KHCA/KCAL Update 9/26/25

September 26, 2025

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The Latest News

Governor Kelly Announces Process for the Rural Health Transformation Program

Governor Laura Kelly Thursday announced that the state is taking steps to develop an application for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).

The Rural Health Transformation Program is part of H.R. 1, which enacted significant funding and coverage cuts to the Medicaid program that will threaten the viability of rural hospitals across the state that were already at risk of closing. READ MORE

The state, in association with the University of Kansas Health System Care Collaborative, will present an educational webinar on Monday, September 29, at 9:00 AM to further outline the application and stakeholder engagement process. READ MORE

Increased Candidozyma auris Activity in Kansas – Prevention and Response Guidance

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Section is alerting healthcare providers, laboratorians, and public health officials of an increase in Candidozyma auris (C. auris), formerly Candida auris, cases in Kansas. READ MORE

CMS Says Data Collection For Nursing Home Care Compare, Special Focus Facility Status Has Resumed

myzPAX (9/25, Connole) reports a recent memo from CMS "puts the Special Focus Facility (SFF) reporting process back on track after the agency briefly paused data collection this summer to account for the transition to a cloud-based Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) for nursing home survey and certification data." The agency "said instead of the original projection for the technical pause to last until October, it is now complete as data collection for Nursing Home Care Compare and SFF status resumed as of this week (Sept. 24)."

Proposed MA payment requirements would address one of skilled nursing’s biggest ‘pain points’

Medicare Advantage plans would be expected to pay nearly all clean claims within 30 days under bipartisan legislation recently introduced in both chambers.

The proposed crackdown on drawn-out MA billing and payment practices pledges “commonsense fixes … that will help healthcare providers and patients by bringing transparency and stability to the program.” That’s according to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), a co-sponsor of the Medicare Advantage Prompt Pay Act. READ MORE

AHCA/NCAL Develops Comprehensive Respiratory Protection Plan Training, Toolkit

Provider Magazine (9/23, 151K) reported "skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and ID/DD centers are required by OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) to establish and maintain a respiratory protection program when employees are exposed to airborne hazards," as well as follow CMS health standards. In order to "assist care providers in meeting these federal requirements, AHCA/NCAL, in collaboration with MCA Consulting, LLC, has developed a comprehensive Respiratory Protection Plan training and toolkit."

Registration for DON Boot Camp is open!

November 10 - 12, 2025

Olathe, KS

The KHCA Director of Nursing Boot Camp program is designed to support nursing professionals in Long Term Care and Skilled Nursing Facilities who are preparing for or serving in leadership roles. Whether you are a newly appointed Director of Nursing, an RN with potential to serve in the DON role, or a current DON that is looking for a refresher. The KHCA DON Boot Camp provides the knowledge, tools, and strategies to succeed. READ MORE

2026 Webinar Survey

Proactive is currently collecting data on topics for 2026 webinars. KHCA/KCAL is seeking your input on desired topics for next year. The purpose of this survey is solely to see what our members are interested in and is not a complete list of trainings that Proactive plans to provide. The KHCA/KCAL Education committee will review results and make decisions on education delivered based on your input.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY

In Case You Missed It

KHCA’s AIT Program: Celebrating Success and Leadership!

Over the past three years, KHCA’s Administrator-in-Training (AIT) Program has been an incredible success. We’ve had the privilege of working with so many talented individuals who have gone on to become outstanding administrators. Today, we want to take a moment to celebrate and congratulate another AIT and their hard work, dedication, and the incredible impact they will make in our communities.

Thank you Roger Berg for setting the standard for excellence and leadership in long-term care. Your accomplishments inspire us, and we’re proud to be a part of your journey! Congratulations on passing your exam!

If you are interested in signing up for KHCA’s AIT program you can find more information on our website: https://www.khca.org/ait-program/ or you can always reach out to Teresa at tkeating@khca.org

Dream Flights - Philip Billard Airport, Topeka, KS

KHCA/KCAL was proud to help facilitate Dream Flights for Veterans from Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook. Seven residents and two staff, all veterans, had the opportunity to take a flight of a lifetime today in a 1941 Stearman biplane with family, friends and staff watching on.

A Dream Flight is a free, 15-minute thank-you flight in a restored WWII-era open-cockpit biplane. It’s a magical, life-changing experience for veterans who fought for our freedom and way of life.

During a Dream Flight event, it’s all about our veterans. We connect and bond with them and we see them for who they were and who they are today. The magic of a Dream Flight inspires a range of happy and hopeful emotions. The pure joy we see on their faces can only come from soaring in a biplane, feeling the wind on their faces, and experiencing the freedom and excitement from this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

For more information on Dream Flights, click here.

HHS ending appeals of nursing home staffing mandate cases

The Department of Health and Human Services has asked two federal courts to dismiss its appeals defending a federal rule establishing nursing home staffing minimums. READ MORE

Meet Maximus: An Introduction to the New Statewide HCBS Assessing Organization

Have you heard about the new Statewide Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Assessing Organization, Maximus, and would like to learn more about them? Join KDADS for a new series of informative sessions where program leaders will introduce themselves, talk about their new role as the assessing entity for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program and brain injury (BI), frail elderly (FE) and physical disability (PD) waivers, and answer questions they frequently receive.

Save the date for future sessions below:

Oct. 23, 2025; 2:00pm CT – Meet Maximus: Getting to know the new statewide HCBS Assessing Organization
Nov. 18, 2025; 10:00am CT – Meet Maximus: Building Connections Together
Dec. 15, 2025; 1:00pm CT – Meet Maximus: Your new partner in the community

Click here for more information.

Senior Care Pharmacy Rebrands as Guardian Pharmacy of Wichita

Click here for the full announcement.

Nominations Now Open for the 2026/2027 AHCA/NCAL Committees

From September 9 through October 10, all AHCA/NCAL provider members have the opportunity to nominate themselves or another member to serve on one or more of the AHCA/NCAL Committees. READ MORE

Education Spotlight

Assisted Living Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Look at FCS, NSA, and HSP

Early bird rate ends next week!

October 16, 2025

Wichita, KS

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The Functional Capacity Screen (FCS) may look simple—but completing it accurately can be anything but. In this interactive Lunch and Learn, you’ll learn how to correctly complete an FCS, identify and work through common gray areas, and document your findings with confidence.

Click here for more details.

Upcoming Education