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. |
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A Message from the President & CEO Linda MowBray: Our Kansas Commitment
With the White House announcing the final nursing home staffing mandate earlier this week, we issued a statement strongly opposing this impossible and unfunded mandate, stating that the rule will exacerbate Kansas's existing staffing crisis and efforts to enhance access to high-quality care for the state's growing aging population.
We have joined in with LeadingAge Kansas and the Kansas Hospital Association asking our Kansas Legislature to send a letter supporting our position to CMS and the White House. Click here for the draft language.
KHCA/KCAL is working with AHCA/NCAL on their efforts to prevent this rule from being implemented. You can assist by making plans to join us at the AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing on June 3 and 4 in Washington, D.C., during which we'll meet with our members of Congress and Senators to urge them to support the bipartisan Protecting America's Seniors' Access to Care Act, which will prevent CMS from enforcing this flawed mandate.
The Legislators returned for committee meetings April 25, 2024, while both chambers returned today to continue conference committee work. They plan to work into the weekend. The veto session begins Monday, April 29, 2024.
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.
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Now Available: AHCA/NCAL Summaries of CMS Minimum Staffing and Medicaid Final Rules
AHCA/NCAL members now have access to detailed summaries of the three final rules released by CMS earlier this week.
The Minimum Staffing final rule includes an overall standard of 3.48 nursing hours per patient day, which includes 0.55 hours per resident day (HPRD) for RNs and 2.45 CNA HPRD. There is a requirement for an RN in every building 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Specific details on these requirements, implementation timeframes, facility assessment requirements, waiver options, hardship exemptions, and enforcement are available in the member-only summary. Please note that a member log in is required to view this resource.
The AHCA/NCAL webinar recording focused on this final rule is also available exclusively for members. On the webinar, President and CEO Mark Parkinson and team walk through the key requirements and time frames in the final rule, as well as next steps. The webinar registration page offers tips to access the webinar. Please email educate@ahca.org for additional assistance.
The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services final rule supports ongoing initiatives to enhance health care accessibility and quality. It focuses on improving Home and Community-Based Services and enhancing transparency and public accountability. It also introduces additional data reporting and monitoring across Medicaid's fee-for-service and managed care systems. More information about this rule can be found here.
The Medicaid Managed Care final rule marks a substantial update in the framework governing Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program managed care plans. The rule introduces enhancements aimed at improving care access, quality, and outcomes, with implications for long term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers. More information about this rule can be found here.
Additional resources and materials will be shared as they become available.
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CMS Views Hardship Exemptions, Staggered Timeline as Easing Growing Pains From the Nursing Home Staffing Mandate
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided more details Wednesday on the implementation of facility assessments and exemptions extended to nursing homes over the final staffing rule. READ MORE
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Long-Term Care Groups Raise Concern Over Impact Of Federal Staffing Mandate
Health care Dive (4/23, Vogel) reports "the Biden administration published its final long-term care facility staffing standards rule on Monday," but "neither patient advocates nor long-term care groups are satisfied with the final offering." The article adds, "Long-term care groups blasted the rule, calling it imprudent during a nationwide staffing shortage, while patient advocacy organizations say the rule doesn’t go far enough to safeguard quality." AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson "slammed the mandate in a statement issued Monday, calling it ‘unconscionable’ to finalize the rule amid what he says is a caregiver shortage." Parkinson added, "This unfunded mandate doesn’t magically solve the nursing crisis."
Chief Health care Executive (4/24, Southwick) reports Parkinson also said in the Monday statement, "While it may be well intentioned, the federal staffing mandate is an unreasonable standard that only threatens to shut down more nursing homes, displace hundreds of thousands of residents, and restrict seniors’ access to care." Furthermore, Florida Health Care Association CEO Emmett Reed "called the CMS rule an ‘unfunded and flawed mandate,’" saying in a statement, "This impossible and unfunded mandate will make it harder to recruit long-term care workers and ensure Florida seniors have access to the specialized and person-centered services they need."
Bloomberg Law (4/24, Pugh, Subscription Publication, 4K) reports this push by the Biden Administration "could set the stage for intervention by Congress or the courts." A statement from AHCA spokesperson Rachel Reeves read, "We will vigorously defend our nursing home members by any means necessary."
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CMS: Burdens, Closures Likely in Wake of Nursing Home Staffing Mandate But ‘Status Quo’ Is Not Acceptable
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services’ (CMS) officials said Tuesday that they are confident that facilities will be able to meet the newly finalized staffing mandate’s requirements given the plan to implement it in three phases. READ MORE
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
On Thursday we received an email with some very important information: “The Quality and Regulatory Affairs team often gets requests for resources to assist with regulatory compliance and while we have many current resources available to help members with a variety of topics, they are not all located in one place.
For this reason, we have put together a consolidated list of all currently available regulatory resources. These include various tip sheets, guides, webinars, online education courses and more! Resources are organized according to the regulations outlined in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual and links are embedded in this document for ease of navigation.
We will update this document quarterly as new resources are added and hope you find this guide beneficial. Questions about the guide or suggestions for new resources may be sent to regulatory@ahca.org.” READ MORE
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A Message from the Office of the State Fire Marshal
The purpose of a fire drill is to practice the swift removal of all building occupants to a safe area of refuge. READ MORE
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With a new quarter, brings a new member's only password to our website! |
Username: KHCAKCAL
Password: SUNFLOWER2024!
The username did not change. Both are case sensitive.
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Resident Care Coordinator Training for Nurses in Assisted Living
May 3, 2024
8:30AM - 3:30PM
Salina, KS
Assisted Living homes are one of the fastest growing segments of Kansas Long Term Care. Homes that understand the importance of the Resident Care Coordinator know that the right nurse with the right systems can be the answer to providing excellence in resident centered care.
Join KCAL professional nurses for a full day of training specifically designed to give nurses in the state licensed only setting (Assisted Living/Home Plus/Residential Health Care) the tools they need to succeed. From “up-to- date” regulatory information to hints for designing systems, this course will provide “The Right Stuff” for a nurse to succeed as a Resident Care Coordinator.
Training Highlights:
This training will take a holistic approach to the role of the Resident Care Coordinator as it relates to:
- Assessing for Appropriate Admissions
- Medication Management
- Bringing It All Together
- Best Practice Session
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Resident Care Coordinator Training for Nurses in Assisted Living
5/3/24 - 8:30AM-3:30PM - Salina, KS
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks Related to Infection Control
5/14/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for Dialysis Care
5/21/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Webinar: Deconstructing Immediate Jeopardy Mitigation: Navigating Top Risk Areas: Reducing Risks related to CPR
6/11/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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SSD Boot Camp
6/17/24 - 8:30AM-4:00PM
Topeka, KS
Only 2 seats remain!
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Nurse Leadership Conference
6/18 - 6/19/24
Manhattan, KS
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Webinar: Documentation in Depth: Supportive Documentation for End-of-Life Care
6/18/24 - 1:30PM-2:30PM
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RAC-CT Certification In-Person Workshop
6/25 - 6/27/24
Wichita, KS
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
Looking for an AIT Program? Click here for more details on KHCA's Program.
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Kansas Health Care Association and the Kansas Center for Assisted Living
1100 SW Gage Blvd. | PO Box 4770 | Topeka, KS 66604
PH: 785-267-6003 FAX: 785-267-0833
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