UPDATE Weekly

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) thanks all skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that reviewed the Annual Performance Score Report and participated in Phase Two of the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program’s Review and Corrections process. The deadline to submit Phase Two Review and Corrections Requests for performance score and ranking information is Friday, August 31, 2018 11:59PM PT. For more information on how to review the Annual Performance Score Report, view this tutorial.

To submit a proper request, SNFs must submit only the following information to the SNFVBPinquiries@cms.hhs.gov mailbox:

• The SNF’s CMS Certification Number (CCN)
• The SNF’s Name
• The correction requested and the reason for requesting the correction. SNFs must also submit evidence, if available, supporting the request.

CMS advises SNFs not to send protected health information or patient-level data with direct identifiers since the SNF VBP mailbox is not secured to receive this information.

Click this link to access the Annual Performance Score Report. For questions about accessing CASPER, please contact the QIES Technical Support Office (QTSO) Help Desk: help@qtso.com.

For more information about the SNF VBP Program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions document at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/Other-VBPs/SNF-VBP.html and refer to the FY 2019 SNF PPS final rule.

If you have additional questions, please email them to SNFVBPinquiries@cms.hhs.gov.

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Based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, the program recognizes long term and post-acute care member centers and communities nationally for quality care.

Participating in the Quality Award Program has many benefits, including:

• Provides a proven framework that organizations can use to make improvements in any clinical, quality or other operational issue (i.e. staff engagement, customer satisfaction, hospital readmissions)
• Helps prepare organizations to meet regulatory requirements and navigate a changing market
• Serves as a team building activity to engage staff across all levels of the organization
• Provides external validation of high quality care and services
• Serves as a marketing resource for consumers, referral sources and other key stakeholders
• Participants receive customized feedback with their top strengths and improvement areas

The Intent to Apply deadline is Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 8PM ET. While not mandatory, applicants who submit the Intent to Apply will save money on their overall application fee and receive extra educational resources. No paperwork or application is needed to submit the Intent to Apply. Access the 2019 Intent to Apply payment process on the Quality Award Portal today!

To download the Bronze, Silver and Gold application packets and free educational resources, visit the Quality Award website. For additional information, contact qualityaward@ahca.org.

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The Situational Leadership workshop presented in the Spring is back by popular demand. This workshop is an interactive and dynamic developmental session where attendees will 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 workforce. The Situational Leadership Model suggests that there is no “one size fits all” approach to leadership.

The four different styles of situational leadership to be discussed are:

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

This workshop will be held Wednesday, September 19th 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 brochure and registration information, click here!

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NCHCFA has scheduled a Financial Summit for September 25-27, 2018 in Chapel Hill, NC. Unlike other events that NCHCFA has held over the years, this is the first event that focuses on topics having a direct connection to the financial aspects of owning and operating a successful nursing facility. Topics to be covered will include:

• The transition to Medicaid Managed Care
• The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM)
• Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNP)
• Long term care lending and investing
• The impact of changing demographics on long term care
• The importance and use of performance data
• Provider audits
• And other important topics

Having the latest information and sharing of best practices and trends across our industry has become more important than ever. NCHCFA has gathered reliable and timely information from financial service providers, state government agencies, and other trusted resources to share with our members. Our experts have set a high standard for themselves when it comes to the quality of the information they share, the access to trusted partners they provide and the content they deliver. Whether you are representing one nursing facility or a large nursing facility chain, we all have a common goal and that is to be able to continue to provide our residents with the care they need.

Visit our website at https://www.NCHCFA.org to view the brochure and register online!

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The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association would like to thank our 2018 NCHCFA Financial Summit Exhibit Partners for supporting the upcoming Financial Summit in Chapel Hill, NC in September. Stop by and see our Exhibit Partners on Wednesday, September 26th and Thursday, September 27th or set up a time to “meet-up” during the event with the following NCHCFA Financial Summit Exhibit Partners!

NCHCFA would also like to thank the following 2018 Trade Associate Members for sponsoring an event or item during the upcoming Financial Summit! We appreciate your support!

BOK Financial – Event Lanyards
Berkeley Point Capital – Event Pens/Highlighters
Carolina Complete Health – Hotel Keycards
Pinnacle Bank – Wednesday’s Beverage Stations
Poyner Spruill, LLP – Wednesday’s Afternoon Break
QMX Mobile Health – Event Junior Portfolios
Senior Dental Care – Thursday’s Afternoon Break
WellCare – Thursday’s Beverage Stations
Young Moore & Henderson, P.A. – Event Messenger Bags

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Please plan to join your friends and colleagues in beautiful Southern Pines, North Carolina, on September 12th and 13th for the NCHCFA 7th 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. Register for the “Recharge Club” Package and 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). To review registration materials click here. We hope you will join us in Southern Pines in September.

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NCHCFA has an additional benefit of membership, a one-hour Webinar on a timely and relevant topic to its members at no additional charge. There will be no CEUs offered for these Webinars.

The next Webinar is scheduled for Thursday, September 20th, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Webinar details are below:

Title: Advance Directives
Presenter: Ken Burgess, Poyner Spruill, LLP

Over the years, NCHCFA has provided training to its members on end of life healthcare planning for residents, including the various Advance Directives forms available under North Carolina law, the purpose and function of each, and differences among them. This Webinar will be presented by Ken Burgess of Poyner Spruill, LLP and will focus on the most common questions and answers providers ask about Advance Directives in SNFs and key issues surrounding the implementation of residents’ end of life wishes and advance directives, based on Ken’s experience assisting providers with this sometimes confusing topic for the past decade. The entire Webinar will be presented in a Q & A format, consisting of questions Ken always gets and any further questions webinar participants want to pose.

Click here to register today!

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Palmetto GBA has scheduled the Jurisdiction M (JM) MACtoberfest Conference to be held on October 23-24, 2018. Sessions will include: New Medicare Card, Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Tips, Billing and Clinical Updates, Enrollment Process, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Part A Cost Reporting, Medical Review Overview and Targeted Probe & Education (TPE), Making a Home Health Referral for a Medicare Beneficiary, Appealing to Medicare, Disclosing/Returning Medicare Overpayments, eServices, Changes to Evaluation and Management Reporting and the Fee Schedule, and much more.

For additional information and registration instructions, click here.

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Register and make plans to join your colleagues from around the country in beautiful San Diego for the most valuable long term and post-acute care gathering of the year. AHCA/NCAL has a diverse slate of keynote speakers who will share personal stories of challenge and success that will inspire and motivate you.

Choose from more than 70 sessions with topics to support all professional roles in long term and post-acute care! By attending education sessions from Sunday through Wednesday, attendees can earn up to 16 administrator CEs (separate ticketed sessions can increase CEs). Hear from speakers with advanced degrees, advanced experience, and a passion to further the profession. AHCA’s faculty is ready to share their considerable expertise with you. Register today and don’t miss out!

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Are you a clinician, quality improvement professional, patient, caregiver, or community partner? Regardless of where your life journey takes you, you or a loved one may someday need care, also called long term services and supports (LTSS) to assist in daily living. When that time comes, you deserve to be treated with warmth, dignity, and respect and to be content, healthy, and safe no matter where you live or what your background is. On this call, the Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN NCC) will explore how Quality Improvement Organizations, clinicians, patients and residents, families, loved ones, and community partners are helping to address disparities by supporting culturally and structurally competent services in nursing homes, other facilities offering LTSS, and home and community-based services. Join the QIN NCC to hear from others and share your experiences!

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET

Registration Required! Register here.

Attendees will hear from:

• Darci Graves of the CMS Office of Minority Health
• Misty Dyke, Patty Austin, Fred Brown and Jennifer Peters, who will speak about Quality Insights’ work related to:
  • A new toolkit that helps nursing homes to better engage resident councils; and
  • The Home Health Quality Improvement/Underserved Populations Network
  • Rafael Calderon, a community health worker who helps people to access culturally and linguistically appropriate long-term services and supports at home.
  • Attendees will also hear from each other through a lively open discussion from 4 – 4:30 PM ET.

Following this event, attendees will be able to:

• Discuss what is known about disparities in long-term services and supports
• Explain how cultural competency and structural competency can help to address disparities
• Identify two strategies that can be used to support greater cultural and/or structural competency in long-term services and supports

Visit the event page on the QIO Program website here for more information.

CE Statement:

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM. This activity is eligible for ACPE, ANCC, AANP, and CDR credit; see final CPE/CE activity announcement for specific details.

Questions? Submit here.
Join Healthcare Communities by registering here.

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This video was filmed during a live presentation. Diana Waugh explains the cycle of communication, how to use the “five W’s” of communication, how to develop techniques to deal with a negative co-worker, and how to communicate across disciplines. The talk includes a discussion of communication barriers such as jargon, mood, expectations, noise, and personal style. Demonstrations give participants a chance to experience communication issues on the spot.

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

Product #8081
AHCA MEMBERS $69.95

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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. Email 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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Lead with Dignity

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The # symbol isn’t officially called hashtag or pound. Its technical name is octothorpe.

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