UPDATE Weekly

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) federal Requirements of Participation (RoP) contain many significant changes in the area of nursing home pharmacy services. There are many key highlights related to medications, pharmacy services, and medication regimen review. Back by popular demand, Todd King, Pharm. D., CGP, will continue the overview of pharmacy-related Phase 2 requirements and associated guidance required in 2017 and 2019. Attendees will learn how to manage the requirements and important pharmacy-related changes to Appendix PP. This presentation will be a sequel of the session offered in January during the 2018 Annual Convention & Expo! Don’t miss this informative program on Friday, August 10th during the seventh annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 8-10, 2018 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC. Brochures will be available soon.

Todd King, Pharm.D., CGP, serves as Director of Clinical Services for Omnicare-A CVS Health Company and has worked in the long term care profession for 25 years. He is currently responsible for overseeing the clinical services for the Southeast and Northeast. This includes managing the consultant pharmacist and clinical managers for the regions, implementing clinical programs, managing facility formulary and providing education to customers and staff. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Campbell University School of Pharmacy in 1990 and completed a Residency in Geriatrics and long term care in Durham, NC. Todd is a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist. Todd is currently active in a variety of local and national organizations.

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Over the past several weeks in UDPATE, NCHCFA has been discussing the Fair Rental Value (FRV) Modernization Survey. We have started to receive surveys, but we are hoping to receive many more before the June 15th deadline.

FRV has been in place for ten years and pays a more provider specific rate than the system it replaced. FRV rates are updated annually based on national construction data and provider submitted information. Our hope is to develop a modernized FRV system that more accurately reflects the true capital costs of operating a nursing facility, as well as providing more incentive to modernize existing buildings.

In order to develop a more provider specific rate, we must collect data on square footage from each facility. Completion of this survey is extremely important because providers missing square footage data in the rate model will be assigned the minimum default value.

This survey can be completed in two different ways.

1. Survey Monkey – This option is designed for the entry of data one facility at a time.
2. Excel Spreadsheet – The Excel spreadsheet is designed to ease the data entry for multiple facilities. If desired, it can also be used to submit information for a single facility. Once completed, the file should be e-mailed to samc@nchcfa.org.

Regardless of which submission method you choose to utilize, it is recommended that you take the following steps:

— Download and print the PDF version of this on-line survey and use it as a worksheet.
— Review the FAQs at the end of the PDF survey.
— With a completed worksheet in hand, you will be able to complete the on-line survey in one sitting or the Excel file.

The deadline for data submission is Friday, June 15, 2018. We would appreciate receiving surveys as soon as possible. June 15th was set as the deadline in order to allow additional time for providers needing to prepare their December 31st year-end cost reports.

Useful links:
PDF Copy of the Survey Worksheet
FRV Survey Link
FRV Excel Spreadsheet

If you have any questions on this process, please contact Sam Clark at samc@nchcfa.org or by phone at (919) 782-3827.

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It’s that time again – your facility(s) data has been updated in Your Top-Line!

Your Top-Line is a publication that includes metrics and graphics outlining your progress on Five-Star performance, the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative, your Quality Awards journey, and other necessary data to help you achieve your desired goals.

Distributed each quarter, the tool also includes links to member resources that will help with specific goals.

To log into LTC Trend Tracker and download your publications, click here. Once logged in, you can also change which buildings will be included in your download, and run other reports to view different peer groups and trends over time.

If you misplace the e-mail containing the link to Your Top-Line, don’t worry because LTC Trend Tracker keeps these publications saved under your account. After logging into LTC Trend Tracker™, click on “Manage Publications” in your left-hand menu and then click “View and Download Publications”. It will then allow you to select the publication, by building and quarter.

If you have any questions, please e-mail help@ltctrendtracker.com , and add this email address to your ‘Safe Senders list’.

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Make plans today to join your colleagues for the seventh annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 8-10, 2018 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC. Call the Embassy Suites Resort at (800) 876-0010 to reserve your overnight room. Use group code “HCF” to identify yourself as a NC Health Care Facilities Association Convention attendee! To make your reservation on-line, visit https://tinyurl.com/ncsummersymposium2018.

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It’s time to register and make plans to join your colleagues from around the country in beautiful San Diego for the most valuable long term and post-acute care gathering of the year. You will be treated to fantastic education sessions designed to help you meet the challenges of today. Earn CEUs while learning from top-notch speakers, engaging in priceless discussions, and making connections with people you can call upon throughout the year.

Early bird registration discount ends July 20th! Click here to register now.

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NCHCFA has a new benefit of membership in 2018—a monthly Lunch and Learn Webinar Series. NCHCFA is offering a one-hour Webinar on a timely and relevant topic to its members at no additional charge. There will be no CEUs offered for these Webinars.

The next Webinar in the series is scheduled for June 21st, from 12 noon-1:00 pm. Webinar details are below:

Title: Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) Medical Review
Presenter: Rhonda Craig, RC Consulting

The objectives of this Webinar include:

A) Definition and mechanics of the review
B) How error rates are calculated
C) What happens when a provider fails to improve the error rate
D) Common errors/denial issues
E) How to prepare

Click here to register.

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At the end of April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed that a new Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) replace the current RUGs system in its entirety effective October 1, 2019, moving away from reimbursement based on hours of service to a model built “to treat the needs of the whole patient.”

At this year’s American Health Care Association (AHCA) Convention & Expo, AHCA will present a 4-hour intensive session that will help you understand what this means for you and how to best prepare. The intensive session will include an in-depth training on the PDPM payment system. Especially important is that a member tool kit will be introduced that will contain the core competencies framework as well as a readiness review tool that will help you track your operational readiness for PDPM. The intensive will also cover data gathered from 12 companies testing impacts of PDPM and provide hospital and discharge pattern data that could be helpful in member markets.

This critical session is one of several that aims to give you the timely and essential tools and information that you need to continue to provide quality long term and post-acute care.

Learn more about all the intensive sessions, as well as the education tracks, speakers, and networking opportunities available, and register today.

Early bird registration rates end July 20th.

Please note that the intensive will be held twice – Sunday, October 7 at 1:00 pm and Wednesday, October 10 at 10:30 am.

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The Situational Leadership workshop is an interactive and dynamic developmental session where attendees will discuss how best to apply the effective principles and approaches of The Situational Leadership Model popularized by renowned leadership and management experts Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey.

Our high demand and ever-changing work environment requires that leadership interactions with staff be as effective and efficient as possible. Additionally, the diverse experiences, skills, and needs of our employees must impact, more than ever, how we manage, lead and inspire our workforce. The Situational Leadership Model suggests that there is no “one size fits all” approach to leadership.

The four different styles of situational leadership to be discussed are:

1. Delegating
2. Coaching
3. Directing
4. Supporting

This workshop will be held Thursday, June 14th at the Northeast Regional Library, Wilmington, NC. It will be facilitated by Mark Gogal, a Human Resources Leader with over 25 years of progressive, global, and diverse human resources experience, practical business partnering expertise, strong organizational and analytical skills, and proven strategic management experience. He has a multi-faceted background in developing and implementing core HR policies/practices to meet the changing business, legal, and labor compliance environment. He has worked in a variety of industries in the public and private sectors including healthcare.

For the complete brochure and registration information, click here.

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Racial and cultural differences exist in residential communities. You can make a difference through educated and compassionate caregiving staff. This video addresses how diversity (religious, cultural, and sexual) can affect caregiving.

To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343. Fax orders may also be placed at (800) 869-5605.

Product #8177
AHCA MEMBERS $79.00

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This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, when they should be used, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. To order, e-mail your request to Donna Snyder at donnas@nchcfa.org.

• NCHCFA Member: $30.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping
• Non-Members: $60.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping

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To reduce burnout and turnover, improve family-staff relationships

McKnight’s Article

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German chocolate cake is named after a man named Sam German, not the country.

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