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A Message from the Office of the State Fire Marshal
Changes between 2000 Life Safety Code and 2012 Life Safety Code from CMS
In 2016, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the requirements of the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC). The LSC is developed by the National Fire Prevention Association, to provide fire protection requirements to provide a reasonable degree of safety from fires. The codes provide guidance related to construction, protection, and operational features to help with fire protection.
There are code requirements which changed because of the adoption of the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code. The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office is sharing information to remind, and educate facilities on these changes, and how they continue to affect your facilities, and protect the lives of those who reside in your communities. READ MORE
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A Message from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Quality Assurance Policy
KDHE and KDADS have been working together to streamline the HCBS processes. After analysis of our HCBS system, recommendations were made from a consulting firm. As part of the ongoing improvements in communication and transparency, we wanted to alert you of the recommendation that will affect part of the HCBS audit process. The upload period for the HCBS performance measure audit will change from 60 days to 15 days. This will allow the State to have a faster turnaround time to report data to CMS. The HCBS Quality Assurance Policy, with updated timeline, will be available for public comment soon. The target implementation is July 1, 2024, and the first affected upload period will be in October 2024.
From the desk of:
Theresa Singh
Policy & Program Project Manager
Long Term Services & Supports
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
503 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603
Phone: 785-296-8847
Fax: 785-296-0256
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CMS Enhances MA Beneficiary Protections
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Report Finds Immigration Reform Needed To Expand Availability Of Caregivers
McKnight’s Senior Living (4/9, Gaivin) says a Brookings Institution report found "immigration reform is necessary to expand the availability of caregivers." The findings are in line with the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living’s position; the organization said it "has long supported immigration reform as one of many solutions to help strengthen the long-term care workforce, especially as nursing homes continue to face a historic labor crisis. The need for Congress to expand and expedite opportunities for international health care workers who wish to live and work in the United States – especially those who are willing to care for our nation’s seniors – has never been more urgent."
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Without creating a flurry of questions and confusion, if possible, everyone should be aware that CMS updated several Critical Element Pathways, including the Infection Prevention, Control & Immunizations this month. Providers need to use caution in making more of this new guidance than the intent. The regulation itself gives good guidance and providers should not get “too far into the weeds”. To the Pathway, Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) was added to the Pathway. Specifically, they added a section:
Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP):
EBP use is evaluated when investigating specific care activities, such as wound care, enteral feeding, urinary catheter care, etc.
EBP are indicated during high contact care activities for residents with infection or colonization with a CDC targeted MDRO (when contact precautions do not apply) or for any resident who has a chronic wound and/or indwelling medical device.
High-contact resident care activities include dressing, bathing/showering, transferring, toileting, providing hygiene, changing linens or briefs, device care or use: central line, urinary catheter, feeding tube, tracheostomy/ventilator, or wound care: generally, for residents with a chronic wound(s), not skin breaks or tears covered with an adhesive bandage (e.g., Band-Aid) or similar dressing.
Interview staff to determine if they are aware of which residents require the use of EBP prior to providing high-contact care activities?
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Nursing Home Sector Taking Issue With Medicare Payment Proposals
Skilled Nursing News (4/5, Stulick) reported the proposed Medicare payment increase for next year is "not sitting well with the nursing home sector, with financial experts and operators raising concerns that the bump fails to compensate for inflation-induced operating costs – and a staffing proposal anticipated to cost in the billions each year." American Health Care Association President and CEO Mark Parkinson has called the increase "woefully inadequate" in view of the expected cost of federal staffing requirements.
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Medicare Advantage rule finalizes independent appeals process, helping providers ‘stuck in the middle’
McKnights Long-Term Care News (4/8, Henreckson) A final rule announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Thursday revised the appeals process for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who have been denied coverage. The new rule should be a significant help for both beneficiaries and long-term care providers, sector leaders said Friday.
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Assisted Living Conference
April 19, 2024
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Lawrence, KS
A full day of education for those working in the Assisted Living, Residential Health Care and Home Plus settings.
Education Topics Include:
- Igniting Creative Courage – Opening Keynote
- Update from the Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Enhancing Senior Care Through Collaborative Partnerships – Jill Schewe, NCAL
- A New Approach to Recruitment and Retention
- Navigating Challenging Personalities
- Creative Engagement
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Leadership for Charge Nurses
4/16/24 - 9:30AM-3:15PM - Salina, KS
This class is at capacity. Please email khca@khca.org to be added to the waitlist.
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Elopement Risk and Incidents
4/16/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Caring for a New Generation in Assisted Living
4/17/24 - 1:00PM-2:00PM
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Assisted Living Conference
4/19/24 - 8:00AM-4:00PM - Lawrence, KS
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Resident Care Coordinator Training for Nurses in Assisted Living
5/3/24 - 8:30AM-3:30PM - Salina, KS
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks Related to Infection Control
5/14/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Dialysis Care
5/21/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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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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