March 12, 2025

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.

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.

The Latest News

KANCARE MCO “HEALTHY BLUE” MAY NOT REQUIRE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR NURSING HOME ADMISSION

KHCA/KCAL Advocating for You!

A member asked:

“Have other providers mentioned that Healthy Blue is trying to have all nursing homes have prior authorization before admitting a resident?

Please take a look at the attached form they want us to use.”

We went to work contacting KDHE to learn more about this prior authorization.

“Good Morning, Secretary Stanek. One of my larger members sent this prior authorization form that Health Blue says they must use before nursing home admission is approved for their members. Because the nursing home program is an entitlement, I'm concerned that prior auth could create delays for admission plus the State CARE/PASRR program is already in place to determine appropriateness of placement. Can you advise?”

This was the response from KDHE:

"You are correct that Healthy Blue should not have required prior authorization for a nursing home admission. Our managed care team has reached out to Healthy Blue to ensure they are correctly following Kansas Medicaid policy and Healthy Blue will be correcting the process."

If you have any other issues or concerns, please feel free to connect.

Fighting For You and The Future of LTC

Medicaid Continues to Be Priority Focus

We are in an unprecedented time. There is so much happening every day. Ongoing changes, proposals, orders, and policies have the potential to impact member providers and residents –both positively and negatively – across the country. AHCA/NCAL is working hard on your behalf, so let’s jump right into it.

Click here to read more on:

MEDICAID
ADDITIONAL UPDATES FROM CAPITOL HILL
UPCOMING EVENTS

Bipolar Awareness, Staffing Updates & Free Resources

In This Issue

World Bipolar Day: Raising Awareness and Combating Stigma
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Launches National Campaign to Boost Nursing Home Staffing and Care Quality
Nursing Facility Guidance: Revised Guidance for Surveyors
COE-NF In-Action Consultation Summary: A Strategic Approach to Comorbidity Treatment
Office Hours
Managing Substance Use Disorders in Nursing Facilities
CARES® Serious Mental Illness™
COE-NF Resources
Bipolar Disorder Facts
Overcoming Stigma in Mental Health
Did You Know?
Save the Date: Upcoming Training
You Matter

Click here to read more.

MCIRN LT SNF Preceptor Survey

In partnership with the Nebraska Health Care Association, we are seeking input from healthcare providers involved in training new nurses or nurse aides. This includes staff members on the floor, educators, and administrators addressing workforce issues. The information gathered will be used to develop free training programs, resources, and tools to better prepare those who teach and support administrators in staff development. The survey is very short and easy to complete. Click here to start the survey now.

Aging Services Day 2025 has been rescheduled!

Due to last week's weather, we were forced to postpone our scheduled Aging Services Day.

New Date: March 24, 2025

8:30AM - 4:00PM

Registration fee for all providers: $75.00

**New date, but all other details remain the same.**

Click here for more details.

[UPDATED] CMS again delays adoption of new surveyor guidance

Federal regulators have delayed survey enforcement of updated nursing home operational guidance an additional month.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service announced the delay in a revised memo Friday, without giving any explanation. Surveyors are now being told to use the updated State Operations Manual, Appendix PP Guidance effective April 28. READ MORE

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

Despite the 1 month delay in implementation of the revision to regulations from CMS, there are some aspects of that revision that likely will not change. One of those aspects is the revision to F697 Pain Management, so this may be a good time to review a facility’s policies and procedures related to pain management. The actual regulation did not change: READ MORE

HCS Nursing Home/CCRC Studies - Participation Time

Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS) is conducting its annual CCRC Salary & Benefits study and requests your participation. CCRC/LPC providers are asked to complete the study’s questionnaire by April 14^th. The CCRC Report will be published in June.

A separate Nursing Home Salary & Benefits study is also underway, deadline May 12^th. The Report will be published in July. The Nursing Home Report is published by HCS and supported by AHCA.

There is no cost to participate. Participants may purchase the results at the reduced participant price of $200, versus the $400 nonparticipant rate. Questionnaires may be downloaded at: www.hhcsinc.com.

Both studies cover management salaries, bonuses, non-management wages, staffing metrics covering retention, and recruitment strategies. Data will be reported by region, state, CBSA, revenue size, and bed size. Both for-profit and not-for-profit data will be separately covered. Information on eighteen fringe benefits, shift differentials, turnover and vacancy rates will also be included.

Last year’s CCRC Report contained data from 510 CCRCs and covered 80,750+ employees. The Nursing Home Report contained data from 914 nursing homes and included data from 100,660+ employees.

Nationally known, their reports are recognized as the standard for reliable, comprehensive, and affordable compensation data for healthcare. Contact Rich Cioffe at RJCioffe@hhcsinc.com, (201) 405-0075, ext. 10 with any questions.

The next Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum has been cancelled for March 20th, 2025

The next Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum has been cancelled for March 20th, 2025. The registration webpage has been updated. Thank you.

Education Spotlight

Dietary As a Business Virtual Workshop

March 26, 2025 - 1:00PM - 5:00PM

Have you ever followed a fork through a kitchen? Ralph Peterson has, and his findings are surprising. On average, a fork is touched 16 times throughout the day, and only three of those times are when the resident is using it. In this dynamic and insightful workshop, Ralph breaks down all the processes in a kitchen – revealing secrets on how to eliminate waste, increase consistency, and create a culture of excellence. The focus of this workshop is on transforming dietary services from a routine necessity into a thriving, efficient (business) operation.

Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Education