UPDATE Weekly

NCHCFA has an additional benefit of membership, 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 is scheduled for tomorrow, August 16th, from 12:00 NOON – 1:00 PM. Webinar details are below:

Title: AHCA National Quality Award Program- Bronze Level
Presenter: Erin Prendergast, American Health Care Association (AHCA)

Join NCHCFA with the National Quality Award program staff in this new applicant Webinar to learn about program benefits and the criteria and application process for the Bronze award level. The AHCA Quality Award team will also announce dates for the 2019 program cycle, recommend helpful AHCA resources, and facilitate a question and answer session.

Click Here to register now!

[Return to top]

Annual Performance Score Reports for the FY 2019 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) program year are now available. SNFs with eligible stays during the CY 2017 performance period can retrieve reports via the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) System. Review and submit correction requests for your performance score and ranking information by August 31 at 11:59 PM.

For More Information:

• SNF VBP Annual Performance Score Report Memo
• Program FAQ
• Contact SNFVBPinquiries@cms.hhs.gov

[Return to top]

Last Wednesday, the IRS published a proposed rule that, if left unchanged, would restrict the ability of SNF owners and some assisted living owners to take full advantage of this year’s federal tax cuts. The American Health Care Association President and CEO, Mark Parkinson, released a statement with additional information on this issue. To read this statement, click here.

[Return to top]

On July 31st, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule outlining proposed Fiscal Year 2019 Medicare payment rates and quality programs for SNFs. The FY19 final rule establishes a market basket increase of 2.4 percent beginning October 1, 2018. The actual increase realized by facilities will vary based on any changes in the wage index used to determine their rates.

• CMS also finalized a payment system called the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to replace the current RUGs-based SNF PPS, which has an implementation date of October 1, 2019.
• The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has several resources available about the final rule, including a recorded webinar*, summary*, and member e-mail*. You can also view the CMS fact sheet and FY19 SNF PPS wage index.
• AHCA will host two opportunities to learn more about the PDPM at this year’s Convention and Expo in San Diego, California. The four-hour intensive, Replacing RUGs – CMS’ New SNF Payment System & How to Get Ready for October 2019 Implementation, will be held on Sunday, October 7th and repeated on Wednesday, October 10th. During these sessions, AHCA will offer a holistic picture of how PDPM impacts SNFs, access to a members-only toolkit containing the core competencies framework and a readiness review tool, a discussion of data gathered from 12 companies testing the impacts of PDPM, and host a member panel discussion about opportunities and potential pitfalls for SNFs as they consider operational changes necessary to be successful under PDPM. Please Note: Due to proprietary information, attendance at both PDPM intensive sessions is limited to SNF providers and State Affiliate staff only. No other attendee types will be permitted inside the session rooms.

In addition to the resources made available through AHCA, NCHCFA has prepared a Medicare rate calculator based on the final rule. This Excel tool will allow the users to determine their Medicare Part A rates that will be effective October 1, 2018, including any adjustment for Value Based Purchasing which becomes effective at the same time. This file is available on the Association Website in the Quick Links and the Reimbursement Resources sections. If any corrections are made to the final rule that would impact rates, this file will be updated accordingly.</p>

[Return to top]

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, September 20th at the NCHCFA office in Raleigh, 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.

[Return to top]

Are you a clinician, quality improvement professional, patient, caregiver, or community partner? Regardless of where your life journey takes you, you or a loved one may someday need care, also called long-term services and supports (LTSS) to assist in daily living. When that time comes, you deserve to be treated with warmth, dignity, and respect and to be content, healthy, and safe no matter where you live or what your background is. Unfortunately, while nursing homes, other facilities offering LTSS, and home health services have improved over time in some aspects, disparities in the quality of care persist based on race, ethnicity, income, and even the zip code where you live. On this call, the Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN NCC) will explore how Quality Improvement Organizations, clinicians, patients and residents, families, loved ones, and community partners are helping to address disparities by supporting culturally and structurally competent services in nursing homes, other facilities offering LTSS, and home and community-based services. Join the QIN NCC to hear from others and share your experiences!

Topic: Addressing Disparities in Long-Term Services and Supports: Strategies for Culturally and Structurally Competent Services

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET

Registration Required! Register here.

Audience: Open to QIN-QIOs, providers, partners, and beneficiaries!

CE Statement: This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. This activity is eligible for ACPE, ANCC, AANP, and CDR credit; see final CPE/CE activity announcement for specific details.

Questions? Submit here.

[Return to top]

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality and NORC at The University of Chicago, created the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use to develop and implement a bundle of interventions designed to improve antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic prescribing practices across acute care, long-term care, and ambulatory care facilities across the United States.

Antibiotics are a precious resource and can be critical for improving the outcomes of patients with serious infections. However, antibiotics also have the potential to cause patient harm, including allergic reactions, Clostridium difficile infections, and antibiotic resistance both at the individual patient level and for society as a whole.

Click here, to learn more about Long-term care (LTC) facility registration and register to attend an informational Webinar.

[Return to top]

Begin today completing and electronically submitting your 2018 QAPI Self-Assessment. In a collaborative effort with the University of Minnesota and Stratis Health, subject matter experts, consumer groups and nursing home stakeholders, CMS created “process” tools that may be used to implement and apply some of the basic principles of QAPI. Use these tools as you begin your work on QAPI and then for annual or semiannual evaluation of your organization’s progress with QAPI. If you have not completed a QAPI Assessment for 2018, follow this link to complete and electronically submit your QAPI Self-Assessment now, click here.

[Return to top]

The updated List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) database file, which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in July 2018 has been posted. The updated files are posted on OIG’s Website at https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp. Healthcare providers have an “affirmative duty” to check to ensure that excluded individuals are not working in their facilities or face significant fines.

[Return to top]

Based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, the program recognizes long term and post-acute care member centers and communities nationally for quality care.

Participating in the Quality Award Program has many benefits, including:

• Provides a proven framework that organizations can use to make improvements in any clinical, quality or other operational issue (i.e. staff engagement, customer satisfaction, hospital readmissions)
• Helps prepare organizations to meet regulatory requirements and navigate a changing market
• Serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels of the organization
• Provides external validation of high quality care and services
• Serves as a marketing resource for consumers, referral sources and other key stakeholders
• Participants receive customized feedback with their top strengths and improvement areas

The Intent to Apply deadline is Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 8 PM. Eastern. While not mandatory, applicants who submit the Intent to Apply will save money on their overall application fee and receive extra educational resources. No paperwork or application is needed to submit the Intent to Apply. Access the 2019 Intent to Apply payment process on the Quality Award Portal today!

To download the Bronze, Silver and Gold application packets and free educational resources, visit the Quality Award website. For additional information, contact qualityaward@ahca.org.

[Return to top]

Please plan to join your friends and colleagues in beautiful Southern Pines, North Carolina, on September 12th and 13th for the NCHCFA 7th Annual Autumn Classic. The event will be held at the world famous Pine Needles Lodge and Resort. Built in 1928, the Donald Ross course at Pine Needles has been host to three U.S. Women’s Open tournaments in 1996, 2001 and again in 2007.

You do not have to play golf to participate. Register for the “Recharge Club” Package and enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing at The Spa at Pinehurst. This 31,000 square foot facility is a Forbes Four-Star Spa that offers a wide variety of treatments and services. This package includes access to all areas at the spa, which features a heated, three-lane saline lap pool, eucalyptus steam rooms, a spacious fitness center, and much more. Transportation will be provided to and from the Village at Pinehurst.

The Autumn Classic is hosted by the NCHCFA to benefit our political action committee (PAC). To review registration materials click here. We hope you will join us in Southern Pines in September.

[Return to top]

NCHCFA thanks all individuals that participated in the Summer Symposium evaluation raffle. Congratulations to June Hooks of Carrington Place for winning a $100 cash prize. Again, we appreciate your valuable input.

[Return to top]

A publication that answers the frequently asked questions about how to access the satisfaction of health and long term care recipients successfully. Designed to be practical in its application, the book includes many examples of questions and approaches used to access consumer satisfaction. Part 1 provides an overview in which the authors discuss theories, approaches to measuring consumer satisfaction, and how to implement a consumer data collection strategy. Part II focuses on a broad range of specific areas or settings for assessment including in-home care, nursing homes, and assisted living.

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

Product #6803
AHCA MEMBERS $79.00

[Return to top]

NCHCFA has partnered with nationally recognized speaker, Cara Silletto and her company Crescendo Strategies, to offer you a new online course. Are you having trouble retaining young workers? Do you find it hard to understand Millennials? If you missed our Full Day Workforce Summit, this 90-minute, self-paced online course shows leaders a Millennial speaker’s first-hand stories about the real generational issues on the T.A.B.L.E. (technology, authority, balance, loyalty, entitlement). Course participants will learn critical insights about all of today’s workers in order to bridge the widening generational gaps and reduce unnecessary employee turnover.

How companies use this online course:

• Consistent training across multiple locations
• Catch-up session for those who missed it live
• New supervisor and manager orientation
• Prep for strategic planning or leadership retreats
• Deep-dive diversity training beyond the basics
• Continuing education credits (1.5 NAB-approved credits)

NCHCFA is pleased to offer member discounts! Click here for more information and promotional codes. Click here to start the course (Remember to enter your promo code).

[Return to top]

Excellent Interpersonal Communication Requires a Safe Environment

Lead Change Group Article

[Return to top]

A face with big eyes, a small nose, and a small chin exhibits kinderschema: the collection of traits humans have evolved to find adorable.

[Return to top]