Volume #8-2024 | August 2024

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Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Office of Inspector General

Division of Health Care



Long Term Care Provider Newsletter

August 2024

Training Opportunities


Provider Training - NOW AVAILABLE!


Registration is now open and available on TRAIN for the OIG DHC Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Provider Training September 23 and September 24, 2024 – 1122605, at the University of Louisville Shelby Campus Conference Center, 450 N. Whittington Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40222. Please search for the training event by entering 1122605.


Training is offered in two, single-day training sessions. Registration is available for your date of choice on a first-come, first-served basis. Once room capacity has been reached, registration will be cut off, and you will need to register for the previous or next day session. Please note: You must register to attend. Walk-Ins are not guaranteed a seat, as priority seating is limited to registered attendees.


The Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) will offer 7.8 Contact Hours for completion of this training. You must register, provide your Nursing License #, sign-in at the registration desk, and attend the entire single day session to receive credit.


Upon receipt of registration approval, please print out all training materials found under the Resources tab in the training course and bring these documents with you to the training session. These documents will not be available at the training venue.


Here is some Helpful Information to get you started!


Please contact Darlene Cox at darlene.cox@ky.gov or 502-564-5805 if you have any questions regarding registration.

MDS Training - COMING SOON!


Minimum Data Set training, hosted annually by the Kentucky Office of Inspector General and presented by Myers and Stauffer LC, will be available as several webinars on TRAIN in early October. Webinars will include the following topics:


  • Nursing Restorative Documentation
  • Supportive Documentation Requirements
  • Section A Completion (Identification Information)
  • Section M Completion (Skin Conditions)
  • Chapter 6 – PDPM
  • MDS Item Set Updates for 10-1-2024


Note that last year's "Back to Basics" series is also still available!


  • OIG DHC MDS RAI Manual Chapter 1 October 2023 1113709
  • OIG DHC MDS RAI Manual Chapter 2 October 2023 1113710
  • OIG DHC MDS RAI Manual Chapter 3 October 2023 1113711
  • OIG DHC MDS RAI Manual Chapter 4 October 2023 1113712
  • OIG DHC MDS RAI Manual Chapter 5 October 2023 1113713
  • OIG DHC MDS RAI Manual Chapter 6 October 2023 1113714


The Kentucky Board of Nursing has approved contact hours for Kentucky RNs and LPNs upon completion, assessment, and evaluation of most individual sessions. Kentucky LTC Administrators will also receive contact hours.


Stay tuned!

Please contact Darlene Cox with any training questions by email or at 502-564-5805.

NOW AVAILABLE: CMS National Summary Report, Executive Summary, and National Summary Results workbook for the 2023 Post-Acute

Care Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports


In October 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports to post-acute care (PAC) providers: the Discharge to Community (DTC) Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report and the Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary (MSPB) Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report.


To help expand access to aggregate stratified results, the National Summary Report provides insights on aggregate (e.g., national-level) differences in quality by dual-enrollment status and race/ethnicity in the PAC settings. This report can be used as a reference by PAC providers who received the 2023 Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports. In addition, this report can help other stakeholders understand aggregate variations in the stratified DTC and MSPB measure outcomes. The Executive Summary of the National Summary Report serves as a quick summary of the main findings from the National Summary Report. The National Summary Results workbook includes the full set of results that were included in the National Summary Report. 


The National Summary Report, Executive Summary, and National Summary Results workbook can be found in the Downloads section of the PAC QRP Training webpage for HHIRFLTCH, and SNF.

Free Training for Nursing Facility Staff


The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) was established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It provides mental health and substance use training, customized technical assistance and resources to certified Medicare and Medicaid nursing facility staff who care for residents with a variety of behavioral health conditions at absolutely no cost.


Check out resources today!

www.nursinghomebehavioralhealth.org

CMS Developed Global Public Health Emergency (PHE)

Grants Funds Still Available


CMS developed three applications to facilitate visitation and prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. These one-time grants will continue beyond the PHE to allow all certified nursing facilities access to the products. CNFs can apply for all three programs for up to a total of $9,000.


Communicative Technology: Up to $3,000 for tablets and accessories to allow residents to communicate remotely with family and friends


Visitation I: Up to $3,000 for in-person visitation aids such as outdoor shelters and clear dividers


Visitation II: Up to $3,000 for portable fans and/or room air cleaners with HEPA filters (H-13, -14)


Want the funds but too busy for paperwork? We can help!


Contact Lena Mullins-Datko, CMP Grants Administrator, for assistance with applications at: Lena.mullinsdatko@ky.gov, CMPapplication_OIG@ky.gov, or (502) 564-5771.

 

For more details on the Kentucky CMP Reinvestment Fund and applications visit the Civil Money Penalty Funds - Cabinet for Health and Family Services website or contact Lena Mullins-Datko.

Division of Health Care Contact Information


Central Office

Carrie Storms, Director

Marissia Izlar, Assistant Director

Andrea Willhite, Assistant Director

275 E. Main St., 5E-A Frankfort, KY 40621

Phone: 502-564-7963

Fax: 502-564-6546


Western Enforcement Branch

Terri Gipson, Regional Program Manager

Vacant, Human Services Program Branch Manager

901 B South Main Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Phone: 270-889-6052

Fax: 270-889-6089


Northern Enforcement Branch

Chuck Ballou, Regional Program Manager

Carmen Ferguson, Human Services Program Branch Manager

L & N Building 10-W, 908 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203

Phone: 502-595-4958

Fax: 502-595-4540


Southern Enforcement Branch

Vacant, Regional Program Manager

Casey Shelley, Human Services Program Branch Manager

116 Commerce Ave., London, KY 40744

Phone: 606-330-2030

Fax: 606-330-2054


Eastern Enforcement Branch

Gae Vanlandingham, Regional Program Manager

Will Hendrickson, Human Services Program Branch Manager

455 Park Place, Suite 120A, Lexington, KY 40511

Phone: 859-246-2301

Fax: 859-246-2307


Kentucky's Top 10 Citations

for Nursing Homes


Health Care


Life Safety Code


Emergency Preparedness

to find an Ombudsman

Informal Appeal of Survey Findings


Every Long Term Care provider has the right to both an informal and formal appeal process following receipt of a completed Form CMS-2567. There are two informal appeal processes: Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and Independent IDR (IIDR).

 

Interested in Serving on an IDR Panel?

Kentucky requires one member of the IDR panel to be "a person currently engaged in the provision of Long Term Care services who has no affiliation with the provider disputing a deficiency." Typically, a Long Term Care Administrator is on each IDR panel. There is no payment or travel reimbursement for an Administrator serving on a panel. Administrators will be rotated. If a Long Term Care Administrator is interested in serving on a panel, a confidentiality statement must be signed prior to the participation in the first IDR panel.

 

Please complete the Confidentiality Agreement and submit via email, fax, or mail to:

Jennifer Smith, RN - IDR/IIDR Coordinator

Office of Inspector General

Division of Health Care

275 E. Main St., 5E-A

Frankfort, KY 40621



Fax: (502) 564-6546

MDS/RAI CONTACT INFORMATION
 
For questions regarding MDS Assessment, Coding, Transmission or
Technical Issues, email KY OIG HC Support.

Please do not send any identifiable patient information through e-mail. This includes patient names, SSNs, dates of birth, or any other data items considered identifiers or Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA. Please redact any PHI prior to sending. 
ePOC Accounts

All certified nursing facilities are required to sign up for ePOC. Please be diligent about keeping your account and password up to date. All correspondence is handled in the ePOC system, including the plan of correction. Furthermore, if there is a change in administrator, it is incumbent upon the facility to update the system.


Click here for the CMS security rules.


If your facility is not yet signed up, see the Account Setup instructions.


Not sure if your facility has any ePOC accounts, or have other questions? E-mail ePOC.Support@ky.gov or contact Zakary Carter, ASPEN Coordinator, at Zakary.Carter@ky.gov.


Have you notified your residents?

Click the link below to download and/or print the contact list for various agencies.

Which Branch is Serving You? 

 

To provide the highest level of service, the Division of Health Care operates through four regional offices. Knowing the appropriate Branch to contact with questions and concerns will ensure you receive maximum service in minimum time. Review links below for detailed information.


Regional Map

 

Contact Information

logo
CMS Survey and Certification memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices.
 


Transfer/Discharge Hearing Appeals

Please submit your requests for transfer/discharge hearing appeals to Secretary Eric C. Friedlander, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, by emailing:

LTC Facility Self-Reported

Incidents & Complaints

    

Email addresses were established for communications regarding LTC Facility Self-Reported Incidents and for use by residents and the general public to report possible violations of regulatory requirements. Click Here for the email addresses and additional contact information. 

Quality, Safety & Education Portal

CMS's QSEP provides the full curriculum of surveyor training and guidance on health care facility regulations. All training is available on-demand on a top-notch self-service portal. 24/7 access means you have the freedom to learn what you want, where you want, when you want.





Employment Opportunities 

To search and apply for positions within the Office of Inspector General, please visit the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet's web page by clicking below.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services


Office of Inspector General


Division of Health Care 




DHC Leadership Team:

 

Tricia Steward

Acting Inspector General


Carrie Storms

Director


Marissia Izlar

Assistant Director


Andrea Willhite

Assistant Director

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Commonwealth of Kentucky | Office of Inspector General | 275 East Main St., Frankfort, KY 40621
The Office of Inspector General is the regulatory and licensing agency for all health care, day care and long-term care facilities and child adoption/child-placing agencies in the commonwealth.
  
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