UPDATE Weekly

By now, you have probably noticed that you have not received the Medicaid payment that you were expecting. This is an issue that seems to be impacting most Medicaid providers, not just nursing facilities. According to an update on the NC Tracks Web site:

“RAs for the July 24th checkwrite are expected to be available on the Provider Portal by late afternoon today. The EFT payments were delayed. We (CSC) have taken corrective action. The EFT posting process will complete today. All providers should see their accounts updated by 1:00 PM Thursday, July 25th. (Posting of funds to provider accounts will depend on the financial institution.)”

You can keep yourself updated on NC Tracks status at https://www.nctracks.nc.gov/content/public/providers/nctracks-status-page.html.

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The Conference Committee appointed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget have agreed upon a compromise budget. Upon approval from both the House and Senate, the compromise budget will move to the Governor and become law upon his signature. As expected, portions of the budget directly impact nursing facilities.

Quarterly case-mix adjustments will continue to be made. The rates effective July 1, 2013 have been updated to reflect the March 31, 2013 snapshot date.

The Department of Health and Human Services shall withhold three percent (3%) of payments for services (including nursing homes, adult care homes and personal care services) rendered to Medicaid and NC Health Choice recipients on or after January 1, 2014. The withheld funds will be returned to providers through a shared savings plan that will be implemented by July 1, 2014. Payments under this program will begin no later than January 1, 2015. The shared savings plan shall provide incentives to provide effective and efficient care that result in positive outcomes for Medicaid and NC Health Choice recipient.

Some of the planned changes will require amendments to be made to the State Plan and subsequent approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. To view the complete text of the compromise budget, click here.

A more detailed presentation on the budget will be available at NCHCFA’s Summer Symposium. In addition, as additional information on the above items becomes available, NCHCFA will share it with our members through UPDATE.

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There is still time to register for the Second Annual Summer Symposium, August 6-8, 2013 at the Marriott Grande Dunes Resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the most up to date information affecting long term care. Visit http://www.NursingHomesNC.com and click on Second Annual Summer Symposium Registration! Administrators and registered nurses will be able to earn up to 14.0 hours of continuing education.

Register today for “Make Your Move: Creating the Ultimate Winner” on Wednesday, August 7th. Sit back and relax while you enjoy lunch and be entertained by Eddie Slowikowski! “There’s a way to do it better – find it.” This quote from Thomas Edison gets to the heart of what it means to be innovative. Find your vision by using your in-born gifts of imagination and creativity to build the Ultimate Winner. Join internationally known speaker Eddie Slowikowski as he gives participants the ride of a lifetime by taking the journey to discover the greatness within all of us. In over 20 years of speaking, Eddie Slowikowski has inspired thousands with his message of conceiving, believing and achieving one’s dreams in life. “We must summon the necessary forces of honor, truth and love. We don’t get to decide how or when our lives will end. We can only choose how we are going to live, how we are going to take our journey.”

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It is time, once again, for the NCHCFA “Fabulous 50” awards! This time-honored event provides the opportunity to acknowledge front line, unlicensed personnel who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the long term care profession. The Fabulous 50 awards program honors individuals who are the backbone in our facilities because of the support they provide to our residents. A panel of judges from the Education and Programs Committee will select ten nominees from each district. Each of the award recipients will be honored at a dinner and awards presentation in their district. The deadline to receive completed nominations is Tuesday, September 3rd. Please encourage your facility to participate in this special award program.

The dates for the 14th Annual Fabulous 50 Celebrations are:

District I – October 15, 2013, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville
District II – October 21, 2013, Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte
District III – October 24, 2013, Grandover Resort, Greensboro
District IV – October 29, 2013, Mad Boar Restaurant, Wallace
District V – November 4, 2013, Renaissance North Hills Hotel, Raleigh

To fill out nomination forms on-line, visit the Member Center of the Association Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com. Click on “News & Updates”, select “2014 Fabulous 50 Nomination Packet” and choose “Survey Monkey”. If you have any questions about the Fabulous 50 awards, call the Association office at (919) 782-3827. Pictures for nominations submitted online may be e-mailed to kareno@nchcfa.org or mailed to the Association office.

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Please plan to join your friends and colleagues in beautiful Pinehurst, North Carolina, on September 11th and 12th for the Second Annual Autumn Classic Golf Tournament. The event will begin on Wednesday evening with a reception, dinner and program held at the world famous Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club. The Pinehurst Autumn Classic is being sponsored by the NC Health Care Facilities Association to benefit our political action committee (PAC). You do not have to play golf to participate! Registration details will be available later this month.

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Before you break for summer vacation, don’t forget to register for the AHCA/NCAL 64th Annual Convention & Expo. Held October 6-9 in Phoenix, this is an event you don’t want to miss. The Convention & Expo brings together thousands of long term and post-acute care professionals from across the country and creates excellent opportunities for networking and learning.

For a complete list of education sessions, speakers, expo information, and event schedules, visit the Convention & Expo Website.

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With CMS recently releasing new surveyor guidance to assess compliance with F309 and F329 as they relate to residents with dementia and use of antipsychotic drugs, AHCA is proud to offer members a series of 6 brief, but content-rich webinars to help your nursing center be well-prepared for these changes. Each 30-minute Webinar in the series, F309 & Antipsychotics?! Compliance?! QAPI?!: Your Integrated Pathway to Dementia Care, is grounded in a Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) approach and provides strategies for achieving compliance with the new guidance.

The second Webinar in the series – What’s Up Doc?! (member login required) is now available! What’s Up Doc?! focuses on how to get physicians on board with the nursing center’s effort to reduce the off-label use of antipsychotics. Additional materials to use when working with physicians on this issue are available when you register for the Webinar. Remember – all AHCA Webinars are available to members at no charge and are available on-demand.

The first Webinar in the series, The Good, the Bad and the QAPI, (member login required) is also available to members on-demand.

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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.

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Based on years of research, this practical guide illustrates the far-reaching benefits of empowered work teams in long-term care organizations and explains in everyday terms how to implement the concept. The authors present a fully-validated model for introducing the empowered work team concept to direct care staff, gaining support from the administration, and supervising the teamwork process over time. Hands-on tools include assessment forms, staff training materials, and step-by-step implementation guidelines. Guidance and troubleshooting tips are provided in the resource’s final chapter. Facility and program administrators, directors of nursing, staff supervisors, and team leaders will find this guidebook an invaluable tool for nurturing a more effective and motivated staff and, as a result, an improved care environment.

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

Product #8250
AHCA MEMBERS $34.95

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Does your facility need an extra copy of the Membership 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. Order yours today! Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order one for your facility. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order one for your facility.

NCHCFA Members only: $35.00

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Those with ALS redefine what it means to be alive.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/01/health/iyw-als/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

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Generally, crabs do not get bigger than 40 cm in size, with the exception of the Japanese spider crab that has been known to have a leg span of over 4 meters long!

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