UPDATE Weekly

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 brochure. Click here to print the nomination forms. Nominations received in the Association office after Friday, October 27, 2017 will not be considered.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a call to review the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program on Thursday, November 16th from 1:30 to 3:00 PM ET. During this call, participants will learn how the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program will affect Medicare’s payments to SNFs beginning October 1, 2018, as well as details on how CMS will translate SNF performance scores into value-based incentive payments. CMS will also discuss policies finalized in the FY 2018 final rule.

A question and answer session follows the presentation; however attendees may e-mail questions in advance to SNFVBPinquiries@cms.hhs.gov with “SNF VBP November NPC” in the subject line. These questions may be addressed during the call or used for other materials following the call.

To register for this event and other Medicare Learning Network events, click here.

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Make your overnight reservation today for the NCHCFA Annual Convention and Expo January 28 – 31, 2018. The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons/Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Greensboro, NC. Call the Sheraton at (800) 242-6556 and identify that you are with “NC Health Care Facilities Association 2018 Convention” to receive the group discounted rate. Brochures outlining specific program details will be available in November.

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The Intent to Apply process for the 2018 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award application cycle is now open.

The deadline to submit an Intent to Apply payment is Thursday, November 9th at 8:00 PM EST. The Intent to Apply is not mandatory to apply for the Quality Award, but members who submit an Intent to Apply benefit by saving money on their overall application fee and receive weekly tips on submitting a successful application.

Please note the following:

• All applicants should read the application packet in full before submitting an Intent to Apply payment.
• If your center last received a Bronze or Silver Quality Award in 2015 and has not submitted an application meeting minimum requirements since then, this is your last year to submit an application at the next level. If you do not submit an application this year, you will be considered a past recipient and have to resubmit at the Bronze level if your center chooses to participate again in the program. For more information, please review the recertification policy here.
• The National Quality Award Website has numerous resources for applicants. Please make sure to visit AHCA’s Website at http://ahcancal.org/qualityaward to learn about the latest updates to the program.

If you would like to review your center’s award history or have any questions, please feel free to contact AHCA at qualityaward@ahca.org.

Key Upcoming 2018 Quality Award Program Dates
November 9, 2017: Intent to Apply deadline
December 7, 2017: Bronze, Silver and Gold applications accepted on-line
February 1, 2018: Bronze, Silver and Gold final application deadlines
All deadlines are at 8:00 PM EST.

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The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association will present a full-day session on the following important topics with Cindy Deporter, MSSW, State Survey Agency Director, Division of Health Service Regulations (DHSR).

• New Interpretative Guidelines
• The second phase of the Requirements of Participation (RoP) to be implemented by November 28, 2017
• CMS’ intent to implement, as well as an overview of, the New Survey Process which is scheduled for implementation on November 28, 2017

**Please note that Ms. Deporter presented a shorter session on the above content at our recent Summer Symposium. This will be a more comprehensive, full day session.

We will conclude this session with a one hour presentation by Polly Welsh, Executive Vice President of the NC Health Care Facilities Association, that will focus on staff interface with the new RoP and the Survey Process. We have confirmed the following dates and locations. Click here to register on-line. Click here to download and print the brochure and registration form.

November 2nd, 2017 – Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham, NC
November 9th, 2017 – Hilton Greenville, Greenville, NC

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Judy Wilhide Brandt will be presenting an encore presentation on the following topics in Durham, NC on November 16th, 2017. If you could not attend the previous sold-out seminar on September 26th, don’t miss out on this one. Click here to download and print the brochure and registration form. Click here to register on-line.

• Review SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), Section GG Coding
• Discuss the purpose of Post-Acute QRP and the role of SNF-QRP
• Understand which MDS items are used for MDS based QRP measures and how to avoid a 2% APU reduction
• List the current QRP claims and MDS based measures with overview of how they are calculated
• Discuss the new MDS items for QRP and new QRP measures to begin collection October 2018 as finalized in the FY18 SNF Final Rule
• Discuss implications of accurate coding for Section GG, to include assessment periods, timing and value in health information exchange for transitions
• Review 5 star quality measures and accurate coding
• Discuss administrative oversight of the MDS department to ensure compliance with accurate coding and transmission for all QMs that are MDS based
• Understand how MDS coding affects risk adjustment for claims based measures
• Review Requirements and Interpretative Guidelines for baseline care planning
• Discuss authentic ways to engage the physician and CNAs in care planning as required by Phase 2 ROP

About the Presenter

Judy Wilhide Brandt is one of the nation’s leading experts on skilled nursing facility (SNF) clinical Medicare compliance, Five Star Rating System, Quality Measures and the MDS/RAI process. Judy brings over thirty-five years of combined experience to the long term care profession, with over twenty years in positions of increasing responsibility in nursing facilities as a nurse manager, executive, and consultant. She is the principle for Wilhide Consulting, Inc. and serves as an advisor, auditor, and trainer for multiple providers from stand-alone communities to multi-state chains across the country.

PLEASE NOTE:
This is the same session that was presented on September 26th in Greensboro.

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If your facility has achieved the AHCA Bronze Award for its commitment to quality, it may be time to apply for the Silver Award. In this two-day workshop, you will walk through the application process and apply the criteria to your organization. At the end of the workshop, participants will have the framework for the Silver AHCA/NCAL Quality Award application.

Learning Objectives

• Translate your Bronze application into a Silver Organizational Profile
• Understand the structure and demands of the Silver Quality Award criteria
• Learn how examiners will use key evaluation tools to score your application and how you write to meet the demands of these tools
• Develop an outline to address the basic demands of the Silver criteria and key systems to either describe or develop your application
• Discover effective strategies to avoid the four most common application mistakes

This workshop will be presented November 7th – 8th at the Association office in Raleigh, NC. Click here for more information and to download and print the brochure with registration form.

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This book will show you the true financial consequences of unchecked resident readmission and provide you with the tools to do something about it! It delivers several practical strategies your facility can employ, such as enhanced resident assessment and documentation policies, provider partnerships that improve transitions of care, staff education tools, and methods to achieve resident and staff involvement. You will learn how to ensure smooth care transitions through resident education and effective communication with staff and other care providers, reduce costs associated with rehospitalizations, and maintain or improve the resident’s quality of life.

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

Product # 8238
AHCA Members (on-line price) $129.00

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This brochure outlines what physical restraints are, when they should be used, rules and regulations concerning restraints, and making decisions about using them. To order, e-mail your request to Donna Snyder at donnas@nchcfa.org.

• 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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Isolated nurses and the crisis of LTC identity

McKnights Article

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Jousting is the official sport of Maryland.

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