UPDATE Weekly

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded additional contracts as part of a restructuring the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program to create a new approach to improve care for beneficiaries, families and caregivers. QIOs are private, mostly not-for-profit organizations staffed by doctors and other health care professionals trained to review medical care and help beneficiaries with complaints about the quality of care and to implement improvements in the quality of care available throughout the spectrum of care.

The new contracts being awarded to fourteen organizations represent the second phase of QIO restructuring. The awardees will work with providers and communities across the country on data-driven quality initiatives. These QIOs will be known as Quality Innovation Network (QIN)-QIOs. QIN-QIO projects will be based in communities, health care facilities and clinical practices. They will drive quality by providing technical assistance, convening learning and action networks for sharing best practices, collecting and analyzing data for improvement.

Specifically, each QIN-QIO will work on strategic initiatives such as reducing healthcare associated infections, reducing readmissions and medication errors, working with nursing homes to improve care for residents, supporting clinical practices in using interoperable health information technology to enable the exchange of essential health information to improve the coordination of care, promoting prevention activities, reducing cardiac disease and diabetes, reducing health care disparities and improving patient and family engagement. QIN-QIOs will also provide technical assistance for improvement in CMS value based purchasing programs, including the physician value based modifier program.

As a result of the changes, some hospitals and providers will now work with a different QIO than in the past. The new QIN-QIO contracts were competitively awarded. The restructured program will continue to ensure that the entire country participates in strategic initiatives and that local practices are considered.

“Quality Improvement Organizations have always supported beneficiaries with a nationwide infrastructure dedicated to improving the quality of health care”, said Patrick Conway, Deputy Administrator for Innovation and Quality and CMS Chief Medical Officer. “Under this new QIO program structure, I am excited about the positive impact QIOs will have, working in collaboration with national and local organizations. CMS and QIOs are building momentum in transforming healthcare delivery by supporting learning systems, improving efficiency and value, and achieving better health outcomes for beneficiaries.”

The first phase of the restructuring – which CMS announced on May 9, 2014 –allows two Beneficiary and Family-Centered Care (BFCC) QIO contractors to perform the program’s case review and monitoring activities separate from the quality improvement activities performed by QIN-QIOs. The two BFCC-QIO contractors are Livanta LLC and KePRO. They will be responsible for ensuring consistency in the review process with consideration of local factors important to beneficiaries.

CMS will introduce the program changes with the beginning of its five year, 11th Statement of Work – the QIO contracts cycle – on August 1, 2014.

The QIN-QIO awarded contracts are:

11th Statement of Work Quality Innovation Network
Quality Improvement Organization Program Contracts

*The Indiana, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands awards have not yet been determined.

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There is still time to register for the third annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium August 5-7, 2014 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC for the most up to date information affecting long term care. You can register and pay on-line. Visit http://www.NursingHomesNC.com & click on Third Annual Summer Symposium Registration! Administrators and registered nurses will be able to earn up to 12.0 hours of continuing education.

The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association would like to thank the Summer Symposium Hosts for supporting this year’s event!

Register today for “Preparation Meets Opportunity: The Shot That Knocked My Mama’s Wig Off” Lunch & Program on Wednesday, August 6th. Are you ready to laugh out loud with your colleagues? If so, enjoy lunch and be entertained by comedian Karen Mills! Karen has often been compared to such greats as Bill Cosby, Ellen Degeneres, and Jerry Seinfeld because she finds the funny in everyday life, and her comedy is clean, clever and relatable. Karen has faced every challenge with determination. She stands at 5’2″ and was told more than once that she was too short to play basketball. Not only did she play, she earned a full scholarship to The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her determination also didn’t change when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Karen was determined to take on the disease with hope and humor. Her mission is to inspire people to love, laugh, and approach everything life hands you with a positive attitude.

Karen has been a nationally touring comedian for 20 years, and has had serious success in the funny business. Karen has worked with Jon Stewart, was contributing writer for “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” and toured with the Southern Fried Chick comedy tour. She can be heard regularly on Sirius/XM Laugh USA and Blue Collar Radio. Administrators will earn 1.0 hour of continuing education for this program. The cost of this lunch is included in the registration fee. However, you must preregister for this event.

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We are pleased to present to you the digital edition of the 2014-2015 NCHCFA Annual Membership Directory and Resource Guide. This year’s directory includes the listing of our facility members and trade associate members.

Please consider NCHCFA members first when looking for long-term care placement and professional services. For quick referencing, click on the Table of Contents on Page 5 and be directed to the page you would like to view. You may also view and download the directory through our Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com.

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Mark your calendars for this wonderful opportunity to earn CEU’s while hearing from the best about this important topic! This seminar will be held in Durham, NC on September 10, 2014! Brochures will be mailed next week!

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The 65th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo registration is OPEN! This year’s convention will offer you the opportunity to deepen your professional knowledge, network with colleagues from across the country, spend time in the Expo Hall discovering new business solutions, and even rock out a little. This is the must-attend event for long term and post-acute care professionals.

For information or to register, visit http://www.AHCAconvention.org.

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On July 18, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued, “Part D Payment for Drugs for Beneficiaries Enrolled in Medicare Hospice”, a memorandum to Part D sponsors and Medicare Hospices to modify the March 10, 2014 guidance to Part D sponsors to place a prior authorization for all drugs for hospice beneficiaries. The revised guidance expects Part D sponsors to use hospice prior authorization only on the four categories of drugs that the Office of Inspector General (http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region6/61000059.pdf), in consultation with hospice providers, identified as nearly always covered under the hospice benefit. These categories of drugs, which will require hospice prior authorization, are analgesics, antinauseants, laxatives, and antianxiety drugs. Hospices may use the “Hospice Information for Medicare Part D” form to provide the necessary information generally requested by Medicare Part D sponsors.

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has prepared an overview of the new guidance. This summary can be found here

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This book offers CNAs the support of trained and experienced mentors to guide their way as they develop into quality health care professionals. Implementing this program can help you reduce your facility’s CNA turnover rate, save money and build a more competent staff. You’ll have happier residents and a higher quality facility as a result!

To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343.

Product #6706
AHCA MEMBERS $59.95

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Important information for residents and families This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, when they should be used, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order brochures for your facility.

• 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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When Illness Makes a Spouse a Stranger

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/health/a-rare-form-of-dementia-tests-a-vow-of-for-better-for-worse.html?_r=0

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The United States is currently the world leader in pistachio production, having surpassed Iran in 2010.

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