June 4, 2025

This message contains confidential information and is intended only for KHCA/KCAL membership. Dissemination, distribution or copying the contents of this email beyond this group is strictly prohibited.

The Latest News

AHCA/NCAL Announces 2025 Bronze National Quality Award Recipients

AHCA/NCAL announced the 2025 Bronze Quality Award recipients, including nine Kansas providers. This is the first of three levels in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program.

Congratulations to our 2025 Bronze Quality Award Recipients!

We are proud to celebrate the dedication and hard work of these outstanding Kansas long-term care providers, recognized by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living for their commitment to quality care.

Please join us in congratulating:

Advena Living of Cherryvale – Cherryvale, KS
Derby Health and Rehabilitation – Derby, KS
Gran Villas Atchison – Atchison, KS
Gran Villas Coffeyville on 8th – Coffeyville, KS
Gran Villas Pittsburg – Pittsburg, KS
Medicalodges, Wichita – Wichita, KS
Wathena Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center – Wathena, KS
Westchester Village of Lenexa – Lenexa, KS
Winfield Senior Living Community – Winfield, KS

Your dedication to excellence in care is making a difference every day!

Recent Federal Guidance Updates Present Ideal Time For LTC Facilities To Reassess, Strengthen EBP Practices

Click here to read the recent article from Provider Magazine
Click here to view the ICPO online course for SNF Providers that includes 24.5 CE
Click here to view the ICPO online course for Assisted Living Providers that includes up to 28.75 CE

KHCA/KCAL District 1 Round Table

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 from 10:30AM - 12:30PM in Shawnee, KS

KHCA/KCAL Board Members would like to invite you to the KHCA/KCAL District 1 Round Table hosted by Suzie Sexton, Brett Pu, Jeremy Whitt, Miles Nease, Fred Pitzel and KHCA/KCAL President and CEO Linda MowBray. (See image for counties included in this district.) We will discuss hot topics in your area and answer any questions that you might have. Come join us for some heavy appetizers and refreshments. Also, if you attend you can sign up to win one of the $50 gift cards or a $100 gift card.

Location:

Johnson County Library – Monticello

22435 W. 66^th St.

Shawnee, KS 66226

You do not have to be a KHCA/KCAL Member to attend and there is no cost.

RSVP:

If you plan to attend this meeting, please RSVP to the KHCA/KCAL office by emailing Teresa Keating (tkeating@khca.org). Please indicate your name, community and a phone number.

Federal Government Appeals Staffing Mandate Ruling

The U.S. Department of Justice yesterday filed notice that it would appeal the Northern District of Texas ruling that vacated the federal staffing mandate. While this move is disappointing, it was not entirely unexpected. It is very unfortunate that more taxpayer dollars and time now must be spent on a fight that we will ultimately win.

The House reconciliation bill that passed last month includes a 10-year delay of the staffing mandate, which we will continue to push as the Senate now works on its version of the bill. Repealing the mandate would save the federal government $22 billion. We will also continue to focus on our asks to protect Medicaid, and many of you will join AHCA/NCAL in Washington, D.C. next week to do just that.

In the meantime, we know this appeal will be covered by the press in depth; try not to read too much into it. We have a smart strategy in place that will ultimately lead to our success in overturning the staffing mandate once and for all.

Thank you again for all you do – and stay strong. We will prevail and put this issue to rest.

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

Back to documentation best practices this week…Thorough and complete documentation is a critical part of licensed nursing care, especially when residents in a nursing home are prescribed antibiotics.

Too frequently, nurse documentation when a resident is ordered an antibiotic looks something like: “Resident continues on ABT. No adverse reactions noted. Temp 98.2”…that’s all there sometimes is included during antibiotic treatment duration. READ MORE

Click here to order a Documentation Guideline Booklet.

Senior Living Industry "Sounds Alarm" Over Administration’s Recent Immigration Moves

Senior Housing News (5/30, Christman) reported, "Senior living operators once pinned their hopes on an influx of workers via new immigration to help meet a surge of demand in the years ahead." However, "in 2025, those hopes seem all but dashed," as the administration "has taken a hard line to new immigration, with aspirations to further ramp up its rate of deportations in the future." The senior living industry, including AHCA/NCAL, has "sounded the alarm over the Trump administration’s recent immigration moves." AHCA/NCAL "stated in April that it ‘has long supported immigration reform as one of many solutions to help strengthen the long term care workforce,’ and urged Congress to ‘expand and expedite opportunities for international health care workers who wish to live and work in the United States.’"

Less than two weeks remain to register for AHCA/NCAL's Delivering Solutions at the Early Bird Rate!

Set your sights on success—Delivering Solutions 25 (DS25) is where leadership, innovation, and opportunity meet. Join us in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 19–22, 2025, for the premier annual event that brings together long term care, post-acute, and assisted living professionals from across the country for a dynamic experience of learning, networking, and celebration. 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