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.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) issued updated guidance for respiratory viruses in community settings. The CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance is intended for a general audience and community settings, including assisted living communities. It does not apply to health care settings, including nursing homes. 

The CDC offers separate, specific guidance for health care settings (COVID-19, general infection prevention and control, and flu) and Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 that is not currently changing. Nursing homes remain under the health care setting guidance and are therefore not impacted by these updates. 

Please email COVID19@ahca.org with any questions. 

Our state is no different from other states across the nation when it comes to deficiencies being written at F880 (Infection Control) related to linen requirements. AHCA also noted the number of deficiencies relate to laundry and linen requirements so they have provided a Tip Sheet. My clinical update this week includes that Tip Sheet. Feel free to share it with your team. READ MORE

Skilled Nursing News (3/1, Stulick) reported that "more than 1,000 nursing home leaders, along with associations" including AHCA/NCAL, "sent a joint letter to House Ways and Means Committee leaders to reject the federal minimum staffing proposal." This "letter, spearheaded by AHCA/NCAL, was sent late Thursday and signed by state partners and providers as well, urging support for the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act (H.R. 5796) which would effectively stop the proposal." AHCA/NCAL Government Affairs Senior Vice President Clif Porter said in a statement, "Nursing homes are a critical part of our health care continuum, which is why the number of stakeholders speaking out against this flawed policy continues to grow. ... We are extremely proud to have led this effort and grateful for the support of these organizations." The group "strongly urged Congress to support the legislation, and in turn protect access to care for the country’s seniors." 

McKnight’s Senior Living (3/4, Dorman) reports, "The recent cyberattack on Change Health care has led to major problems for long-term care providers, especially nursing homes and particularly with claims processing and billing." In response, AHCA/NCAL is "urging federal action." The organization "sent a letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services Thursday, requesting specific action, including enabling access for advanced payments and facilitating better communication from Change Health care on the situation." AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson wrote in the letter, "Timely payments are essential for facilities to maintain daily operations and to keep their doors open for residents and patients...and we request your support for providers to access accelerated payments." Currently, CMS "allows for advanced payment eligibility under ‘highly exceptional situations,’ the letter notes." 

A Message from the President & CEO Linda MowBray: Our Kansas Commitment

Welcome to the first of windy March that comes on the heals of a very windy week eight in the Kansas Legislature. 

Budget recommendations were made to appropriations committees on both the House and Senate side. Your reach outs to members of those committees were very effective and we went into those meetings feeling like your needs had been heard. In the House, the following were recommended:

The Senate agreed to these recommendations:

There is still plenty of time to try to move the dial on the Senate side but at least we have a floor of $10 and a ceiling of $19.58 plus the full rebase.

Other issues that are still alive for this session:

The rumor at the rail this week is that Senate President Ty Masterson would like to gavel out Sine Die on April 5, 2024, and eliminate a veto session this year. Reports are House Speaker Dan Hawkins is not inclined. Stay tuned. Either way there is lots of session left.

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.

As we informed you on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s technology subsidiary Change Healthcare announced that its systems were adversely affected by a security incident. 

We sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting that HHS and CMS take specific actions in response to this issue. In the letter, AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson asks HHS and CMS to announce that the situation meets the criteria for issuing accelerated payments through the Medicare program; instruct Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to notify providers of the policy; and to encourage Medicare Advantage plans to provide a similar advanced payment option. 

How Providers Can Take Action - CLICK HERE

Report from McKnight's LTC News: Massive cyber attack creates crushing billing burdens for skilled nursing; sparks efforts for payment relief 

Steep challenges faced by nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hinder their ability to provide quality care and adequate staffing, according to new report findings from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released Thursday. READ MORE

People with COVID-19 no longer have to isolate for five days, per new guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. However, the recommendations are for the general public and do not apply to healthcare settings such as nursing homes. READ MORE

Yesterday, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness. READ MORE

McKnight’s Senior Living (2/29, Gaivin) reports, "Seattle-based CareListings has launched an online staffing calculator for operators of skilled nursing facilities, with the goal of leading them to reducing their dependency on agency staffing." Using data from CMS, "‘the calculator is designed to help optimize staffing levels based on regional averages, project the financial impact of compliance with the potential CMS HPRD [hours per resident per day] staffing mandates, and identify savings opportunities by reducing reliance on agency staffing,’ CareListings CEO and Founder Carl Rogers told the McKnight’s Business Daily." Also, the platform "has a site for assisted living and memory care providers to enter their own data, Rogers said." 

Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule, entitled Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which goes into effect on March 11, 2024. AHCA/NCAL will host a free webinar on Friday, March 8 at 12:00 p.m. CST on how the new final rule will impact the workplace of long term care providers and answer questions providers have. 

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.

March 19, 2024 (Topeka)

March 20, 2024 (Wichita)

March 20, 2024 (Virtual)

Click here for more details.

Click here for more details.

Click here for more details.

Click here for more details.

Click here for more details.

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

Questions? Email Teresa Keating at tkeating@khca.org

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