May 9, 2025

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The Latest News

Need a walk through on the most recent changes to surveyor guidance?

November 18, 2024, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released Revised Long-Term Care (LTC) Surveyor Guidance: Significant revisions to enhance quality and oversight of the LTC Survey Process. The memo included significant changes to guidance in Appendix PP related to the regulatory areas updated. The changes were effective, and surveyors began surveying based on the updated guidance, April 28, 2025. The webinar walks learners through each of the changes to guidance, the updates to the Critical Element Pathways (CEP), and provides some tips/action items to remain compliant.

This on-demand webinar is available FREE to KHCA Members and $65 non-members.

Upcoming iQIES Service Center Hold Times: May PBJ Submission Deadline

Due to the Payroll Based Journal quarterly deadline, the iQIES Service Center is projecting an increase in the volume of calls and emails between now and May 15, 2025. READ MORE

‘Ageless Adventure’ Revealed as Theme for National Assisted Living Week 2025

NCAL today revealed Ageless Adventure as this year’s theme for National Assisted Living Week®. The annual, national observance – sponsored by PharMerica in 2025 – provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and local communities to celebrate the individuals who live and work in assisted living and to learn more about this sector of long term care. READ MORE

Twenty Attorneys General File Lawsuit To Block Dismantling Of HHS

McKnight’s Senior Living (5/7, Bonvissuto) reports, "A coalition of 20 attorneys general are suing to block what they say is the Trump administration’s ‘dangerous dismantling’ of the federal health agency, adding that recent actions endanger programs, including Medicaid." Meanwhile, "Potential ‘historic’ cuts to Medicaid are a ‘daunting threat’ that could limit access to home- and community-based services waiver programs and force states to tighten eligibility requirements or impose enrollment caps, as well as force assisted living providers to offset funding cuts, abandon Medicaid programs altogether or close their doors, National Center for Assisted Living Executive Director LaShuan Bethea previously told McKnight’s Senior Living."

Nursing Home IJ Trends, Common Misconceptions, and How to Avoid and Contest Such Citations

High-level citations could be on the rise since new requirements for transfers and discharges went into effect on April 28. READ MORE

Important CLIA Update: Transition to Paperless Fee Coupons and CLIA Certificates

CMS is improving the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program by switching to electronic fee coupons and CLIA certificates. To take full advantage of these improvements, laboratories and providers that perform laboratory testing have until March 1, 2026, to switch to CMS email notifications and begin receiving electronic CLIA fee coupons and certificates. After this date, paper fee coupons and paper CLIA certificates will no longer be available.

By switching to electronic notifications, your laboratory will get:

Email notifications from CMS
Electronic fee coupons*
Electronic CLIA certificate - no more waiting for it to come in the mail*

*This does not apply to CLIA-exempt states or state licensure.

To switch, you must:

Provide written notification to your State Agency by email.

-OR-

Fill out the CMS-116 application form. To switch to electronic notifications, check the box, “Receive notifications including electronic certificates via email.”

Reach out to your State Agency for assistance. For more details, visit Clinical Laboratory Improvement (CLIA) Amendments.

For more information, visit the CMS CLIA Program website

2 in 7 say low pay will be the reason they leave senior care sector: study

New survey results reveal long-term care workers’ attitudes toward pay and benefits, and shed light on why they stay or leave. They also offer practical measures leaders can implement to motivate and retain talent. READ MORE

Education Spotlight

Nurse Leadership Conference

June 25-26, 2025

Salina, KS

Members $219 | Non Members $269 until June 11th

This special Nurse Leadership Conference 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 fun networking event is in place Downtown Salina. This will be a separate ticket event, so don’t forget to sign up. Let’s enjoy some time relaxing and learning from each other.

Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Education