UPDATE Weekly

On Saturday, the Senate passed its proposed adjustments to the budget for 2014-15. The budget increases overall spending, including raises for teachers. Unfortunately, it also includes several items that are harmful to Medicaid, long term care and nursing homes. The following items are included in budget:

1. Repeal the shared savings provisions as a part of last year’s 3% withhold. The 3% withhold becomes a 3% rate reduction.
2. Added an additional 2% rate reduction for most Medicaid providers. Skilled nursing rates are excluded from this additional cut.
3. Effective January 1, 2015, freeze nursing home case mix indexing at the level in effect on December 31, 2014. Direct rates in effect on December 31, 2014 will be based on the June 30, 2014 snap shot CMI data.
4. Require DHHS to cease any Medicaid reform activities related to the implementation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). A new Department of Medicaid would be created that will move toward a managed care system that incorporates full-risk, provider-led and non-provider-led, capitated health plans. These plans would include all aspects of care without exception.
5. Allow issuance of a Special Care Unit license to facilities that were in possession of a CON as of July 1, 2013, that included authorization to operate special care unit beds.
6. Establish a 3.5% provider assessment program for Behavioral Health LME/MCOs. The State retains 65% of the total amount assessed.
7. Increase the amount retained by the State of the current hospital assessment.
8. Reduces the Personal Care Services (PCS) rate so that the approval of 50 additional hours approved by CMS in May 2014 is budget neutral. Requires DHHS to modify the service definition for Intensive In-Home services. Requires the Department to implement the PCS rate reduction specified in last year’s budget to October 1, 2013, by recouping all payments in excess of the rate approved. The Department shall additionally recoup the 3% reduction required as of January 1, 2014.
9. Essentially dismantles Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC).

The full text of the budget can be found at http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2013/Bills/Senate/PDF/S744v3.pdf. Additional provisions can be found at http://www.ncleg.net/sessions/2013/budget/2014/S744_Committee_Report_2014-05-29.pdf. The Bill has been sent to the House for consideration. The House is expected to reject substantial portions of the Senate plan. A conference committee will resolve the differences.

NCHCFA is encouraging all of our members to reach out to their elected officials in the House and Senate to share their comments on the harmful proposals included in the budget language. To find out who represents you, go to http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx, enter your address, click on the district number and open the member page.

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Mark your calendar today for the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association’s “TRANSFORMING DECISION MAKING AT LIFE’S END: FROM FEARFUL TO FULFILLING.” This program has the following objectives:

• Explore the sources of moral distress and fundamentals of ethical decision making related to providing care at life’s end.
• Review the current legal and regulatory environment related to end-of-life care.
• Provide practical guidance for day-to-day decision making that will satisfy legal and regulatory requirements while respecting ethical principles.
• Provide tools for facilitating end-of-life conversations to prevent conflict, reduce risk, and enhance the compassionate care experience for residents, families and staff.

This seminar will be held July 15, 2014 in Greensboro, NC. Brochures will be mailed to all facilities soon!

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Make plans today to join your colleagues for the third annual NCHCFA Summer Symposium. The three-day event will be August 5-7, 2014 at the Embassy Suites Resort at Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC. Call the Embassy Suites Resort at (800) 876-0010 to reserve your overnight room. Use group code “NHF” to identify yourself as a NC Health Care Facilities Association Convention attendee! To make your reservation on-line, visit http://tinyurl.com/2014symposiumreserve. Please note that when our room block is full, rooms will be on a first come, first served basis at prevailing published rates.

To view the 2014 Third Annual Summer Symposium schedule at a glance, click here!

Please call the Association office at (919) 782-3827 with any questions. Brochures will be mailed to members in June!

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The 65th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo registration is NOW OPEN! Early Bird deadline is July 18th! 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. Register today and take advantage of the lowest registration rates available! Click here to register now!

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The June 2014 issue of the Medicaid Bulletin is available. The Medicaid Bulletin is published on-line each month by the Division of Medical Assistance. The latest issue has updated information from NCTracks and other items that may be of interest to nursing home providers. The current and past issues can be viewed at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/bulletin/index.htm.

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The CMS National Training Program will be hosting an Understanding Medicare Webinar on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET. This Webinar is designed for new partners who counsel people with Medicare, and for partners requiring a refresher. Participants will receive a high-level overview of hospital (Part A) coverage, medical (Part B) coverage, Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), and prescription drug (Part D) coverage. Continuing education units (CEUs) are not offered for this session.

To participate, go to https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/understandingmedicarewebinar. The audio can be heard by calling (877) 267-1577, and using meeting ID 995 177 025.

Pre-registration is not required. If you have special learning needs please send an e-mail to the CMS National Training Program at training@cms.hhs.gov.

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Keep people with dementia fully engaged in daily life and help them maximize remaining functional skills by tapping into their innate abilities and interests. Engaging and Communicating with People Who Have Dementia is a trove of advice on how to identify people’s strengths and preferences and then use this knowledge to improve activity programming, communication, and functional independence.

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

Product # 8311
AHCA Members (on-line price) $44.95

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Mobility and Safe Movement of the Elderly, Improving Your Skills to Prevent Injuries and Reduce Falls, by Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L., FOTA, Dementia Care & Training Specialist. This DVD was developed in conjunction with Wake Allied Health Education Center, Durham Technical Community College and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Office of Information Systems. The content is formatted in separate segments in order to customize the delivery of content to your learning objective. Handouts developed by Teepa may be reproduced and accompany each video. To order, contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org.

• $35.00 (tax and shipping included)

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Even if the mind forgets, the heart remembers.

Click here to view.

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NASA no longer has the original recordings of the first humans landing on the moon. The recordings were in a batch of tapes that were erased and re-used to save money.

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