KHCA/KCAL Update 8/6/25

August 6, 2025

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The Latest News

AHCA/NCAL Membership

Did you know that your membership with KHCA/KCAL also includes membership with AHCA/NCAL, our National Affiliate? Be sure to create an account with AHCA/NCAL to stay up to date on member news and educational opportunities. Create your account here.

Individualized Care Plans Can Help Improve Staff Retention

Magnet Culture retention strategist and Employee Retention Ecosystem co-creator Alayna Thomas, MS, SHRM-SCP, writes in Provider Magazine (8/5, 151K), "The organizational approaches that worked for generations are no longer the most effective to attract, retain, and engage today’s ever-evolving, multigenerational workforce" in long-term care. But, Thomas concludes that "by creating individualized care plans for new hires, long-tenured employees, and supervisors alike, organizations create a ripple effect that improves morale, boosts stability, and strengthens the quality of care."

Please Consider Donating to a Great Cause!

Annually at our Convention & Trade Show The Foundation for Aging & Care of Elders of Kansas (The FACE of Kansas) host a silent auction to raise funds for scholarships. Please consider donating an item or basket to this great cause.

Take this opportunity to showcase your care home and caregiving in Kansas, don’t be afraid to show off! If you or your corporation has something special that you would like to highlight, please let us know...we are accepting all items (not just in baskets!) for this worthwhile cause!

All Proceeds go to the Foundation for Aging & Care of Elders in Kansas, to be used toward education for Direct Care Staff and scholarships for Long Term Care providers.

REMINDER! 2025 Staff Recognition Program: Now is the time to nominate your staff and volunteers!

Deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, August 13th (NO EXCEPTIONS!)

This is your opportunity to recognize the outstanding staff and volunteers who dedicate themselves to caring for the elders of our great state. Our annual awards ceremony is just one way we celebrate the compassion, commitment, and excellence they bring to their work every day. We deeply appreciate the time you take out of your busy schedule to submit a nomination—your effort helps shine a light on those who truly make a difference.

Winners will be honored at our Annual Convention and Trade Show on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION

KHCA Annual Business Meeting

Join us for the Annual Business Meeting, held in conjunction with the Kansas Health Care Association’s 75th Annual Convention and Trade Show.

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025

Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Location: Kansas Star Event Center, 785 Kansas Star Drive, Mulvane, KS 67110

We encourage all members to attend.

Click here to view meeting reports as they become available. Please note: A member password is required for access.

Kansas, Missouri Long-Term Care Advocates Raise Concerns Over Medicaid, SNAP Cuts

The Beacon (8/1, King Raney) reported "many advocates working to help senior citizens" in Kansas and Missouri "worry" about the impact of federal Medicaid cuts, as the tax and spending bill "will cut $911 billion in spending on Medicaid over the next decade and trim $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program." Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living President and CEO Linda MowBray addressed changes to the Medicaid qualification process, saying, "This will force providers to take a serious look at how much risk they can take."

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

Lots of providers have questions about the changes implemented on April 28, 2025 related to QAPI programming. There have also been some questions presented related to surveyors requesting to see QAPI meeting minutes. So, let’s talk QAPI including the newest requirements for inclusion. READ MORE

NOW OPEN – National Quality Award Program Intent to Apply!

The 2026 National Quality Award Intent to Apply (ITA) is now open! All applicants who plan to apply for an AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award are encouraged to submit an ITA by logging into the Quality Award portal before the deadline on November 13, 2025, at 8 PM Eastern.

While not mandatory, applicants who submit an ITA will get a discounted application fee and receive dedicated emails with access to exclusive resources – including webinars with helpful tips, best practices, and reminders to assist you in your application writing process.

Applying for a National Quality Award provides a framework that can be used to prepare for and make critical improvements and serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels. Additionally, 2026 marks the Program’s 30th anniversary – an exciting celebration of how far we have come in the quality journey!

Please contact the Quality Award Program staff with questions or if you need assistance.

We want to send a special thank you to our sponsors! The National Quality Award Program is sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: HealthCap, McKesson, Prevail by First Quality, Rosie, and Incite Workforce Solutions Powered by SnapCare.

SUBMIT YOUR INTENT TO APPLY

CMS Updates Interpretation As To Who Qualifies As Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (7/30, Marselas) reports, "An updated interpretation as to who qualifies as a licensed speech-language pathologist could help some nursing home therapists get back to work." CMS "recently issued a new definition of the term ‘licensed,’ which this spring had been changed to exclude provisional licensees in a benefits policy manual." AHCA "advised providers that they could ‘maintain existing personnel and billing practices related to SLP service provision.’"

AHCA Requests Updated 2025 MA Member Data

AHCA is re-releasing its Medicare Advantage data initiative for 2025. AHCA members are asked to share MA data for August 2025 and/or September 2025 to support continued efforts to assess how plans are implementing new regulations. READ MORE

More info coming soon! Please note the Tuesday-Thursday dates. (A change from the normal Wednesday-Friday)

🎉 Join us for the 75th Annual KHCA/KCAL Convention & Trade Show!

📍 Kansas Star Event Center

🗓 September 16–18, 2025

We’re excited to celebrate 75 years of excellence in long-term care! The KHCA/KCAL Annual Convention and Trade Show is packed with valuable education, networking, recognition events, and a full day dedicated to vendors in the industry.

Click here to learn more.

Education Spotlight

RAC-CT Certification Virtual Workshop

8/12/25 - 10:00AM - 4:30PM

Increase your knowledge of clinical assessment and care planning, completion of the MDS, the regulations surrounding the RAI/MDS process, and managing the PDPM by attending an AAPACN Resident Assessment Coordinator-Certified (RAC-CT) certification workshop. Having the RAC-CT credential behind your name shows you are a knowledgeable and capable MDS professional. RAC-CT certification is the nationally recognized gold-standard in resident assessment in the long-term care nursing profession. By earning this credential, individuals have shown their expertise in skilled nursing facility prospective payment system and minimum data set (MDS 3.0) assessment.

Click here for more details.

Scholarship opportunity: The individual or facility will cover the full cost upfront, and KHCA will reimburse 50% upon successful course completion. Submit your application here.