UPDATE Weekly

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has released a detailed, proposed program design for transforming the state Medicaid and NC Health Choice programs to managed care. DHHS issued its proposed program design to ensure stakeholders have an opportunity to comment on managed care specifics. Comments are being accepted through Sept. 8, 2017. The proposed program design can be viewed by clicking here.

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As our members are aware, starting October 1, 2018, all Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare Part A rates will be cut by 2 percent to fund an incentive payment pool. At that time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will adjust payments and return some amount to providers based on how well they do in managing hospital readmissions by meeting or exceeding performance standards. This CMS effort, the SNF Value Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, links financial outcomes to quality performance.

Providers may think they don’t have to focus on the SNF VBP program yet as it does not affect payment until 2018. But CMS is currently collecting rehospitalization data that will be used to determine how much centers earn back.

This week we are featuring Advance Directives: Making the Tough Choices, part five of a 10-part resource series designed by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) to support members in reducing rehospitalizations.

Advance directives play a key role in reducing hospitalizations that could do more harm than good, but reluctance on the part of providers, families, and residents to discuss them continues to be a roadblock to better end-of-life care.

Check out this resource here to learn more!

For more information about the SNF VBP program and to access additional resources and tools, visit the AHCA SNF VBP Web site here.

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Yesterday, CMS announced major changes to the mandatory post-acute bundling programs. You may recall that these are the large-scale demonstrations that forced bundling in large parts of the country and gave the bundles to hospitals.

The full proposed rule is on-line here. There are two significant parts to the proposed rule that was released yesterday.

1. The proposed rule cancels the most recent mandatory bundling program. This is the program that added two cardiac episodes to mandatory bundling and gave hospitals the bundle. CMS had delayed this program until January 1, 2018 and is now proposing to cancel it.

2. The proposed rule also makes major changes to the initial mandatory bundle, the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR). The rule reduces the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) included in the demonstration from 67 to 34. For the 33 that MSAs that are eliminated, bundling can continue, but only on a voluntary basis. Even in the 34 remaining MSAs, bundling becomes voluntary in low volume rural hospitals. A complete list of the MSAs that are included in the proposed rule is on-line here.

While yesterday’s announcement is a proposed rule, and the regulation must go through the formal rulemaking process, it seems likely that ultimately CMS will finalize this rule.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided notifications to facilities that were determined to be non-compliant with Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) requirements for Quarter 4 of CY 2016, which will affect their FY 2018 annual payment update (APU). Notifications of non-compliance were placed into facilities’ Quality Improvement and Evaluation Systems (QIES) – Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) system on July 14, 2017 and also mailed directly to providers.

CMS is offering a refresher Web-based training module addressing areas that generated the most questions during the SNF Quality Reporting Program Provider Trainings held in June and August of 2016. Visit the SNF Quality Reporting Training Web page for more information.

Beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2018, October 1, 2017, the Secretary shall reduce payment rates during such FY by 2 percentage points for any SNF that does not comply with data submission requirements for such a FY.

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KEPRO, the North Carolina Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), has scheduled an introductory Webinar for Wednesday, September 20th at 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET. This Webinar will provide an introduction to some provider based services, as well as beneficiary complaints, discharge appeals, and immediate advocacy. To register for this Webinar, click here.

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NCHCFA has partnered with nationally recognized speaker, Cara Silletto and her company Crescendo Strategies, to offer you a new online course. Are you having trouble retaining young workers? Do you find it hard to understand Millennials? If you missed our Full Day Workforce Summit, this 90-minute, self-paced online course shows leaders a Millennial speaker’s first-hand stories about the real generational issues on the T.A.B.L.E. (technology, authority, balance, loyalty, entitlement). Course participants will learn critical insights about all of today’s workers in order to bridge the widening generational gaps and reduce unnecessary employee turnover.

How companies use this on-line course:

• Consistent training across multiple locations
• Catch-up session for those who missed it live
• New supervisor and manager orientation
• Prep for strategic planning or leadership retreats
• Deep-dive diversity training beyond the basics
• Continuing education credits (1.5 NAB-approved credits)

NCHCFA is pleased to offer member discounts! Click here for more information and promotional codes. Click here to start the course (Remember to enter your promo code).

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Please plan to join your friends and colleagues in beautiful Southern Pines, North Carolina, on September 14th and 15th for the NCHCFA 6th Annual Autumn Classic. The event will be held at the world famous Pine Needles Lodge and Resort. Built in 1928, the Donald Ross course at Pine Needles has been host to three U.S. Women’s Open tournaments in 1996, 2001 and again in 2007.

You do not have to play golf to participate. In addition to the “Cabana Club” Package, we are pleased to announce we are offering a new “Recharge Club” Package at this year’s event. Come enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing at The Spa at Pinehurst. This 31,000 square foot facility is a Forbes Four-Star Spa that offers a wide variety of treatments and services. This package includes access to all areas at the spa, which features a heated, three lane saline lap pool, eucalyptus steam rooms, a spacious fitness center, and much more. Transportation will be provided to and from the Village at Pinehurst.

The Autumn Classic is hosted by the NCHCFA to benefit our political action committee (PAC). Click here to review the information about the scheduled events and to register. We hope you will join us in Southern Pines in September.

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It is time once again to acknowledge front line, unlicensed personnel who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the long term care profession. This 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 a Nurse Aide winner from each of NCHCFA’s five districts. In addition, one recipient in a non-nursing discipline will receive the Riley W. Clapp Outstanding Service Award. Each of the award recipients will be honored at the Annual Awards Gala during the Annual Convention and Expo on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 in Greensboro, NC.

To complete nominations on-line or to obtain additional forms, visit the Member Center of the Association Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com. Click on “News & Updates”, select “2018 NCHCFA Annual Awards Packet” and choose “Survey Monkey”. If you have any questions about the Annual Awards, call the Association office at (919) 782-3827. Click here to download and print the nomination packet. Nominations received in the Association office after Friday, October 20, 2017 will not be considered.

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NCHCFA thanks all individuals that participated in the Summer Symposium evaluation raffle. Congratulations to Carolyn Hirschler of Shoreland Health Care & Retirement Center for winning a $100.00 American Express gift card. Again, we appreciate your valuable input.

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We are pleased to present to you the digital edition of the 2017-2018 NCHCFA Annual Membership Directory and Resource Guide. This year’s directory includes the listing of our facility members and trade associate members. Please consider NCHCFA members first when looking for long term care placement and professional services. For quick referencing, click on the Table of Contents and be directed to the page you would like to view. You may view and download the directory through our Web site at http://www.NursingHomesNC.com. Printed, spiral-bound directories will be available for purchase soon if you would like a hard copy for your facility.

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Summer is flying by and before you know it, fall will be settling in. Now is the time to register for this year’s AHCA/NCAL 68th Annual Convention & Expo, and make your plans to join AHCA in Las Vegas in October. AHCA/NCAL has so many exciting things planned. From education sessions and networking events to good food and entertainment, you will not want to miss a thing.

Experience one of the largest Expos, supporting the needs of long term and post-acute care. Attendees have exclusive access to meet one on one with the business community. These specialists stand ready to share solutions that drive efficiency without sacrificing quality.

If you have been too busy to submit your registration, or haven’t made up your mind on attending, do not wait any longer. Commit now and register today! When registering, make sure to get your tickets for the Gala Dinner & Show with Huey Lewis and the News. It will be a night you won’t forget!

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Bernie Dana draws on his 28 years of experience as an executive and consultant, his academic training and research in quality management, and his involvement in the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award program in developing this practical guide to creating a quality management system in your organization. He begins with the crucial role of leadership and the basics of quality that will enable leaders and supervisors to shift from the inspection-oriented and crisis management thinking that is often embedded in long term care. He then provides practical guidelines for developing six essential elements of a quality management system that will be the foundation for continuous performance improvement. This new edition provides a step-by-step process for developing a long-range plan and creating and using a balanced scorecard of key measures to assess organizational performance. This is a companion book to Continuous Quality Improvement.

To order, visit http://www.AHCApublications.org or call (800) 321-0343. Fax orders may also be placed at (800) 869-5605.

Product # 6816
AHCA Members (on-line price) $34.95

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Inspiring Emotional Commitment in Your Employees

http://www.providermagazine.com/reports/Pages/2017/Inspiring-emotional-commitment-in-your-employees.aspx

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Not only will an eclipse cause the environment to appear different, but also feel different. Depending on factors such as the time of year, cloud cover and the length of totality, the air temperature can drop more than 20 degrees F. During a solar eclipse in 1834, the air temperature in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania reportedly dropped by 28 degrees F. Astronomers aren’t expecting the temperature to drop quite that much, but people may still feel the temperature drop by around 10 degrees F.

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