UPDATE Weekly

The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association is turning 60 in 2015! All members are invited to join in the celebration at the NCHCFA Diamond Jubilee, February 15-18, 2015 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel/Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC. Are you ready to reminisce? Join us as we take a look back in time to when it all began. NCHCFA will be honoring all members from the past and present.

Call the Sheraton at (800) 242-6556 to make your room reservation. Identify that you are with “NC Health Care Facilities Association 2015 Convention” to receive the group discounted rate. Brochures outlining specific program information will be available in December.

[Return to top]

The latest Medicare Advisory is now available for viewing. This latest issue includes information on the increased therapy caps for 2015, Medicare system modifications for HIPAA, reason codes on Medicare claims and other items that may be of value to your facility. To access the latest issue, click here.

[Return to top]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has scheduled a national call on improving dementia care in nursing homes on Tuesday, December 9; 1:30-3:00 PM ET. To register, visit MLN Connects Event Registration. Space may be limited, register early.

During this MLN Connects™ National Provider Call, speakers will discuss innovative efforts from State-based Alzheimer’s Association Chapters related to train-the-trainer programs, as well as the implementation of the Comfort First Approach in nursing homes. CMS subject matter experts will provide National Partnership updates and discuss next steps for the initiative. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.

[Return to top]

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is pleased to release the Fraud and Abuse Prevention Toolkit (posted on AHCA Web site), which was prepared by Reed Smith attorneys, Susan Edwards and Carol Loepere; reviewed by AHCA’s Legal Committee; and edited by AHCA Public Affairs staff, Tom Burke. This Toolkit will help AHCA/NCAL membership untangle the complex web of federal and state agencies, regulations and laws related to fraud and abuse. Although the Toolkit focuses on nursing care centers (NCCs); much of the information within also applies to other settings, such as assisted living communities (ALCs) and centers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). In all of those settings, for example, the federal anti-kickback and Stark laws will apply (e.g., those laws are relevant to all health care programs including both the Medicare and Medicaid). Please note, the Toolkit will help AHCA membership better understand the legal environment they operate within; however, it is not a Compliance Program or Compliance Plan. Instead, this Toolkit was specifically developed to help members improve their compliance with federal fraud and abuse laws and regulations.

To obtain a copy of the Toolkit go to http://www.ahcancal.org/facility_operations/integrity/Pages/default.aspx. Please contact Dianne De La Mare at ddmare@ahca.org if you have any questions.

[Return to top]

The American Health Care Association’s upcoming Independent Owner Leadership Conference is scheduled for March 11-13, 2015, at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This year’s theme is How To Survive Medicaid Managed Care as an Independent Owner.

Attendees will take part in a range of education sessions including:

• The Future of Health Care Policy
• Managed Care Market Place
• Medicaid Managed Long Term Care Services and Supports (MLTSS) Contracting
• Positioning for Success in an MLTSS Environment
• Quality and Payment: The Growing Overlap
• Transformation: Cost-effectively Retrofit Aging Buildings for Person-centered Care
• Seven Deadly Sins That Are Sabotaging Your Social Media Efforts

For additional information, including how to register, click here.

[Return to top]

This DVD has two separate programs: Program 1 introduces everyone in the organization to the safety committee. It explains the role of the safety committee: to promote safety awareness and teamwork. It also explains six things every worker can do to support the goal of a safe, injury-free facility. Program 2 is aimed at the committee members, the administration, and middle managers. It explains the contribution an active, effective safety committee can make to a facility’s bottom line and covers the building blocks most successful safety committees have in common.

The companion Presenter’s Guide includes background information, sample questions and follow-up points for group discussion, sample inservice presentation outline, and copy-ready audience participation handouts.

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

Product #6858D
AHCA MEMBERS $159.00

[Return to top]

If you missed Upcoming Hospice Regulations seminar, the notebook/presentation is now available for purchase. To order, e-mail your request to Jan Williams at janw@nchcfa.org. The cost is $25 plus tax and shipping.

[Return to top]

Examples of the impact of scouting

http://assistedliving.about.com/od/SeniorActivities/a/Scouts-Honor.htm

[Return to top]

The United States Mint made silver coins for circulation until 1970. Modern American coins are now made out of a copper-nickel alloy that has little intrinsic value.

[Return to top]