion is gratitude. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity you’ve given me. I started this job on the heels of serving as Kansas Governor. Being a Governor is a pretty nice job, and it’s not an easy job to leave. When I left Kansas, I was excited about the opportunity to come to D.C. and run the Association, but I assumed my best days were behind me. I was wrong.
These have been the most important and rewarding years of my professional life. Together, we unified the profession to have one, powerful voice in D.C. Together, we developed the Quality Initiative and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents. Together, we navigated through multiple administrations and Congresses. And together, we survived the pandemic, and you saved thousands of lives with your heroism. Together, we achieved a lot.
When I leave this role, we will continue to achieve the seemingly impossible. The AHCA Board has developed a process to find our next leader, and I’m confident they will find the right person. It will be different, but it will work. I’m sure of it. I’ve also agreed to serve the next leader as a consultant in any capacity they find helpful.
In the meantime, we have a lot to achieve this year. I won’t be dialing it in. Instead, I’ll continue to work hard every single day to achieve our objectives. I will not rest until we achieve all our goals. Those include a Medicare increase for the 13th year in a row, continued growth of our networks, ongoing work with the Group Purchasing Organization, and growth of the National Quality Award Program. We will also continue our work to fight the minimum staffing proposed rule.
I would also appreciate as little attention on me as possible. I’m not interested in a victory tour. Let’s make this year about winning and winning in the future. The most exciting times in the history of the profession are yet to come.
Thanks so much for everything.
Best,
Mark Parkinson
President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL
Reported by:
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RRSSC Important Update
KFMC Health Improvement Partners (KFMC) has become aware of potential future Medicaid rate implications for facilities that participated in the Covid-19 Long Term Care Rapid Response Staffing Support Center grant. We have discussed this issue with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and their rate setting contractor Myers and Stauffer LC (MSLC). Together, we developed a plan to account for grant program expenditures made on behalf of each facility. Currently the plan is for KFMC to provide KDADS and MSLC with a report of facility-specific grant expenditures and staffing hours provided that will be reviewed and automatically included for each participating provider during the annual rate setting process which begins in March. The costs of staffing provided through the grant program and any related staffing data such as staff hours should not be reported by the facility on the 2023 Medicaid cost reports.
KDADS will publish a notice of proposed rates and methodology April 4, 2024, in the Kansas Register https://sos.ks.gov/publications/kansas-register.html. This notice will reflect any plan to incorporate the grant program expenditures in the rate setting calculation. A 30-day public comment period will ensue upon the publication of the notice. We encourage you to watch for the notice publication and review and comment on any provisions related to the grant program.
If you have any concerns about the reimbursement implications of the grant program or reporting of grant data, please contact Christine Lewis with Myers and Stauffer at 800.255.2309. or by email at clewis@mslc.com
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TOMORROW! Webinar: Nursing Facility Discharge Processes
This Thursday at 1:00PM!
Join KHCA for this 90-minute webinar with Linda Farrar, RN, LNHA in which she will explore the complexities of the nursing facility discharge process. The focus will be on prioritizing the best interests of residents, family members, staff, and the organization while reviewing what’s required federally. Gain insights into navigating these intricate decisions to ensure optimal outcomes for all stakeholders involved. Time has been built into this webinar to answer your questions specific to this process.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will understand Federal regulations pertaining to discharges.
- Participants will understand the responsibilities of the facility related to discharges.
- Participants will understand the role of the resident and representatives/family members in discharge decisions and discharge plans.
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Registration for this year's AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing will open on Wednesday, March 13. The event will take place June 3-4 in Washington, DC and is a great opportunity for AHCA/NCAL members to gather together, learn, and advocate for the long term care profession. Those who have attended Congressional Briefing previously know the impact these two days make. For those who have never attended, this year is critical to be on the Hill with the proposed staffing rule hanging in the balance. READ MORE
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KDADS Establishes Aging Services Commission; Names David Anderson Commissioner |
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TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced today she has appointed David Anderson to serve as commissioner for the agency’s newly formed Aging Services Commission.
The Aging Services team, now a separate entity from the Long-Term Services and Supports Commission, reflects the agency's commitment to addressing the needs and challenges of the state's aging population with more focus and energy.
“David Anderson comes to KDADS with more than three decades of experience in behavioral health services, building community partnerships, and leading effective teams,” KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. “We look to him to work with various community partners to create shared goals and outcomes.”
Anderson is a licensed behavioral health provider who spent the last 36 years at High Plains Mental Health Center in Hays, starting as a service provider and later holding various leadership positions. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at Fort Hays State University's psychology department for many years.
Over the years, Anderson has served on numerous statewide committees and boards. He was appointed by Governor Laura Kelly in 2019 to serve on the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, where he currently serves as vice chair.
“I am very excited about this new position and the opportunity to continue to serve people,” KDADS Aging Services Commissioner Anderson said. “I look forward to traveling across the state and engaging with local communities, partners, and stakeholders in meaningful dialogue and planning to create positive movement and lasting change.”
Anderson grew up in Winfield, Kansas, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southwestern College. He moved to western Kansas in 1985 to attend Fort Hays State University, where he earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
As if the continued COVID-19 outbreaks aren’t enough, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is also “making the rounds” across the entire country. On the LTC National Infection Prevention Forum, Dr. David Gifford, the Chief Medical Officer for AHCA shared this document from CDC. In previous years, RSV has been more impactful for children, but that has changed. RSV generally is much more severe for elders and results in more hospitalizations and deaths. This week’s update will simply share the document from Dr. Gifford. READ MORE
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Joint Provider Surveyor Training
Three Options to attend
March 19, 2024 (Topeka)
March 20, 2024 (Wichita)
March 20, 2024 (Virtual)
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Webinar: Payroll Based Journal and Staffing
2/27/24 - 1:00PM-2:15PM
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Life Safety Code Boot Camp
2/28 - 2/29/24 - 8:00AM-3:30PM in Olathe, KS
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Webinar: The Impact of the MDS: MDS Five Star Factors
2/28/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: The Impact of the MDS: MDS Systems & Mechanisms for Care Plan Effectiveness
3/6/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks Related to Abuse and Neglect
3/12/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Pain Management
3/19/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Joint Provider Surveyor Training
March 19 - Topeka, KS
March 20 - Wichita, KS
March 20 - Virtual
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Adult Care Home Operators Course
3/27 - 4/8/24
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
Looking for an AIT Program? Click here for more details on KHCA's Program.
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Kansas Health Care Association and the Kansas Center for Assisted Living
1100 SW Gage Blvd. | PO Box 4770 | Topeka, KS 66604
PH: 785-267-6003 FAX: 785-267-0833
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