Membership 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. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your membership status, please contact Kristin Plantz kplantz@khca.org.

Nursing Home Operators Continue To Struggle With Trump Administration’s Communications Freeze

Skilled Nursing News (2/4, Siddiqi) reports, "The Trump administration’s communications freeze, which has indefinitely blocked a majority of external communications by" CMS, "continues to cause turmoil for nursing home operators." The "freeze, imposed last week, has disrupted the flow of key health care data, including that issued by the" CDC, "causing problems for some facilities by delaying updates to their star ratings and other public health measures that rely on CMS data." Amid the freeze, "operators have managed to get by despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, according to" AHCA/NCAL Public Affairs Senior Vice President Rachel Reeves. Reeves explained, "Certainly, external communications from the federal government help bring clarity on certain issues to providers and consumers alike, but providers are continuing to do what they do best during this transition – provide high-quality care."

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (2/5, Johnson) reports Reeves added, "We look forward to federal agencies resuming traditional external communications and perhaps more importantly, working with stakeholders to advance solutions for patients and providers." 

Virtual KDADS Regional Round Tables February 10th, 2025

Please join survey certification and credentialing commissioner Lacey Hunter and assistant commissioner Dawne Altis for a virtual session of Adult Care Home regional round tables, February 10th, 2025, from 12pm-1:30pm. 

Topics will include: 

• State Licensed Only Involuntary Discharge Reporting (Assisted Living, Residential Health Care, Home Plus) 
• Changes to CCRC since July 1, 2024 
• Receivership - what is it and how do you apply for it 
• Top deficiencies cited 
• Survey consistency 
• CMPs and Other Enforcement 
• NATCEP Bans and Waiver Process 

Aging Services Day

February 18, 2025 - 8:30AM - 4:00PM

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. LEARN MORE

Sponsors for this event include:

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

At the risk of further revisions to the regulations due to the change of Administration, one of the changes included in QSO-25-07-NH involves F641 Accuracy of Assessments. CMS recently announced significant revisions to F641 which pertain to the accuracy of the MDS in facilities.

Key changes include: READ MORE

Frozen out again: Nursing homes don’t get anticipated thaw of key quality metrics

Two key updates to consumer-facing metrics that skilled nursing operators had been expecting last week appear to have been blocked by a White House freeze on healthcare communications.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services typically updates data on its Care Compare site on the last Wednesday of the month, but that did not happen in January. CMS had previously confirmed that the site — meant to help patients and family members choose a nursing home based on performance measures and other factors — would be updated on or around Jan. 29. READ MORE

Life Safety Bootcamp

February 26 - 27, 2025 Olathe, KS

Undergoing a Life Safety Code survey can be a high-pressure experience, particularly when the outcome impacts not only regulatory compliance but also the safety and well-being of facility occupants. In this session, Kenn will share expert guidance on how to effectively prepare for a Life Safety Code survey, with a focus on fostering productive and positive interactions with surveyors. Drawing from years of experience, Kenn will cover essential best practices to ensure that your facility meets the stringent inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) requirements outlined in the Life Safety and Healthcare Facility Codes.

Through practical examples and real-world survey scenarios, Kenn will explain how these codes are applied in operational settings, address recent updates to the standards, and highlight the increasing ITM requirements that facilities must now meet. The Life Safety Code serves as the cornerstone for protecting building occupants by establishing minimum standards for critical systems such as fire protection, emergency power generation, door operations, and overall facility services. Adherence to these standards is not just a regulatory obligation, but a fundamental aspect of maintaining a safe environment for all who live and work in healthcare and other regulated facilities. LEARN MORE

Webinar: F880 – Infection Prevention & Control

2/11/25 - 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Click here for more details.

Aging Services Day 2025

2/18/25 - 8:30AM -4:00PM

Click here for more details.

Webinar: Incident Investigations

2/18/25 - 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Click here for more details.

Life Safety Code Boot Camp

2/26 - 2/27/25 - 8:00AM - 3:30PM

Click here for more details.

RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop

3/4 - 3/6/25 - 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Click here for more details.