UPDATE Weekly

The Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) competency assessment poses questions about behavioral, technical, and resident-based competencies.

The Toolkit 1 includes:

• Competency Assessments
• Instruction Manual with Resources
• Answer Sheets

If the Assessment identifies opportunities, CMPRP can provide funding, technical assistance, and learning opportunities if identified. Visit the webpage for more information, click here.

[Return to top]

Tuesday, December 11, 2018, from 1:30 to 3 pm ET
Register for Medicare Learning Network events.

On October 1, 2019, the new Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) is replacing Resource Utilization Group, Version IV (RUG-IV) for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS).

Topics:

• Overview of PDPM, a new case-mix classification system for SNF Part A beneficiaries
• Changeover from RUG-IV to PDPM

For more information, review the FY 2019 SNF PPS final rule, and visit the PDPM webpage. A question and answer session follows the presentation; however, attendees may email questions in advance to PDPM@cms.hhs.gov with “December 11 Call” in the subject line. These questions may be addressed during the call or used for other materials following the call.

Target Audience: SNF facilities, administrators, and clinicians.

[Return to top]

NC MUST System Outage

The NC MUST system will be experiencing server downtime from Midnight, November 30, 2018 until Midnight December 2, 2018. During this time the NCMUST PASRR application will be inaccessible.

New Help Desk Number

Effective November 30, 2018 the NC PASRR Help Desk Number will change. The new toll free number is 888-245-0179. You can also reach the help desk by calling 919-813-5550. Support staff is available Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm except for observed state holidays.

New Fax Number for PASRR Related Documents

Effective December 1, 2018, the fax number to submit PASRR related documents will change to 919-224-1072. Please address all fax submissions to “NC Medicaid PASRR”. The previous fax number will no longer be available to submit PASRR related documents after December 1, 2018. When submitting PASRR related documents for review, please limit fax submissions to the information that has been requested. By limiting the faxes to the information requested, review and response will be more efficient.

Uploading PASRR Related Documents to NCMUST

Providers have always had the ability to upload PASRR related documents directly to the NC MUST application. This method is preferred versus faxing the documents. Information that is uploaded to the NCMUST application is available immediately to PASRR reviewers and is reviewed faster thereby providing a PASRR number in a more timely manner.

Those with questions regarding the PASRR program may contact the DMA Clinical Policy Long Term Services and Supports Section at 919-855-4364.

[Return to top]

Make your overnight reservation today for the NCHCFA Annual Convention and Expo February 24 – 27, 2019. The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons/Joseph S. Kory Convention Center, Greensboro, NC. Call the Sheraton at (800) 242-6556 and identify that you are with “NC Health Care Facilities Association 2019 Convention” to receive the group discounted rate.

[Return to top]

The North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) oversees and administers North Carolina’s state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex. NC HealthConnex is a secure, electronic network that facilitates conversations between authorized health care providers by allowing them to access and share health-related information. Through statewide connectivity and information sharing, NC HealthConnex will help to break down information silos between providers, achieve greater outcomes for patients, and create efficiencies in state-funded programs such as Medicaid and the State Health Plan. As many providers are aware, connection to NC HealthConnex is mandated for the provision of Medicaid and State-funded participation by various dates in the coming year. This includes all providers involved in a patient’s care (primary care, acute care, long term care, specialists, behavioral health and more).

What’s more, NC HealthConnex is poised to support health care providers as they move to managed care and enter into value-based care contracts. Real time and accurate clinical data is a critical tool to providing appropriate care and closing information gaps across the care continuum. In this session, the speaker will present on the progress of achieving statewide connectivity, explain a new service offering called NC Notify, and review how providers can meet state reporting requirements efficiently via NC HealthConnex.

Title: Connecting Communities of Care via Health Information Exchange
Presenter: Jessica Brehmer, Business Development and Outreach Specialist, Health Information
Exchange Authority (HIEA), NC Department of Information Technology

Click here to register!

[Return to top]

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

[Return to top]

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

[Return to top]

Food offers more than sustenance for nursing home residents

[Return to top]

Bananas are considered berries, they are derived from a single flower with more than one ovary, making them an aggregate fruit. True berries are simple fruits stemming from one flower with one ovary and typically have several seeds. Tomatoes fall into this group, as do pomegranates and kiwis.

[Return to top]