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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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ACTION ALERT: Support Aging Services Budget Recommendations for FY25
KHCA is teaming up with LeadingAge Kansas for a quick Action Alert turnaround.
We need your help reaching out to House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committee members from your district to get the Medicaid Capacity Payments (add-on) extended to FY25, rebase PACE to 90%, enhance funding for the HCBS/FE waiver, include the staffing agency proviso language, and fund the 5% gap for hospice providers! The chairs of House Social Services Budget and Senate Ways and Means Human Services subcommittee will be presenting those recommendations to their respective full committees on Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, February 29. Help us educate your legislators on these committees about why these enhancements are beneficial and how we need to support the entire continuum of care for aging Kansans.
Please submit comments before 8:00AM Wednesday, February 28th and indicate you are a KHCA/KCAL Member in the comments.
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KMAP Web Updates
The KMAP Public Portal has been updated with the following updates:
- Updated General Bulletin 23349 regarding an updated reminder of guidance for Electronic Visit Verification
- General Bulletin 24029 regarding a Preferred Drug List Update
- General Bulletin 24052 regarding a Change Healthcare Outage
A standard global message has been added to alert providers. A standard RA banner message will appear the weeks of February 26 and March 4.
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
On February 21, 2024, AHCA held its monthly State Affiliate Network Meeting. It was packed full of great information. First on the agenda was Amanda Hall explaining a new program created by Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Amanda and Alice Bonner are working on what sounds like a great project to result in transformative change in healthcare with the mission of “ building a movement of care for older adults to ensure the care is “age friendly”. It is built on 3 premises: READ MORE
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Most US Clinicians Think Telehealth Can Play Key Role In Improving Management Of Chronic Conditions, Research Suggests
McKnight’s Senior Living (2/26, Dorman) reports "a substantial majority of American clinicians believe that telehealth options can play a crucial role in improving" health care "practices, especially in the management of chronic conditions, according to recent research." The survey, "conducted by telehealth platform SteadyMD," found that "87% of respondents said they supported federal regulations that would standardize telehealth practice." The findings were published in a press release.
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TOMORROW! Webinar: Payroll Based Journal and Staffing
2/27/24 - 1:00PM-2:15PM
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A Message from the President & CEO Linda MowBray: Our Kansas Commitment
Week seven of the 2024 Legislative session signaled the midway point and created a very busy schedule as legislative committees worked to move bills from one chamber to the next before the final gavel today, which is known as “turn around day.” Because the amount of bills being heard on the floor of both chambers and the subsequent amendments added, we will not have a full rundown on the results until later.
Next Monday, you will receive a call to action regarding the KDADS budget. It is vital that you tell your representative and senator how much the $19.58 Medicaid addon has helped you. We are in a good position with the House as our requests are part of the subcommittee’s recommendation.
In the Senate, however, only half the addon amount or $9.79 was recommended by the subcommittee.
The full House Appropriations Committee will meet Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. to finalize the KDADS budget.
The full Senate Ways and Means Committee will meet Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. to finalize the KDADS budget.
We have time to make a difference, but your legislators must hear from you. More to come including talking points for your reach out.
Finally, KHCA/KCAL’s VP of Government Affairs, Levi Davis, Administrator for Prairie Ridge Health & Rehabilitation LLC in Overland Park, represented the Association on Wednesday evening at lobbyist John Federico’s home where 20 legislators gathered for dinner, drinks and good conversation. Reports back stated, “he was a rock star and represented your association well.” Thank you, Levi, for your involvement and dedication to the Association.
Should you have questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me. As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
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National Skilled Nursing Care Week® Resources & Exclusive Products Now Available
Celebrate 'Radiant Memories: A Tribute to the Golden Age of Radio' May 12-18, 2024
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is excited to announce that resources for this year’s National Skilled Nursing Care Week® (NSNCW), including the Planning Guide, marketing tools, and special products, are now available at NSNCW.org.
These materials are designed to assist you in planning, promoting, and celebrating NSNCW. Discover everything you need to make this week memorable for your residents, staff, and volunteers and to spread joy throughout the community.
Begin your NSNCW 2024 preparations today and help us create a week filled with unforgettable moments!
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Semmelweis Times Winter 2024 • Volume 5 • Issue 1
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AHCA/NCAL Webinar Offering: DOL’s Final Rule on Independent Contractor Classification – LTC Provider Impact
When: Friday, March 8, at 1-2pm ET
Background: On January 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule, entitled Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, that goes into effect on March 11, 2024. This rule revises the Department’s guidance on how the agency determines whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee who would be entitled to minimum wage, overtime wages and other protections provided under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It specifically rescinds the Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act rule ( 2021 IC Rule), that focused on two primary factors – the worker’s control over their work and opportunity for profit or loss – which was published on January 7, 2021, under the Trump Administration. The new final rule essentially reverts to the Department’s earlier and broader multi-factor test which focused on the economic realities of a worker’s work relationship including whether the worker was dependent on the company for work.
Overall, the new standard will in certain circumstances make it more difficult for long term care providers to properly classify a worker as an independent contractor. This final rule also has the potential to place greater financial and legal burdens on long term care providers who regular rely on workers classified as independent contractors as many existing contract workers may need to be reclassified as employees under the new standards. Doing so will require long term care providers to pay the workers as employees subject to minimum wage and overtime requirements and complying with all other federal, state and local laws and ordinances governing employee rights in the workplace. The AHCA/NCAL analysis of this rule can be found here.
Hear from legal experts on how the new final rule will impact your workplace as a long term care provider, and get your pressing questions answered.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand what this new final rule means to you as a long term care provider and how to limit potential risk for employee misclassification claims
- Understand how this new final rule differs from the guidance provided in the 2021 Independent Contractor Rule
- Learn more on the ongoing legislative efforts around worker classification issues
- Prepare to meet the compliance effective date
Presenters: Neville Bilimoria, Partner at Duane Morris LLP, Jennifer Long, Special Counsel at Duane Morris LLP, and Dana Ritchie, AHCA’s Assoc VP of Workforce & Constituency Services
COST: Free to AHCA/NCAL Member | $50 Non-members
If you are not able to attend live, the recording will be provided to you. A certificate of attendance will be available after the webinar.
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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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Joint Provider Surveyor Training
Three Options to attend
March 19, 2024 (Topeka)
March 20, 2024 (Wichita)
March 20, 2024 (Virtual)
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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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