Issue #2015 - April 24, 2019
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NEW FIVE-STAR RATINGS LIVE ON NURSING HOME COMPARE
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published new Five-Star rankings on its Nursing Home Compare (NHC)
Website that reflect several significant updates to all three components of the system - survey, staffing and quality. A summary of the changes can be found
here.
On April 8th, AHCA hosted a Webinar that walked through these new changes. Members can access the recorded Webinar and the following resources on the Five-Star ahcancalED Website
here:
- Q&As from the AHCA Five-Star Webinar
- Member toolkit containing the following items:
- Suggested talking points
- Template media statement
- Template letter to families
- Five-Star Technical Users' Guide
- CMS QSO Memo
In addition, AHCA has several tools to help members continue to improve. AHCA/NCAL's LTC Trend Tracker
here is a one-stop-shop that allows members to gain timely information and valuable insight about their own performance as well as the entire profession's, including reports that capture Five-Star and Quality Measure (QM) rates.
For any additional questions on the new Five-Star ratings, please email
research@ahca.org.
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Nursing Home Compare Quarterly Refresh with SNF QRP Data Now Available
The April 2019 Nursing Home Compare Refresh, including quality measure results based on SNF QRP data submitted to CMS, is now available. For this refresh SNF QRP assessment-based measure performance scores will be based upon data submitted to CMS between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018; claims-based measure performance scores will be based upon SNF PPS claims dated between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017.
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2020 SNF PROPOSED PAYMENT RULE UPDATE FROM AHCA
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the
2020 SNF proposed payment rule on April 19th. This is the rule that controls the Medicare payments starting on October 1st of this year. Two areas to highlight are below:
- The proposed rule includes a net market basket increase of 2.5 percent which CMS estimates would increase Medicare SNF payments by approximately $887 million in FY 2020.
- The rule proposes to expand the definition of group therapy. Under current law, a group has to be four people. This restricts its use. CMS listened to the American Health Care Association's (AHCA) rationale that group can be effective with configurations of various sizes, and, as a result, proposes to change the rule. If finalized, groups can consist of between two and six patients starting October 1.
There are multiple other proposed changes. AHCA has put together a
memo that summarizes these, and will provide a more detailed analysis soon. Of important note, there are no material changes to the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM).
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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - ROBIN HILLIER - NCHCFA ANNUAL SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SPEAKER OF THE WEEK – PREPARING FOR PDPM
Mark your calendar today and make plans to attend the NCHCFA 8th Annual Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 7-9, 2019 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC. Don't miss the opportunity to hear Robin Hillier provide an update on the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM). This session will focus on operational strategies providers can implement to help better prepare them for success under the new payment system.
Ms. Hillier spoke at the 2019 Annual NCHCFA Convention & Expo and received excellent evaluations!
Robin Hillier is a healthcare executive dedicated to post-acute and long term care. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a State Tested Nursing Assistant, a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and is Resident Assessment Coordinator Certified and a Master Teacher through the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination (AANAC). Throughout her career, she has been involved in all aspects of facility operations, including ownership roles. She is currently the Director of Reimbursement and Quality Metrics for Welcome Nursing Home in Oberlin, Ohio, and President of RLH Consulting, which provides operational and reimbursement consulting to providers of skilled nursing, assisted living, and intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Registration for the 8th Annual Summer Symposium will open in May.
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GET PDPM READY: GET TRAINED ON ICD-10 CODING NOW
The October 1st PDPM implementation date is rapidly approaching and training key staff now to be ICD-10 proficient is critical. Inaccurate ICD-10 coding can negatively impact a facility’s bottom line and resident care. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) are offering ICD-10 on-line training. Because staff needs differ based on their coding responsibilities, two specific trainings have been developed - one training for coders and a shorter less intense course for non-coders.
AHCA/AHIMA ICD-10 Training for PDPM – Coder is an in-depth course designed for SNF billing staff, MDS staff, Nursing and Therapy staff, and Admissions and Discharge staff. The cost is $499 for AHCA members and $599 for non-members.
AHCA/AHIMA ICD-10 Training for PDPM – Non-Coder is a four-hour course developed for individuals who need to lead a successful PDPM transition and is intended for Administrators, DONs, and other management staff. The cost is $199 for AHCA members and $249 for non-members.
Members will need to login with their AHCA usernames and passwords. For assistance obtaining AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords, please email
educate@ahca.org with your name and facility contact information.
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THANK YOU NCHCFA ELITE CHAMPION PLATINUM YEAR-LONG SPONSORS
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REGISTER TODAY FOR FINAL PHASE 3 REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATION SEMINAR
Long term care facilities must be compliant with Phase 3 Requirements of Participation by November 28, 2019. This phase introduces several items that have never been surveyed before, including the full implementation of a compliance and ethics and QAPI program, presence of a qualified infection preventionist, and certain staff training requirements.
Cindy Deporter, MSSW, State Survey Agency Director, Division of Health Service Regulation, will be teaching a full day session (three locations) on an overview of Phase 3 Requirements of Participation with extra emphasis on those that have not been phased in (in part). The review will include:
- Abuse & Neglect Coordination with QAPI Program
- Care Planning & Providing Culturally Competent & Trauma-Informed Care
- Standards of Practice, Systems, & Staff Competency Related to Trauma-Informed Care
- QAPI Program
- Infection Preventionist
- Compliance & Ethics Program
- Bedside Resident Call System
- Training Requirements
In addition, there will be a segment devoted to the revised State Operations Manual, Appendix Q – Core Guidelines for Determining Immediate Jeopardy.
- May 2, 2019 – The Ballast Hotel, Wilmington, NC
Click
here to register online. Click
here to download the brochure with registration form.
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REGISTER FOR YOUR NCHCFA SPRING DISTRICT MEETING
NCHCFA has scheduled the Spring district meetings. Each space will be limited to 50 individuals. There will be a small registration fee of $50.00. Lunch will be provided.
This program will offer 3.0 contact hours for nursing home administrators. The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association is a Registered Sponsor of continuing education with the NC State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. Comments regarding the Registered Sponsor Course may be addressed to: NCBENHA, 3733 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Please note – If you are unable to attend the meeting in your district, you may attend a meeting in another district. Click
here to download and print the brochure and registration form.
- April 25th - District II
- April 30th - District III
- May 7th - District IV
- May 8th - District V
Agenda
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Alliant Quality (QIN-QIO)
Alliant Quality will present an update on NC’s facilities’ quality measures.
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Drug Diversion in LTC: Safe Practices, Handling, and Disposal Methods
In this session, attendees will learn of narcotic diversion principles within long term care and how handling, storage, and safeguards play a role daily in your facility. Implementation of Facility action plans will be discussed along with best strategies to prevent diversion within your facility. Proper narcotic disposal methods of medication waste will be defined along with new federal regulations.
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THANK YOU NCHCFA PREMIER DIAMOND YEAR-LONG SPONSORS
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AHCA/NCAL AWARDS
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is now accepting entries for the
AHCA Awards Program and the
NCAL Awards Program. Completed nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, June 7, 2019.
AHCA is also accepting nominations for the 2019 Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant national contributions in advancing quality performance in long term and/or post-acute care. Nominations must be submitted online
here by Friday, June 7 at 11:59 PM ET.
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REGISTER FOR THE NEXT LUNCH AND LEARN WEBINAR
The next Lunch and Learn Webinar,
Employment Law Update, is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd, 2019 at 12:00 PM. Ken Burgess, Partner, Poyner & Spruill, LLP will be discussing the following topics:
- Providing reasonable accommodations under the disability laws
- Engaging employees in the interactive accommodations process
- Other current hot topics in long term care employment law
Click
here to register now.
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REVIEW AND UPDATES FROM THE STATE SURVEY AGENCY NOTEBOOK
If you were unable to attend one of our sessions with Cindy Deporter, Review and Updates from the State Survey Agency, the notebook used in the training is now available for purchase. Email Donna Snyder to order a notebook for your facility at
donnas@nchcfa.org. The cost is $25.00 plus tax and shipping.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Canadians say “sorry” so much that a law was passed in 2009 declaring that an apology can’t be used as evidence of admission to guilt.
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