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The NC Health Care Facilities Association presents Requirements of Participation (RoP) Phase 3. This session will overview the changes outlined in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participation which dramatically reforms the regulations for long term care facilities. The speaker will focus on Phase 3 Regulations, with special attention to Behavioral Health, Trauma, Informed Care, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) and Training Requirements.

Objectives:

• Identify the timeline for Phase 3 compliance.
• Discuss the 10 key changes that are anticipated for implementation in Phase 3.
• Describe key characteristics of Trauma-Informed Care.
• State the 5 operational strategies for CMS compliance.

About the Speaker:

Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO, Harmony Healthcare International

Kris Mastrangelo is nationally known and recently presented for the American Health Care Association (AHCA) during their 2017 Annual Convention and Expo. She has more than 24 years of experience in the Health Care profession with a specialty in the Long Term and Post-Acute Care Arena. An Occupational Therapist degree from Tufts University followed by a Master’s in Business Administration from Salem State University coupled with a Nursing Home Administrator’s License affords Kris an in-depth perspective into the nursing home profession. Initially providing direct care as an Occupational Therapist, Kris became familiar with the Medicare, Medicaid and HMO reimbursement systems. Her position evolved into the management of rehabilitation programs to Vice President of Operations for a national consulting company to Vice President of Reimbursement. Her experience includes the development and presentation of training modules (C.A.R.E.- Compliance, Audit, Analysis, Reimbursement and Regulatory and Efficiency) for independent owners to national organizations. She proclaims that “Our on-site and off-site medical record review process is the platform for C.A.R.E. optimization and systems improvement.” She is an integral player in the Payment Reform with significant contributions to the policy process. Kris was appointed to and serves on the AHCA’s Clinical Practice Committee (CPC).

This session will be offered in two locations:
April 10th, 2018 – Durham, NC
April 11th, 2018 – Charlotte, NC

Brochures will be mailed today. Click here to view and print the brochure with registration form. Click here to register On-line now!

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NCHCFA has a new benefit of membership in 2018—a monthly Lunch and Learn Webinar Series. NCHCFA will offer a one-hour Webinar on a timely and relevant topic to its members for no additional charge. There will be no CEUs offered for these Webinars.

The next Webinar in the series is scheduled for March 15th, from 12 noon-1:00 PM. Mark your calendar today! Webinar details are below:

Title: Survey: The New CMS Requirements of Participation for SNFs and the “Resident Representative” Requirement; What is This, What Does it Really Require and How Does it Mesh with Federal and State Law Governing the Appointment of Resident Surrogates?

Presenter: Poyner Spruill, LLP

The new “resident representative” language in the COPs permits residents to designate an individual who may or may not be the same as their legally-authorized surrogate identified in a durable or health care power of attorney to make health care decisions, thus creating the potential for real confusion, real conflict and real problems for providers both in terms of resident care, survey liability and risk management liability. This Webinar will examine the “resident representative” requirement and how it meshes with state laws on resident surrogacy. While some questions about resident representative’s role remain unanswered by CMS, facilities can help manage this issue by asking residents to specifically identify the scope of authority they are granting to a “resident representative.” This session will help providers understand the “resident representative” requirement and how to work with residents to clearly delineate the scope of a resident representative’s authority.

Mark your calendar. Click here to register today!

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The Situational Leadership workshop is an interactive and dynamic developmental session where NCHCFA will introduce and discuss how best to apply the effective principles and approaches of The Situational Leadership Model popularized by renowned leadership and management experts Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey.

Our high demand and ever-changing work environment requires that leadership interactions with staff be as effective and efficient as possible. Additionally, the diverse experiences, skills, and needs of our employees must impact, more than ever, how we manage, lead and inspire our work force. The Situational Leadership Model suggests that there is no “one size fits all” approach to leadership.

The four different styles of situational leadership we will explore are:

1. Delegating
2. Coaching
3. Directing
4. Supporting

This workshop will be held Tuesday, March 13th at the NCHCFA office in Raleigh, NC. It will be facilitated by Mark Gogal, a Human Resources Leader with over 25 years of progressive, global, and diverse human resources experience, practical business partnering expertise, strong organizational and analytical skills, and proven strategic management experience. He has a multi-faceted background in developing and implementing core HR policies/practices to meet the changing business, legal, and labor compliance environment. He has worked in a variety of industries in the public and private sectors including healthcare.

For the complete brochure and registration information, click here.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is exploring a Medicare skilled nursing facility payment system which would replace the existing Resource Utilization Group Version IV (RUGs IV) with a new concept called the Resident Classification System, Version 1 (RCS-1). While CMS has not yet formally proposed the payment system, AHCA and NCHCFA recommend that our members begin to educate themselves about the core elements of RCS-1.

The proposed patient characteristics-based system is a fundamental departure from the current RUGS IV. Learn about the overarching RCS-1 goals and features. Each new component will be reviewed and discussed, as well as likely alternations in SNF operations.

On March 29,2018 at 3:00-4:30 PM ET, AHCA’s Mike Cheek, Senior Vice President of Reimbursement Policy, will lead a free Webinar designed to help you better understand RCS-1 and possible implementation timelines.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand CMS’ goals and overarching RCS-1 construct
2. Learn about each component and associated patient characteristics
3. Learn about member expert preliminary analyses and steps to assess RCS-1 impacts
4. Review the possible implementation and transition from RUGS IV to RCS-1

The 90-minute Webinar will include a Question and Answer session and will be recorded. We hope you can participate.

To register, go to https://educate.ahcancal.org/p/180329 before March 27, 2018.

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The updated List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) database file, which reflects all OIG exclusions and reinstatement actions up to, and including, those taken in February 2018 has been posted. The updated files are posted on OIG’s Website at https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp. Healthcare providers have an “affirmative duty” to check to ensure that excluded individuals are not working in their facilities or face significant fines.

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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum (ODF) is scheduled for Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM ET. The topics for this forum include: Low Volume Appeals Opportunity Announcement, SNF QRP Update, Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Update: (https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Staffing-Data-Submission-PBJ.html), and an Open Q&A.

To participate by phone, dial (800) 837-1935 and reference Conference ID 31609914.

Encore is an audio recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering the Conference ID. Encores for ODFs held on Thursdays can be accessed the following Monday. The recording is available for 3 business days.

For ODF schedule updates and E-Mailing List registration, visit the ODF Website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums.

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It’s that time again – your facility(s) data has been updated in Your Top-Line!

Your Top-Line is a publication that includes metrics and graphics outlining your progress on Five-Star performance, the American Health Care Association Quality Initiative, your Quality Awards journey, and other necessary data to help you achieve your desired goals.

Distributed each quarter, the tool also includes links to member resources that will help with specific goals.

To log onto LTC Trend Tracker and download your publications, click here. Once logged on, you can also change which buildings will be included in your download, and run other reports to view different peer groups and trends over time.

LTC Trend Tracker keeps these publications saved under your account. After logging into LTC Trend Tracker™, click on “Manage Publications” in your left-hand menu and then click “View and Download Publications”. It will then allow you to select the publication, by building and quarter.

If you have any questions, please e-mail help@ltctrendtracker.com, and add this e-mail address to your ‘Safe Senders list’.

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The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Website to help long term and post-acute care providers administer CoreQ.

Developed by a team including Nicholas Castle, Ph.D., AHCA/NCAL, and providers with input from customer satisfaction vendors and residents, CoreQ is a set of five customer satisfaction measures for skilled nursing care centers (SNCCs) and assisted living communities (ALs) to use to assess satisfaction among patients, residents and their families. The measures capture short-stay and long-stay resident and family data for SNCCs, and resident and family data for ALs.

The Website includes available resources such as a CoreQ Technical Manual as well as a list of customer satisfaction vendors that have adopted CoreQ and can upload member CoreQ data to LTC Trend Tracker.

As part of AHCA/NCAL’s metric-based Quality Initiative to improve quality care, CoreQ allows providers across long term and post-acute care settings to measure overall customer satisfaction with a uniform set of questions. In 2016, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed three of the five CoreQ measures for SNCCs through extensive testing and evaluation of the measures’ reliability and validity.

For more information about the CoreQ, visit the new Website here. Please e-mail coreQ@ahca.org if you have any questions or need assistance.

For any assistance with LTC Trend Tracker, e-mail help@ltctrendtracker.com.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Antibiotic Stewardship yesterday released the first in a four-part on-line training course on antibiotic stewardship. Additional segments will be released later this year.

Objectives:

• Optimize antibiotic prescribing and use to protect patients and combat the threat of antibiotic resistance.
• Inform healthcare professionals about proper antibiotic use.
• Encourage open discussion among physicians and patients.

8 hours of free CE:

• Multiple online modules offered in 4 sections to be released throughout 2018. (Additional modules coming Spring & Fall 2018)
• Open to all clinicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurses, certified health educators, and public health practitioners with an MPH.
• Fulfills Improvement Activities Patient Safety and Practice Assessment (PSPA)_23 and PSPA_24 under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Merit-Based Incentive Programs, or MIPS.

Register at https://www.train.org/cdctrain/course/1075730

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On February 28, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) changed the survey domain methodology of the Five-Star rating system. In the previous methodology, CMS used a center’s most recent three survey cycles in calculating the survey rating. In the updated methodology, CMS will use the most recent two survey cycles in calculating the survey rating. Moving forward, citations from the first cycle will contribute 60% toward a center’s survey rating and will include the most recent standard survey prior to November 28, 2017, as well as any complaint surveys from November 28, 2016, to November 27, 2017. Citations from the second cycle will contribute 40% and will include the previous standard survey, as well as any complaint surveys from November 28, 2015, to November 27, 2016.

The Impact

This change in methodology resulted in 22% of the nation’s centers having a change in their star rating on the Survey Component of Five-Star this month. Of those that experienced a change, 93% had a change of 1 star up or down, while 7% experienced a change of 2 or more stars up or down on the Survey Component of Five-Star. The impact on the OVERALL star ratings is less. AHCA is evaluating this and updates will be added to LTC Trend Tracker in March’s update.

What Else You Need to Know

CMS also started to report data from surveys that occurred after November 27, 2017 (start of new survey process) on the Nursing Home Compare Website. While data will be publicly reported, it will not be used in the determination of survey star ratings until at least 12 months of data has been collected under the new process. Because of the freeze on incorporating data from the new survey process, a center’s survey star rating today is unlikely to change until CMS starts incorporating new survey information. Additional details on how the new survey process will impact Five-Star ratings can be found in this CMS memo.

Contact Information for Questions

CMS will operate a Five-Star helpline available through March 26 to March 30, to answer any questions related to the methodology change. The helpline number is (800) 839-9290 and will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. Questions may also be e-mailed to BetterCare@cms.hhs.gov.

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Learn Practical Tools & Approaches for Creating a Life Worth Living, Improving Well-Being, and Delivering Person-Centered Care ~ Including Those Who Live with Dementia.

April 24 ~ 26, 2018 at 8:30 AM ~ 5:00 PM.

Hosted by: Carol Woods Retirement Community and the generous grant support of Healthcare Research, Inc.
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED (35 attendees)
NAB/NCERS approved for 19.5 CEUs

This three-day interactive learning experience (19.5 CEU hours) is a tested and proven curriculum developed by The Eden Alternative, an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to culture change and improving the well-being of Elders and their care partners by transforming the communities in which they live and work.

The Eden Alternative is the most widely practiced, comprehensive approach to person-directed care. This culture change model utilizes the Eden Alternative’s Ten Principles and the Domains of Well-Being to improve quality of life for Elders and their care partners no matter where they call home.

Participants will return equipped and inspired to initiate change and inspire others to:

• Tap into the cutting edge of the culture change movement;
• Understand the impact of ageism, ableism and stigma;
• Move from “caregiving” to care partnerships and care partner teams;
• Prevent loneliness, helplessness, and boredom for all on the care partner team;
• Gain powerful team building skills to strengthen care partnerships;
• Develop meaningful connections through thoughtful and effective communication;
• Work together to reduce stress and burnout;
• Apply practical tools and approaches for improving quality of life for all, including individuals living with dementia;
• Understand how to improve individualized and person-directed care plans; and
• Put the Eden Alternative Principles into action sustainably and effectively.

Grant funds from Healthcare Research, Inc. covers all but $75.00 of the $495.00 registration fee. Your organization only pays $75.00 per person for all three days including meals and materials. NOTE: This offer is limited to TWO STAFF per organization.

Register at https://www.regonline.com/ChapelHill_NC_CEAHAT_2018

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Alliant Quality wants to encourage SNFs to keep signing up for the National Collaborative – or SPACE. Alliant recommends having as much time as possible to get started on Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) work and improving facility quality measures in a systems approach to improve their five star and composite scores.

Alliant Quality is the Medicare Quality Innovation Network (QIN) – Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for North Carolina. Under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Alliant Quality invites your nursing home to participate in a collaborative designed to ensure that every nursing home resident receives the highest quality of care.

The Collaborative offers an exciting opportunity to learn from high performing nursing homes regarding their processes as they pertain to consistent/permanent staff assignment, teamwork and communications, leadership, regulatory compliance, clinical models, and quality of life indicators. The Collaborative aligns national nursing home quality initiatives and partnerships such as the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign, The Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, and QAPI. Targeted focus areas will include increasing mobility, decreasing unnecessary use of antipsychotics in residents with dementia, decreasing potentially avoidable hospitalizations and decreasing healthcare acquired infections and conditions.

To register, click here for the Participation Agreement and fax or e-mail it back to Lisa Klemis, contact information is on the Participation Agreement. For more details, e-mail Leighann Sauls at Leighann.Sauls@area-F.hcqis.org or call (919) 745-4730.

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For more than two decades, this book has been used as a teaching and reference text to guide organizations that documented their continuous improvement efforts using Baldrige Award-type management systems. The goal for this book is that readers will understand more fully what each area of the system means for organizations and find the synergy within the six major process-oriented parts of the system-leadership, strategy, customers, measurement, analysis, and knowledge management, workforce, and operations that lead to excellent performance results.

This book provides a valuable, step-by-step approach to help identify and put in place properly focused continuous improvement systems.

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

Product #8452
AHCA MEMBERS $92.00

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If you were unable to attend one of our sessions on the Requirements of Participation Phase 2 and the New Survey Process, the notebook used in the training is now available for purchase. E-mail Donna Snyder to order a notebook for your facility at donnas@nchcfa.org. The cost is $25.00 plus tax and shipping.

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Providers Choose their own Technology Paths – Gauging present needs while mapping out future goals can set companies on course.

Provider Magazine Article

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The Oscar statuette weighs 6 3/4 pounds, and stands 13 1/2 inches high. It was named by Margaret Herrick, the Academy librarian, who remarked in 1931 (upon seeing the statuettes), “Why, it looks like my Uncle Oscar!”

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