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

Nursing home rates effective July 1, 2024 were published in the Kansas Register June 6, 2024. Click here for a link to the rates. Additionally, don’t forget to log into the Myers and Stauffer portal for your facility specific rate letter.

For HCBS providers, the manual and rate sheets have not yet been published. We will alert you to them when they are available.

This has been a busy week as I joined members, including several from KHCA's Executive Committee, in Washington, D.C., for the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing. The focus of our Hill visits was to advance our fight against the CMS staffing mandate through Congressional measures that prohibit implementation of the rule and supporting legislation that strengthens our workforce.

Kansas was well represented in DC this year with the following members in attendance:

• Scott Averill, Brookside & Wellsville Health & Rehab
• Brian Barbeau, Axiom Healthcare Services
• Polly Berkley, Kansas Health Care Association
• Barry Carr, Ignite
• Randi Carr, Ignite
• Staci Cardenas, Recover-Care Heartland
• John Cervino, Medline Industries
• Kevin Crowley, Diversicare Healthcare Services, Inc
• Sherri Holman, Recover-Care Healthcare
• Anthony Johnson, Recover-Care Healthcare
• Tara Lee, Wellsville
• Corwin Lewis, The Ensign Group
• Linda MowBray, Kansas Health Care Association
• Brett Pu, Brookdale Rosehill
• Della Ribordy, Americare

Also joining us for our visits was Chrissy Morgan, Mission Health

We visited with senior staff from all six of our Kansas delegation’s offices. We were pleased that Senator Marshall and Representative Davids were able to join us as well.

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

lmowbray@khca.org

(785) 267-6003

Senate Receives More Calls To Boost Assisted Living Access For Veterans

McKnight’s Senior Living (6/6, Bowers) reports, "Members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs received more endorsements for assisted living for veterans Wednesday during a joint hearing." The article highlights several legislative efforts that hearing witnesses advocated for. Earlier this week during the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living Congressional Briefing, AHCA/NCAL Member Services and Government Relations Associate Vice President Dana Ritchie "said that the groups had been informed that the Dole Act could be considered on the House floor as soon as next week." Also, the assisted living pilot program has received "backing from AHCA/NCAL." 

Call for Cases - Burkholderia multivorans associated with ice machines

Read this call for cases of Burkholderia multivorans associated with ice machines. If a case is found, please report it to the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline or call (877) 427-7317.

Honoring House Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason, 69

We lost a great friend and advocate for the elders of Kansas on Monday. His leadership made an enormous difference in the lives of frail Kansans and the people working in the long term care communities who cared for them. Rest in peace Representative Les Mason. We are praying that God's love surrounds you and your family.

Funeral arrangements have been set:

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. June 10 at the Countryside Covenant Church in McPherson. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. June 11 at the church. Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery.

Mason, R-McPherson, died in Wichita after suffering a brain aneurysm Friday. Lawmakers and friends said they would remember Mason for his humor, helping nature and desire to represent his constituents.

Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday updated the half-staff flag order issued Tuesday in honor of Mason. The order, which affects flags on all state buildings, grounds and facilities, will last until sundown on June 11.

Record Number of Long Term Care Professionals Gather on Capitol Hill to Push Back on Federal Staffing Mandate

This week, more than 600 long term and post-acute care professionals attended AHCA/NCAL’s annual Congressional Briefing event to take the profession's legislative priorities to Capitol Hill. Members met with hundreds of members of Congress and their staff to share their local experiences and discuss several important topics, including the ongoing labor shortage. Advocates also heard from Senator John Tester (D-MT) and American political journalist and best-selling author Jonathan Karl. This year’s attendance was the highest in history. READ MORE

First staffing mandate deadline nears, bringing compliance and legal threats: AHCA VP warns

WASHINGTON, DC — Skilled nursing providers cannot “blow off” a fast-approaching requirement to update their facility assessments using new elements, a sector top advocate warned here Tuesday.

The consequences could go beyond immediate compliance concerns tied to the assessment component of the new federal staffing mandate. The assessment needs detailed attention since it could become a tool in litigation against providers. READ MORE

‘Stop the Mandate’: Following Congressional Briefing, Nursing Home Leaders Unite to Defeat Staffing Rule

Nursing home leaders convened in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to present a unified stance against the federal staffing mandate, which they argue could exacerbate existing challenges in long-term care facilities. READ MORE