UPDATE Weekly

NC Medicaid has published another Special Bulletin dated 9/27/18, NC Medicaid Flexibilities Due to Hurricane Florence Extended Through Oct. 5, 2018, on the Division of Health Benefits website. Providers are encouraged to read this important information.

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The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Look-up tool allows providers to use our secure eServices online portal to obtain the new MBI number when patients do not present their Medicare card. The MBI Look-up tool will only return an MBI if the new Medicare card has been mailed to avoid potential confusion if the MBI is used before the beneficiary receives their new Medicare card. Please review this article and share it with your staff.

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The Quality Award Program, which is based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, recognizes long term and post-acute care member centers and communities nationally for quality care.

Examiners play a significant role in reviewing Quality Award applications and impacting quality improvement in organizations across the country. Serving as an Examiner is a unique opportunity, and benefits include:

• In-Person and Virtual Education in Baldrige Criteria
• Professional Development
• Continuing Education Units (CEU’s)
• Role in Improving Long Term Care Performance
• Networking
• Discounted Registration at AHCA/NCAL conferences

For more information about serving as an Examiner and to submit an application, please visit the 2019 National Quality Award Examiner website here. The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 29, 2018.

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It’s time once again for the NCHCFA Annual Awards! What a great way to recognize and celebrate someone who makes a significant difference in the lives of your residents and their families. Click here to download and print the nomination forms. To complete nominations online click here. If you have any questions about the Annual Awards, call the Association office at (919) 782-3827.

The Nurse Aide of the Year will be chosen per District (there are five districts) and the J.R. Garrett, Jr. Direct Care Worker of the Year Award winner chosen out of these five. In addition, a sixth recipient in a non-nursing discipline will also be chosen to receive the Riley W. Clapp Outstanding Service Award. These six recipients will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the Annual Convention and Expo in February of 2019. The Awards Banquet has become the highlight of our convention and is a wonderful and moving way to honor these outstanding individuals, their families, and co-workers. Pictures for nominations submitted online may be mailed to the Association office or may be emailed to karenL@nchcfa.org. Only one nomination may be submitted for each discipline, but we welcome nominations from more than one department of your facility.

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Applicants can visit the Quality Award Portal to access the Intent to Apply payment process.

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 Eastern. 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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One of the goals of a transformed health care system is for near, real time clinical and demographic data to be made available to all health care providers involved in a patient’s care so they can securely share health information concerning that patient with each other.

North Carolina’s state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex, is a step towards this goal. Created in 2015 by the North Carolina General Assembly, NC HealthConnex helps bridge the gap between disparate systems and health care networks to deliver a holistic view of the patient record, supporting whole patient care. It allows facilities to access patients’ comprehensive records across multiple providers, as well as review labs, diagnostics, history, allergies, medications and more. This results in decreased redundancy; more efficient, accurate diagnoses, recommendations and treatment; and improved coordination across all levels of care.

State law requires that all Skilled Nursing Facilities that receive any state funds for the provision of health care services (e.g. Medicaid, HealthChoice, State Health Plan, etc.) connect and submit patient demographic and clinical data to NC HealthConnex by June 1, 2019 to receive payment for services.

NC HealthConnex is a tool that enables you to access missing patient care information. It empowers you to increase operational workflows and efficiencies because you will be able to quickly access your patient’s longitudinal patient record. NC HealthConnex allows you to consolidate data feeds and prioritize interoperability, improving patient outcomes through care coordination. At the end of the day, the technology available through NC HealthConnex will allow you to strengthen your collaboration with your patients to truly provide patient-centered care. To download the NC HealthConnex Tool Kit, click here.

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Monday, October 15 from 1:30 to 3PM ET
Register for Medicare Learning Network events.

Medicare Part A providers: Learn how to use the new Medicare Cost Report e-Filing (MCReF) system. Use MCReF to submit cost reports with fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2017. You have the option to electronically transmit your cost report through MCReF or mail or hand deliver it to your Medicare Administrative Contractor. You must use MCReF if you choose electronic submission of your cost report. For more information, see the MCReF MLN Matters Article and MCReF webpage.

During this webinar, CMS discusses:

• Changes based on user feedback
• How to access the system
• Detailed overview
• Frequently asked questions

A question and answer session follows the presentation; however, attendees may email questions in advance to OFMDPAOQuestions@cms.hhs.gov with “Medicare Cost Report e-Filing System Webcast” in the subject line. These questions may be addressed during the webcast or used for other materials following the webcast.

CMS will use webcast technology for this event with audio streamed through your computer. If you are unable to stream audio, phone lines are available.

Target Audience: Medicare Part A providers and entities that file cost reports for providers.

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The Situational Leadership workshop rescheduled from September 19th will be held on Wednesday, October 10th. 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 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 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, October 18th, from 12:00 NOON – 1:00 PM. Webinar details are below:

Title: Person and Family Engagement Project at KEPRO
Speaker: Tara Cooke, MSG, Outreach Specialist, KEPRO

KEPRO is the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care QIO (BFCC-QIO) for more than 30 states. They offer information and assistance to providers, residents, and families regarding beneficiary complaints, discharge appeals, Immediate Advocacy, and Patient Navigation. Bringing providers and beneficiaries together to improve health care for people with Medicare is the mission of KEPRO’s Person and Family Engagement (PFE) project. The focus is to encourage partnered decision-making, improved communication and engagement between people with Medicare and their providers.

Through their PFE project, KEPRO can help Medicare beneficiaries and families with the following:

• Immediate Advocacy: Process to help beneficiaries quickly resolve a complaint or concern related to medical care or services.
• Patient Navigation: Program to help patients navigate through their treatment and better understand their care.

Join our Webinar on October 18th at 12:00 NOON to learn more about free Patient Navigation services provided by KEPRO through this project. Click here to register today!

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The NCHCFA 7th Annual Autumn Classic scheduled in Southern Pines, NC has been rescheduled for Monday, October 29th at Pine Needles Lodge and Resort. The day will begin at 11:30 AM with the Golf Tournament & Day at the Spa (lunch will be provided). The Reception & Dinner will be held that evening and conclude at 9:00 PM. Breakfast will be served on Tuesday, October 30th from 6:30 AM-9:00 AM and conclude the activities for the 7th Annual Autumn Classic.
Click here for registration information. If you a have any questions please call Allison Dew at the Association office at (919) 782-3827.

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NCHCFA has scheduled the Fall district meetings. District meetings allow participants to interact with peers in a comfortable atmosphere, promoting valuable and productive conversation. Each space will be limited to 40 individuals. The registration fee is $75.00. Lunch will be provided. Click here to download and print the brochure and registration form. This program will offer 3.5 contact hours for nursing home administrators. The agenda will include the following topics/presentations:

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Alliant Quality (QIN-QIO)
Alliant Quality will present updates on the Nursing Home Quality Measures for each District with state and national benchmarks. Additional updates on QAPI, readmissions, and the Change Package (if available) will be discussed as the current status of CDI monthly reporting to NHSN with state rankings.

10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
The Multi-Faceted Staffing Crisis
NCHCFA Executive Vice President, Polly Welsh, will discuss the first step in any “improvement process” – When all you are certain of is undesirable reality. As the health workforce shortage becomes more severe – studies, theories, and commentary are abundant. This session promises to be outside the box in its discussions of how to examine a different kind of culture, the individual facility’s workforce culture. Topics will include:

• Explore potential recruitment and workforce development through connections with health occupations and career technical high school students (as well as nursing students within communities).
• Identify how to achieve a culture of retention through person-centered managerial techniques.
• Brainstorm ways to solidify a positive correlation between staff satisfaction and resident satisfaction.

District II
October 11, 2018
Abernethy Laurels
102 Leonard Avenue
Newton, NC 28658

District III
October 16, 2018
Pennybyrn at Maryfield
1315 Greensboro Road
High Point, NC 27260

District IV
October 23, 2018
Trinity Grove
631 Junction Creek Drive
Wilmington, NC 28412

District V
October 25, 2018
The Solutions Center
Suite 200, Brighton Hall
1101 Slater Road
Durham, NC 27703

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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 online 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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What’s the “why” of your job?

SmartBrief Article

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The Wright Brother’s first flight traveled 120 feet in 12 seconds, an average airspeed of 6.8 miles per hour.

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