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A Message from the Office of the State Fire Marshal
CMS Change of Interpretation on Posting of Codes near Locked Doors
In April of 2024, at the direction of the Kansas City office of CMS, our agency notified nursing home administrators that CMS had determined that posting of codes near cypher locked doors was prohibited. Our office objected to CMS both in writing and during meetings, but CMS overruled our concerns.
Recently, a group of nursing home advocates successfully appealed CMS determination. The KSFM is pleased to be able to announce that CMS has changed their determination and posting of codes near cypher locked doors is permitted in nursing home settings but may not ensure compliance with the Life Safety Code, as set forth in the content of an email from CMS Supervirsor Stephen Pelinski on 5/6/2024 below. READ MORE
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Invitation to KDADS Waiver Renewal Input Sessions: Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver Renewal/ Physical Disability (PD) Waiver Renewal
You are cordially invited to participate in two upcoming virtual input sessions hosted by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). We are seeking your valuable feedback and ideas for the renewal of two important waivers:
These sessions are an excellent opportunity to hear preliminary plans and share your insights to help enhance the services provided under these waivers.
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
This information was provided to the AHCA State Affiliate members last week. Please consider putting these extremely valuable presentations on your calendar.
May 22, 2024, 12pm CST - CDC Townhall: Understanding Enhanced Barrier Precautions
June 5, 2024, 1pm CST – AHCA Hosts Enhanced Barrier Precautions Open Office Hour with the CDC
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TOMORROW! Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Dialysis Care
5/21/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Elevate Your Geriatric Care Competency for Less During the Gero Nurse Prep Sale
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through June 15, 2024 with promo code RNPATH24 (all caps).
Research conducted by AHCA/NCAL in 2023 found compelling reasons to consider the Gero Nurse Prep course and ANCC Board certification for RNs. Nursing facilities with at least one ANCC Board certified RN experienced:
- Lower rehospitalization rates for short stay and long stay residents
- Fewer deficiencies on average
- Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
- More stars -- twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility (44% versus 19%)
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What to Expect During Your Next Life Safety Code Survey
It has come to our attention that during recent Life Safety Code Surveys that providers are being given a confusing message on the use of Mag-lock punch code enabled living devices when used in areas that accommodate both cognitively intact and cognitively impaired residents. In some instances, buildings are being told that the posting of the code is not allowed. This stance cites a recent memo from the State Fire Marshal’s Office dated April 9, 2024. Facilities are being cited under K222 and are being remanded to replace Maglocks with 15 second delayed egress locking systems.
We have received clarification from CMS that Maglocks with the code posted are acceptable, however staff must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to use the code. This includes any temporary staff you have on a unit. Also, the facility must provide training for families, other visitors, and cognitively intact residents to freely access the code and come and go from the unit. Training and documentation are your best friends to accomplish this.
We anticipate that OSFM will be issuing a new corrective memo shortly. In the meantime, if you are cited for K222, please contact Linda MowBray lmowbray@khca.org for additional information on how to respond on your 2567. Please note that the OSFM’s office is working very hard to help us correct this situation as they received this edict from the CMS region 7 office and in no way want to pursue this policy.
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.
Linda MowBray, President/CEO
785-267-6003
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REMINDER: Implementation of Fingerprint-based Criminal Background Checks (FCBC)
Click here for an example of the fingerprinting notification owners will receive via the email they provide on the Disclosure of Ownership form. This will go out to entities involved in a CHOW or new facilities that occurred on or after January 1, 2023.
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Final Rule on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities Issued
Member Summary Now Available
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a final rule, "Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities," which advances protections against discrimination in health care. The purpose of the rule is to restore protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability. The rule also aims to reduce language access barriers, expands physical and digital accessibility, and tackles bias in health technology.
This rule applies to any health program or activity receiving federal funds from HHS, any program or activity administered under Title I of the Affordable Care Act, and health insurance marketplace participants that have received federal financial assistance. This means that nursing homes, ID/DD providers, and Medicare Advantage plans are subject to this Final Rule. Assisted living communities could also be subject to the rule if they receive Federal financial assistance (e.g., through a Medicaid waiver program).
The final rule closely follows the proposed rule issued in July 2022 and, in many ways, reverses the Section 1557 rule issued by the Trump Administration in June 2020, which was a significant departure from the Obama Administration's original Section 1557 rule issued in 2016. It is effective beginning July 5, 2024.
AHCA/NCAL has developed a member summary that highlights the impacts on long term care providers. Please note that a member log-in is required to view the summary. A section 1557 regulation FAQ is also available. Please contact regulatory@ahca.org with any questions.
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KDHE announces KanCare Managed Care Organizations Contracts
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced the selection of three managed care organizations (MCOs) that will serve the Kansas Medicaid program, known as KanCare, from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027. The KanCare program currently serves 458,000 individuals throughout the State. The contracts include two incumbents, Sunflower Health Plan and United Healthcare Community Plan, and one new organization, Healthy Blue. READ MORE
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Follow Up Resources from Friday’s NAC and Facility Standards Call
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iQIES will Implement an Inactive User Policy
CMS security policy requires deactivation of user roles for inactive accounts. To align with CMS security policies, iQIES will begin implementing an inactive user policy this month. This will allow CMS to continue to ensure that our system is safe and secure.
System audits will be conducted on a regular basis to identify users who have not logged in to the iQIES system in more than 60 days. Inactive users will receive an email indicating that they will need to log in to iQIES to keep their iQIES user role(s) and account active. If inactive users do not log in to the iQIES system, their iQIES role(s) will be revoked and they will not be able to access the system.
If your iQIES role access is revoked, your Health Care Quality Information Systems (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile (HARP) credentials will continue to remain active. All your HARP account information will not be affected and will be accessible once your iQIES user role(s) are restored. To restore your account, you will need to log into iQIES and re-request your user role(s).
Please log in to iQIES regularly to avoid having your iQIES roles revoked and any potential delays that may occur if you are required to re-request your roles within iQIES.
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Nurse Leadership Conference
6/18/2024 11:00AM - 6/19/2024 4:00PM
Manhattan, KS
This special Nurse Leadership Conference sponsored by Tapestry Health is an opportunity for nurses working in the Long-Term Care setting to strengthen their leadership and clinical skills. Building strong leaders through education is essential to promoting a better quality of life for our residents. Meet new vendor partners and spend time networking and getting to know others that are doing the same valuable work that you’re doing. A networking event is in the works for the evening of June 18th. This will be a separate ticket event, so don’t forget to sign up. Let’s celebrate all that we’ve accomplished, together.
Education Topics Include:
- The Magic of Connection for Leaders
- Unlocking Behaviors; A Holistic Approach to Dementia Care
- Work Smarter not Harder; Harnessing the Power of People and Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Leadership
- Advance Care Planning and Effective Conversations about DNR
- The Pitfalls of Documentation
- Diagnosing Deeper, Root Cause Exploration for Nursing Excellence
- Survey Prep; A review of common wound citations and how to avoid them
- Regulatory Hot Topics and Open Discucssion
- Plus a Nurse Advisory Committee Elections and a social and networking event at the Liquid Art Winery on the evening of June 18th.
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks related to CPR
6/11/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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SSD Boot Camp
6/17/24 - 8:30AM-4:00PM
Topeka, KS
This class is full! Please email khca@khca.org to be placed on wait list.
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Nurse Leadership Conference
6/18 - 6/19/24
Manhattan, KS
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for End-of-Life Care
6/18/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
6/25 - 6/27/24
Wichita, KS
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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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