UPDATE Weekly

Register today for the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association’s “CMS State Collaboration on the Use of Antipsychotics.” The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has announced the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, an initiative to ensure appropriate use of antipsychotic medications for nursing home patients. This partnership – among federal and state partners, nursing homes and other providers, advocacy groups and caregivers – has set a national goal of reducing the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing home residents by 15% by the end of 2012. NCHCFA has been working with a coalition of stakeholders who will be involved in trainings offered to personnel on interventions that can be used to reduce antipsychotic medication use.

This seminar is the “kick-off” for this partnership and will focus on comprehensive dementia care and therapeutic interventions for nursing home residents with dementia.

YOU MAY REGISTER AND PAY ON-LINE! PLEASE VISIT http://www.NursingHomesNC.com AND CLICK ON CMS State Collaboration on the Use of Antipsychotics! Register today, space is limited! To download an additional brochure click here.This seminar will be held in the following locations:

• October 10^th – Sheraton Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
• October 11^th – Embassy Suites, Cary, NC
• October 16^th – Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte, NC

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NCHCFA would like to thank all facilities that submitted nominations for the 13th Annual Fabulous 50. We had a tremendous response to help recognize front-line staff for their contributions. Nominations are being judged today, September 19th. As soon as all winners have been notified, the 2013 Fabulous 50 will be listed in Update.

• District I – October 18, 2012, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville
• District II – October 23, 2012, Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte
• District III – October 25, 2012, Sheraton Four Seasons, Greensboro
• District IV – October 30, 2012, Mad Boar Restaurant, Wallace
• District V – November 1, 2012, North Raleigh Hilton, Raleigh

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Palmetto GBA has posted Medicare Learning Network Matters Number MM8036. This article provides information on the requirement that all requests for therapy services above the $3,700 cap must be approved in advance. Providers should read this information and make sure that your billing staffs are aware of these changes. Click herefor more information.

A Webinar for the Part B Outpatient Therapy Cap Exceptions and Medical Review Process for Part A providers has been scheduled for September 24 at 11:30 AM ET. Additional information and registration can be accessed by clicking here.

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The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 extended the therapy cap exceptions process until December 31, 2012. The law also placed a $3,700 limit on the amount of therapy that could be provided without pre-authorization. Starting on October 1, providers must seek pre-authorization for patients needing therapy over and above the $3,700 threshold. Around Labor Day, CMS began to detail how the agency will implement this new policy, which is being phased in from October 1 to December 1, 2012.

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has scheduled a ninety-minute Webinar for September 25 from 2:00 PM ET until 3:30 PM ET. To register for this free webinar, go to http://webinars.ahcancal.org/session.php?id=9579.

Learning Objectives
1. Understand the components of the new manual medical review process CMS requires under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
2. Gain insight about the specific patient information and documentation MACs will require when providers submit pre-authorization requests that are needed for Medicare reimbursement for additional therapy for those patients near the $3,700 threshold.
3. Understand the steps that providers will need to take when requesting pre-authorization.
4. Obtain links to all CMS issued guidance and documents regarding this new policy

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The US Department of the Treasury is requiring that all federal benefit and non-tax payments be paid electronically effective March 31, 2013. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) held a Webinar earlier this week that discussed how providers can comply with the new regulation in their facilities with their residents. This free, ninety-minute Webinar was recorded and is available for viewing at http://webinars.ahcancal.org/index.php.

Learning Objectives:
1) Understand new rules requiring federal benefit payments to be made electronically by 3/1/13;
2) Learn how the rules will affect NF’s current benefit deposit procedures;
3) Identify the role of financial institutions;
4) Discuss various NF scenarios and understand the actions necessary for compliance; and
5) Know how NF’s can help convert residents funds to direct deposit.

Because of the processing that may be required to convert those SNF residents that are now receiving paper checks, it is recommended that all required paperwork be completed no later than January 2013. Changes may also be needed in your admissions policies and procedures. DO NOT DELAY. Additional information on this new requirement can be found at http://www.godirect.org.

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The AHCA/NCAL 63rd Annual Convention & Expo will begin very soon with lots of great education sessions, speakers, networking and social events planned! Consider registering for the Premium Full Meeting Package to make the most of your convention experience. You’ll have access to all education sessions, the opening and closing general sessions, The Expo Hall with complimentary lunch, and more! Don’t miss the premiere long term and post-acute care event of the year!

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Palmetto GBA has released several job aids for providers. A listing of all of the job aids, including the most recent on outpatient service therapy caps can be accessed by clicking here.

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The “Updated LEIE” database file reflects all OIG exclusion and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in August 2012. This new, “Updated LEIE” (List of Excluded Individuals and Entities) is a complete database file containing all exclusions currently in effect. Individuals and entities that have been reinstated to the federal health care programs are not included in this file.

The new file is meant to REPLACE the “Updated LEIE” file made available for download last month. The new file is complete and need NOT be used in conjunction with the monthly exclusion and reinstatement supplements.

Alternatively, you may wish to download either the August Exclusions or Reinstatements databases only which are posted as the “Current Monthly Supplements” at http://www.oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp.

The full LEIE database — complete with all the monthly updates — is included in the OIG “Online Searchable Database” which may be accessed at http://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov.

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This book is a must read for nursing home administrators, directors of nursing, and others in leadership positions in long-term care. It offers practical, commonsense, easy-to-implement approaches that will yield immediate positive results. It also serves as a wake-up call to leaders who doubt their impact and as an affirmation to leaders who struggle daily to do a good job. Let Meeting the Leadership Challenge in Long-Term Care open the door to new possibilities and set your organization on a better course.

Too often long-term care leaders feel overwhelmed by regulatory, financial, and corporate constraints and succumb to the myth that staff turnover is an inevitable cost of doing business. This book debunks this myth, revealing the powerful link between staff satisfaction and successful organizational performance that delivers high quality, high census, good surveys, and a healthy bottom line.

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

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Does your facility need an extra copy of the Buyer’s Guide and Directory around the office? This informative guide lists the NCHCFA Board of Directors, member facilities (by facility, administrator and district), staff contacts, and the NCHCFA trade members. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order one for your facility.

NCHCFA Members only: $35.00 plus tax and shipping

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The boomer generation is much more sophisticated and demanding in their leisurely pursuits. Facilities that don’t offer a wide variety of activities will go the way of the dinosaur.

http://www.mcknights.com/beyond-the-3-basics/article/257931/

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It takes 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese, 21 pounds of milk to make a pound of butter, and 12 pounds of milk to make a single gallon of ice cream.

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