UPDATE Weekly

This report provides an in-depth examination of the changes taking place in Medicaid programs across the country. The findings are derived from a recent survey of Medicaid officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Management Associates, in collaboration with the National Association of Medicaid Directors. This report highlights certain policies in place in state Medicaid programs in FY 2018 and policy changes implemented or planned for FY 2019.

To read the complete report, click here.

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The Intent to Apply (ITA) for the 2019 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award application cycle is closing soon! The deadline to submit an ITA is November 8, 2018 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. AHCA/NCAL encourages you to submit an ITA through the Quality Award Portal here before the deadline. More information about the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program and the benefits of submitting an ITA are available at https://www.ahcancal.org/qualityaward.

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Skilled Nursing Facility Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. Providers have until November 30, 2018 to review their performance data on quality measures based on Quarter 2 – 2017 to Quarter 1 – 2018 data, prior to the January 2019 Nursing Home Compare site refresh, during which this data will be publicly displayed. Corrections to the underlying data will not be permitted during this time. However, providers can request a CMS review during the preview period if they believe their data scores displayed are inaccurate.

For More Information providers should visit the CMS SNF Quality Public Reporting Webpage, which also includes directions for accessing your preview report.

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Palmetto GBA will host a Medical Review Hot Topic Teleconference regarding the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) Process. This call will take place on Tuesday, November 13th between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. This call is open to all providers. The Palmetto Medical Review Subject Matter Experts invite you to join them as they discuss and answer your questions concerning the TPE Process.

To participate on the call, dial (800) 374-0740 and enter conference ID 1785573 when prompted.

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Over the past several years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented and utilized a revised format for Allegations of Compliance (AOCs) and Plans of Correction (POCs) that focused on “processes” and procedures that both cased noncompliance and were designed to correct it, causing much confusion among providers. Earlier this year, CMS returned to the former delineation of AOC and POC elements and, as a result, how to obtain past noncompliance and either a one-day civil money penalty or reduce daily CMPs, where a CMP is the remedy chosen by CMS for a noncompliant event. This Webinar will include a review of an actual successful POC that avoided daily CMPs as an example, and will discuss recent trends at the State and Federal levels in citations of past noncompliance versus daily CMP imposition.

Title: Drafting Acceptable Allegations of Compliance and Plans of Correction
Presenter: Ken Burgess, Poyner Spruill, LLP

Click here to register!

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Cindy Deporter, MSSW, State Survey Agency Director, Division of Health Service Regulation, will be teaching a full day session on the following topics on November 13th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Asheville, NC:

• Upcoming changes/additions to the federal regulations for November of 2019
• Review of the changes to the state nursing home regulations
• Update on current CMS workgroups on area of transfer/discharge, Facility Reported Incidents
• Revisions to Immediate Jeopardy language

Click here to register online! Click here to download the brochure with registration form.

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The Situational Leadership 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 MAHEC in Asheville, NC. It will be facilitated by Mark Goal, 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 the AHCA/NCAL Bronze and Silver Quality Award Workshops. The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program provides a pathway for providers of long term care services to journey towards performance excellence. The program is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The Quality Award program has three progressive step levels.

The first level is Bronze, Commitment to Quality. Last year, 8 of out 10 facilities that attended the Bronze Quality Award workshop received the Bronze Quality Award! Bronze Award applicants begin their quality journey by developing an organizational profile including vision and mission statements, an awareness of their environment and customers’ expectations, and a demonstration of their ability to improve a process. This session includes a full day of training and consultation on how to complete the AHCA/NCAL Bronze Quality Award application. This training will decipher the criteria, answer questions, clarify concepts, and guide participants through the process of writing an organizational quality award application. Using interactive technology, participants will leave the workshop with their applications complete or with few areas to fill in. This workshop is being offered in two locations:

November 15th – Silver Bluff Village, 100 Silver Bluff Drive, Canton, NC 28716
December 6th – NCHCFA, 5109 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612

Click here to download the brochure and registration form for the Bronze Quality Award Workshop.

The second level is Silver, Achievement in Quality. A requirement of the program is to receive a Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award before applying at the Silver level. At this level applicants continue to learn and develop effective approaches that help improve performance and health care outcomes. In addition to the Organizational Profile, applicants provide a thorough assessment of their systematic approaches and the deployment of these approaches. At the end of this workshop, participants will have the framework for the Silver AHCA/NCAL Quality Award application.

November 28th – 29th – NCHCFA, 5109 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612

Click here to download the brochure and registration form for the Silver Quality Award Workshop.

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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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Warmer Weather Gets Seniors Outdoors and Moving

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During their lifetime, the average person walks the equivalent of five times around the world.

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