March 26, 2025

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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

Next steps after Healthy Blue charges a 2.9% fee for using the electronic payment portal - EnrollSafe Bulletin


At our last KHCA board meeting, an issue was brought up stating that Healthy Blue was charging a 2.9% fee for using the electronic payment portal. We made connections with Health Blue and found that when enrolling, there was a second step sent via email that providers were missing, and so they unknowingly did not complete the process and were assigned the "default" payment structure, which includes fees. The fees are actually from a third-party processor, Zelis. Healthy Blue Kansas has provided a Bulletin with links to help walk providers through the process. Please let us know if you are having issues or difficulties or you can connect directly with:


Angeline Anderson

Manager, Provider Network Management LTSS

Angeline.Anderson@healthybluekansas.com

(785)764-7598

REMINDER: May 1 Mandatory SNF Provider Enrollment Revalidation Deadline Approaching


Skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers enrolled in Medicare or Medicare/Medicaid must submit a mandatory off-cycle provider enrollment revalidation by May 1, 2025. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued this mandatory process last September. While there have been multiple updates since the release, including extending the initial deadline, it is important for SNF providers to ensure completion of the revalidation process by May 1 or risk having enrollment suspended or revoked.  


AHCA Resources 


AHCA will host a member-only SNF Provider Revalidation “Office Hours” webinar on Friday, March 28, from 1 – 2 PM Central to provide an update and answer member questions. Advanced registration is required. 


AHCA also offers a variety of SNF provider enrollment resources available on our Reimbursement website, including contact information, past webinars, feedback from CMS, and more.  


CMS Resources


Additionally, providers can find detailed sub-regulatory guidance information on the new organizations and individual parties required to be reported on the CMS website.  


CMS also offers a step-by-step screenshot of instructions on completing an application via the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). 

READ MORE

Get AHCA's NEW Learning The Minimum Data Set Program for your Interdisciplinary Team


The Ultimate Resource and Boot Camp Covering MDS Essentials for Nurses, Administrators, Social Workers, and the Entire MDS Team to Improve Accuracy and Efficiency!  


Use this program for:

  • MDS Nurse Training  
  • Performance Improvement
  • Continuing Education 
  • MDS Team Orientation


What You Will Learn:

  • The role of the Resident Assessment Instrument in nursing facilities,
  • The process for completing the MDS, and
  • How to complete an MDS assessment.



Click here to learn more.

Make Your Voice Heard at the 2025 AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing - Register Today


Join us June 9-10, 2025, for the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. Now is a critical time to ensure lawmakers fully understand the challenges you face in delivering quality care. Register today!

In Case You Missed It

Aging Services Day - 2025


Today we had over 80 people representing Aging Services spend time at the State Capitol during KHCA/KCAL, LeadingAge and KACE's Aging Services Day. We’d like to thank all that took time out of their schedules to convey the message to our State Legislators the importance and value of Aging Services.

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar


In today’s McKnight’s Clinical Daily, there is a very interesting article titled, “Hearing Loss Raises Fall Odds by 51%, Research Shows. https://www.mcknights.com/news/hearing-loss-raises-fall-odds-by-51-percent-research-shows/?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8NWLTR_MLT_CLINICAL_03242025&hmEmail=7n8%2FnCqJ2EkZVo%2BD7NdkWt9Sz%2By1cfMN&sha256email=fbf33a7d51f2b4dc43206e4af9c3d189a41c798606a36c9ae3a3324420aa90e5&elqTrack=True. This article is worth the time to read. (It’s a short read). And within the article, it addresses the fact that hearing loss is a “modifiable risk factor”. “The findings revealed that individuals with hearing loss had 51% higher odds of falls in cross-sectional studies and 17% greater risk of falls in longitudinal studies compared to those without hearing loss.” READ MORE

Funding available to attain Age-Friendly Health Systems Recognition and Kansas 4M Champion status (Apply by April 31, 2025)


Kansas 4M Geriatrics Workforce Education Program is offering

$1,000 for up to 30 sites to participate in an Age-Friendly Action Community and achieve Level 1 and Level 2 Age-Friendly Health Systems Recognition.


The program uses an evidence-based framework known as the 4Ms:

What Matters, Medication, Mentation (Mind), and Mobility.

 

Participating sites may include nursing homes, primary care sites and delivery systems, hospitals, ambulatory care, convenient care clinics, geriatric surgery, and geriatric emergency departments serving older adults across Kansas.


Click here for additional information or to apply

Education Spotlight

Advance Concepts for Operators - Assisted Living Lunch and Learn

 

April 17, 2025 - 9:15AM - 3:30PM

 

This lunch and learn was created specifically with the Operators of our Kansas State Licensed Only facilities in mind. This 1-day lunch and learn will dive into topics that we frequently receive questions on for our Assisted Living, Home Plus and Residential Health Care Providers. Class size is limited to 40 and will include sharing and perspectives from all setting types.

 

Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Education

Dietary as a Business Virtual Workshop


3/26/25 - 1:00PM -5:00PM


Click here for more details.

2025 Spring Joint Provider Workshop


April 2nd - Wichita Event Registration Link 

April 3rd - Topeka Event Registration Link 

April 3rd Virtual Event Registration Link 

Webinar: F684 - Quality of Care


4/8/25 - 1:30PM - 2:30PM


Click here for more details.

Webinar: Falls & Accidents


4/15/25 - 1:30PM - 2:30PM


Click here for more details.

Advanced Concepts for Operators - Assisted Living

Lunch and Learn


4/17/25 - 9:15AM - 3:30PM


Click here for more details.

Assisted Living Conference


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


Click here for more details.

Advantage Wound Care Certification Course


5/14/25 & 5/15/25 - 8:30AM - 5:00PM


Click here for more details.


Click here for more details about the scholarship.

Administrator in Training (AIT) Program

Looking for an AIT Program? Click here for more details on KHCA's Program.

Questions? Email Teresa Keating at tkeating@khca.org
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