UPDATE Weekly

The North Carolina Senate passed its version of the State Budget on May 23rd and sent it to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Senate budget deliberations were conducted in complete secrecy. The House is deliberating in a more traditional way by conducting most meetings in public. According to legislative budget writers, Medicaid faces a shortfall of $500 million dollars due largely to forecasting errors and paybacks to the federal government, not any fault of Medicaid providers. The Senate proposes to cut the deficit in part by using a technique they are calling “provider rate withholds”. If the withhold provision is enacted providers would see 4% of their Medicaid rates being “withheld” beginning on July 1, 2013. There are few details on how the withhold will be applied and no specific details on how funds being withheld would be returned to providers. NCHCFA along with other provider groups are strongly objecting to withholding any funds due providers. The House is preparing its version of the State budget and we hope theirs will not include the withhold provision. The House will pass its version of the budget next week. A House and Senate Conference Committee will be appointed to work out the differences. We will be sending members details of the budget provisions impacting skilled nursing providers late this week or early next week. We will be calling on many of you to make direct contact with certain members of the General Assembly next week. Those contacts will be vital to our efforts.

Please respond if called upon.

[Return to top]

Pat Boyer, RN, MSM, NHA of Boyer & Associates will present Essentials for Medicaid & Medicare Using the MDS 3.0! In 2012, CMS implemented changes to the RAI manual that have affected your MDS process and your reimbursement system. This workshop will cover those changes. We will also look closely at internal processes to ensure accurate completion of Change of Therapy assessments. In addition, Pat will review how the RUGs III system will crosswalk to the MDS 3.0 so that facilities can maintain their Medicaid Case Mix reimbursement. It is important to note that this training is not a duplicate of the Myers and Stauffer trainings that were held in April.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify how the 2012 changes will affect your MDS system and what is in store for 2013
• Discuss how to monitor therapy services in the new reimbursement environment
• Determine strategies for managing Medicare Reimbursement and the new rules
• Describe strategies for appropriate management of Medicaid Reimbursement using the MDS 3.0
• Describe strategies for appropriate management of Medicare Part A Reimbursement using the MDS 3.0

YOU MAY REGISTER AND PAY ON-LINE! Please visit http://NursingHomesNC.com and click on Essentials for Medicaid & Medicare Using the MDS 3.0!

• June 19th – Sheraton Imperial, Durham, NC
• June 20th – Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte, NC

[Return to top]

Make plans today to join your colleagues for the second annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium, August 6-8, 2013 at the Marriott Grande Dunes Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC.

Don’t miss “Examining the Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)” on Tuesday, August 6th! The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is arguably the most comprehensive health legislation ever enacted by Congress. The challenge ahead is implementation. In an attempt to simplify this process, the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) asked the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) to convene workgroups to examine the new law and gather stakeholder input to ensure implementation decisions serve the best interest of the state as a whole. Pam Silberman, President and CEO of the NCIOM will present the final report from the NCIOM Health Reform Workgroups. The groups met from 2010-2012 and included more than 250 individuals from across the state. The workgroups issued recommendations in eight areas impacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act including: Health Benefit Exchange, Medicaid, Safety Net, Health Professional Workforce, Prevention, Quality, New Models of Care, Fraud and Abuse, and Overutilization.

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has been hard at work developing online tools and conducting ongoing webinars for long term care providers. AHCA has formed a very knowledgeable team to ensure its membership is prepared! AHCA staff will report on the resources and tools developed for members to address the requirements of ACA and achieve compliance. We believe you will be very impressed with the tools AHCA has developed. They are extremely useful and user friendly. This is essential information for skilled nursing providers and a program you can’t afford to miss!

Call the Marriott Resort at (800) 228-9290 to reserve your overnight room. Identify yourself as a NC Health Care Facilities Association Convention attendee! To make your reservation on-line, visit http://tinyurl.com/2013symposiumreserve. Please note that when our room block is full, rooms will be on a first come, first served basis at prevailing published rates. If you have a problem making a reservation at the Marriott, please call the Association office at (919) 782-3827.

Administrators and registered nurses will be able to earn up to 14.0 hours of continuing education. Please call the Association office at (919) 782-3827 with any questions. To view the 2013 Second Annual Summer Symposium full schedule at a glance, click here! Brochures will be available next week!

[Return to top]

In March of this year, CMS published the Final Rule; Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities; Notice of Facility Closure, with an effective date of April 18, 2013. The rule requires individuals serving as Administrators of a SNF or NF to provide written notification of impending closure and plan for relocation of residents at least 60 days prior to the closure or, if the Secretary terminates the facility’s participation in Medicare or Medicaid, not later than the date the Secretary determines appropriate. The full text of the rule can be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-03-19/pdf/2013-06276.pdf. Information and instructions to comply with the requirements were sent to Region IV states in a Disclosure Packet. The packet can be downloaded by clicking here.

[Return to top]

Mark your calendar today for the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association’s “Falls Prevention-Train the Trainer” with Sue Ann Guildermann! This comprehensive two-day program will cover Empira’s comprehensive fall prevention and reduction program in more detail. If you missed Sue Ann’s one-day seminar in March, you will NOT want to miss this two-day program!

This two-day course will be held November 13-14, 2013 in Greensboro, NC. Brochures will be mailed this fall! You must attend both days to receive credit.

[Return to top]

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend four value-packed days of learning and networking in Phoenix, AZ, October 6-9, 2013! Choose from over 60 sessions in 11 education tracks ranging from advocacy to finance to person-centered care to quality improvement. Take advantage of terrific networking opportunities, outstanding educational programming, and fabulous entertainment, all in a beautiful location. Visit http://www.AHCAconvention.org for event details and registration information! Early bird discount ends July 19, 2013!

Legendary Band Foreigner to Perform at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo

This year’s Gala Dinner & Show features the legendary rock band Foreigner! The event is likely to sell out so be sure to purchase your tickets early. Tickets can be purchased when you register for your convention package. If you have already registered for convention, you can make edits to your registration package to purchase tickets on-line.

Cold as Ice…Juke Box Hero…I Want to Know What Love Is… these songs were all over 1980s rock radio. At the band’s core is founder Mick Jones, whose stylistic songwriting, indelible guitar hooks, and multilayered talents continue to escalate Foreigner’s musical influence. The music felt as if it came from a different place, which inspired the band’s name.

Don’t leave Phoenix early — you don’t want to miss this show schedule for Wednesday evening, October 9th.

The Gala is an opportunity to celebrate, network with new friends, and have an evening of fun. This is a black tie optional event. Purchase your tickets today.

[Return to top]

This book explores 28 challenging cases which cover pivotal issues that most health care administrators and managers are likely to encounter at some point in their work—quality improvement, strategic planning, ethical dilemmas, organizational dynamics, cost–benefit analyses, resource utilization, and more. Providing an exceptional framework for decision-making and debate, Cases in Health Services Management is an outstanding casebook that provokes thought and discussion.

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

Product #8248
AHCA MEMBERS $59.95

[Return to top]

This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org or (919) 782-3827 to order brochures for your facility.

• NCHCFA Member: $30 per 100 brochures plus tax and postage
• Non-Member: $60 per 100 brochures plus tax and postage

[Return to top]

If your parents taught you anything, they probably told you don’t lie — especially not to them or family. Mine sure did. But when it comes to caring for your loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia, honesty may not always be the best policy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-amy-d/white-lies-when-fibbing-is-therapeutic_b_3381458.html?utm_hp_ref=aging

[Return to top]

While 53% of car owners wash their cars once a month, 16% never wash their cars.

[Return to top]