UPDATE Weekly

Yesterday, the House released its version of the budget. There are several areas that do not align with the proposed Senate budget summarized in UPDATE last week.

The difference with the most direct impact on skilled nursing facilities is the 3% withhold/cut. The House budget proposes to exempt nursing homes from this cut effective January 1, 2015. The Senate budget proposes to maintain the 3% reduction on most providers, including nursing homes. Earlier today, you should have received a Member Alert asking all NCHCFA members to contact their Senators NOW to urge them to support the exemption of nursing homes from the 3% rate cut that the House has proposed.

In addition to the reduction above, other items in the House budget include:

1. Implementation of per member per month (PMPM) payments by CCNC. The Senate budget essentially dismantles CCNC.
2. A PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) report that includes, in addition to other items, the per member per month cost of serving individuals through the PACE program compared to the cost of serving individuals in a nursing home and an estimate of how many PACE participants would enter a nursing home if they were not enrolled with the PACE program.
3. Mandatory primary case management for dual eligible.

The House does not propose changing Medicaid eligibility requirements or abandoning the implementation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model of Medicaid reform as the Senate budget did.

Full text of the House budget can be viewed at http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2013/Budget/2014/S744-CSLRxf-34-v-10.pdf.

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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 this week!

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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 available soon!

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The “Updated LEIE” database file reflects all OIG exclusion and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in May 2014. 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.

All updated files are posted at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp.

Instructional videos explaining how to use the online database and the downloadable files are available. View the on-line database video at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/online.asp. View the downloadable database video at http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/download.asp.

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The 65th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo registration is OPEN! 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.

This year’s AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention speaker lineup includes a national military commander and a heroic ship captain who inspired an Academy Award-nominated film.

General Colin L. Powell (Ret.) is the Opening General Session keynote speaker. For over fifty years, he has devoted his life to public service. His deep commitment to democratic values and freedom has been felt throughout the world. Powell has received numerous military awards and decorations, as well as multiple civil awards including two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. In addition, he has received awards from over two dozen countries that include a French Legion of Honor and an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Captain Richard Phillips, who came to national attention in April 2009 when Somali pirates hijacked his ship, will address attendees during the AHCA/NCAL Closing General Session & Awards Celebration.

For five days in April 2009, the world watched as Captain Richard Phillips became the center of an extraordinary international drama. A small gang of Somali pirates hijacked his ship, the Maersk Alabama, and ultimately, Phillips made a conscious decision to put himself in harm’s way to save his 20-member crew by offering himself as a hostage. The drama that played out over the next five days kept American audiences glued to their television sets. President Barack Obama, who spoke with Captain Phillips by phone after he was freed, said, “I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans.”

His address will bring out the leadership and selfless qualities in each of us, and provide you with a renewed sense of purpose and energy to take back with you.

Register at http://www.ahcaconvention.org/! Early bird registration ends July 18th!

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This book offers CNAs the support of trained and experienced mentors to guide their way as they develop into quality health care professionals. Implementing this program can help you reduce your facility’s CNA turnover rate, save money and build a more competent staff. You’ll have happier residents and a higher quality facility as a result!

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

Product #6706
AHCA MEMBERS $59.95

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Important information for residents and families This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, when they should be used, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. Contact Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org to order brochures for your facility.

• NCHCFA Member: $30.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping
• Non-Members: $60.00 per 100 brochures plus tax and shipping

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In touch with iPads, residents of one nursing home find endless possibilities with the swipe of a finger.

http://www.providermagazine.com/archives/archives-2012/Pages/1112/In-Touch-With-iPads.aspx

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When they began, Rice Krispies had Snap, Crackle, Pop, and a fourth character named Pow, who only lasted 2 commercials.

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