KHCA/KCAL Update 9/3/25

September 3, 2025

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The Latest News

CMS intends to repeal nursing home staffing rule

McKnight's Long Term Care News (9/2, Marselas) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has drafted an interim final rule that would repeal the minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities that were adopted in 2024 despite major objections from providers.

Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar

You may know this information already, but there are a lot of questions and confusion about updated COVID-19 vaccinations. Per McKnight’s on 8-29-25 - in that article, it is noted that FDA approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines on 8-27-25 for all Americans 65 years & older but significantly limiting eligibility for younger populations. Per the article, “The updated vaccines target a newer COVID strain (LP.8.1)”. Vaccines will be available from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax.

Which raises the question about regulatory requirements. Per the revisions of Appendix PP which has been implemented, F887: COVID-19 Immunizations, the regulation says: READ MORE

Several CMS QSO Memos Have Expired

Several CMS QSO Memos have expired. Click here to view the notification from CMS.

CMS Temporarily Pauses Nursing Home Care Compare Updates

Provider Magazine (8/25, 151K) reported that on August 15, CMS "announced...they will temporarily pause Nursing Home Care Compare updates" and "noted the pause is related to their recent transition to a cloud-based Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES)." The move "will result in the information currently displayed remaining static and will not reflect any updates. Regular updates are anticipated to resume in October."

Advocates Warn New Limits On COVID Vaccinations Threaten Availability In Nursing Homes

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/31, Marselas) reported, "New limits on COVID vaccinations threaten nursing homes’ ability to get shots to frontline staff ahead of the coming respiratory virus season, providers and health care advocates are warning." Last week, the FDA "approved three COVID vaccines for people 65 and over and for" at-risk younger people, but others "will need a prescription to receive a vaccine – and to be able to find shots as access appears set to shrink." AHCA/NCAL Chief Medical Officer David Gifford, MD, said Thursday, "Nursing homes and long-term care facilities continue to make every effort to educate and promote vaccinations in the long-term care community."

The Full Brochure is here! *Content and sponsorships subject to change.

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.

Post-Acute Care Attorneys Warn Of Limits On Contractual Language In Updated Surveyor Guidance

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/28, Marselas) reports, "Federal regulators have taken a ‘big jump’ in their latest interpretation of third-party financial guarantees, putting limits on contractual language used by nursing homes for decades, a pair of post-acute care attorneys warned Thursday." Updated surveyor guidance "that went into effect in late April" does not "just prohibit family member or guardian guarantees as a condition of admission;" it now prohibits "providers from enforcing other voluntary language that has traditionally helped ensure responsible parties use a resident’s assets to pay for care or help apply for Medicaid when those assets run out."

Two-Thirds Of Nursing Homes See MA Plans Deny, Delay Medically Necessary Post-Acute Care, Survey Finds

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/27, Marselas) reports, "Two-thirds of nursing homes see Medicare Advantage plans deny or delay patients’ medically necessary post-acute care on a daily and weekly basis, according to a new" AHCA survey (PDF). AHCA President and CEO Clif Porter said in a press release, "This constant hoop jumping is resulting in too many skilled nursing patients being discharged too soon against medical advice, threatening their recovery." Furthermore, Vice President of Reimbursement Policy and Population Health Nisha Hammel said, "We want plans that are working well to continue to serve seniors, and we want seniors to have choices that work for their needs."

Budget Reconciliation Bill Review: Member Webinar

09/11/2025 at 1:30 PM (CDT)

Join AHCA/NCAL President & CEO Clif Porter and team as they review the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress in July and its potential impact on long term care. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A. READ MORE

First-Time Applicant Hour: Intro to the Quality Award Journey

09/25/2025 at 2:00 PM (CDT)

AHCA/NCAL is hosting a webinar on the National Quality Award Program, with a focus on helping first-time applicants understand the structure and purpose of the program. READ MORE

Provider Electronic Solutions (PES) Rolloff Town Hall Meetings

After October 14, 2025, Provider Electronic Solutions (PES) will not be supported by the Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) and users will not be able to submit Electronic Data Interface (EDI) transactions through PES. An alternative for PES billing is provided through the Kansas Modular Medicaid System (KMMS) secure provider portal.

KMAP will host two town halls, one on September 9 and one on September 11, 2025, for PES users to learn more and ask questions. The same information will be shared at both sessions:

Need for PES software sunset.
Web options available on KMAP.
Use of roster billing.
Claims submission template enhancements.

You can register for the town halls by going to the events section at the bottom of the KanCare.ks.gov homepage and clicking on the date of the meeting you would like to attend. A provider bulletin has been posted with more information.

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.

Education Spotlight

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

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