UPDATE TO FLOODING AND TORNADO RESPONSE

Local, state and federal emergency management agencies are continuing to respond to an increasing number of weather-related incidents across the state of Kansas today. State emergency management officials are working with a number of states in response to a request for Individual Assistance officers under the nationwide Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The State of Mississippi is working with Kansas on providing assistance from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

Search and rescue operations are continuing in response to the tornado that struck the community of Greensburg, Kansas on Friday, May 4.  The death toll stands at 10 in Greensburg area as a result of the tornado. One additional death occurred in Pratt County as a result of the same tornado that hit Greensburg. Another death in Ottawa County was caused by a tornado the evening of May 5.

People wanting to volunteer to assist with the flooding and tornado response need to coordinate their assistance through their local county Emergency Operations Centers. The county EOCs will coordinate through the state EOC to ensure that any assistance is being directed to those areas where the needs are the greatest.

At the present time, officials report that monetary donations are needed for those impacted by these storms. Those donations can be made through the American Red Cross at 785-234-0568 or the Salvation Army by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or at  <http://www.armykettle.com/> www.armykettle.com. Only cash contributions are currently needed for those impacted by the storms.  Contributions of clothing and other commodities are not needed at the present time.

The United Way in Kansas has a call center for persons wishing to donate or volunteer. In Kansas, dial 211 or call 1-888-413-4327.  In all cases, please note that the money is to be designated for those
affected by the Greensburg tornado or other weather-related disasters.

People needing assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency may call 1-800-621-FEMA or go to the FEMA website http://www.fema.gov/>
www.fema.gov

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  Money Follows the Person Grant

SRS, KDOA and KHPA has invited KHCA as well as other advocacy groups to participate in a discussion of the future implementation of the Dollars Follow the Person Grant that Kansas just recently received.

The meeting is scheduled for May 21st.  KHCA and KHCA members will participate in this process and will keep the membership updated..

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  Online Courses at Kansas State University

Kansas State University is offering some summer courses online which may be of interest to nursing home/assisted living personnel.

GERON 620 Problems:  Global Perspectives in Elder Care is a new course being taught by Dr. Gayle Doll, Director of the KSU Center on Aging.  The course will explore how various cultures have historically cared for their aging members and will include world demographics and cultural comparisons. U. S. policies affecting care and treatment of older adults will be examined.

SOCWK 310 Dynamics of Working with Older Adults is a new course being taught by Janice Dinkel and Kim Morgan, Instructors in Social Work at KSU.  The course will cover specific communication techniques along with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to understand working with, or on the behalf of, older consumers, clients, patients and family members.

These courses run from June 4-July 27, and are taught entirely online. To view the full course descriptions, cost or to enroll in the course please visit www.dce.k-state.edu/courses/ and search using the course number for summer 2007. Please address questions to Pam Evans at the KSU Center on Aging at  pevans@ksu.edu.

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  KHCA Bookstore

Update LTC Survey Manuals Now Available

The December 2006 Survey Manuals are now shipping.  You many order them directly from AHCA at http://web1.pmds.com/AHCA_eBiz/ or by submitting a book order form to Kendra Poole at the KHCA office.

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  NH Quality Campaign

Click on the following link www.nhqualitycampaign.org to access the nursing home registration for the NH Quality Campaign, a campaign to improve the quality of life for residents and staff.

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  Q and A

Several questions have been asked about rooms that are open to the corridor. What has to be in place for this to be allowed? When you look at sub section (b) and (c) of Exception No.1 you will see that within a smoke compartment the corridor and the open space has requirements. I have underlined the word or to better illustrate the section differences. You can find more detailed information in the Life Safety Code Handbook on pages 557-559.  If you have any questions please give me a call.
  
In NFPA 101 2000 edition it states the following.  .
 
19.3.6.1 Corridors shall be separated from all other areas by partitions complying with 19.3.6.2 through 19.3.6.5. (See also 19.2.5.9.)
 
Exception No. 1: Smoke compartments protected throughout by an approved ,supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 19.3.5.3 shall be permitted to have spaces that are unlimited in size open to the corridor, provided that the following criteria are met:
 
(a) The spaces are not used for patient sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, or hazardous areas.
 
(b) The corridors onto which the spaces open in the same smoke compartment are protected by an electrically supervised automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4, or the smoke compartment in which the space is located is protected throughout by quick-response sprinklers.
 
(c) The open space is protected by an electrically supervised automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4, or the entire space is arranged and located to allow direct supervision by the facility staff from a nurses’ station or similar space.
 
(d) The space does not obstruct access to required exits.
 
Exception No. 2: In smoke compartments protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 19.3.5.3, waiting areas shall be permitted to be open to the corridor ,provided that the following criteria are met:
 
(a) The aggregate waiting area in each smoke compartment does not exceed 600 ft 2 (55.7 m2).
 
(b) Each area is protected by an electrically supervised automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4, or each area is arranged and located to allow direct supervision by the facility staff from a nursing station or similar space.
 
(c) The area does not obstruct access to required exits.
 
Exception No. 3:* Spaces for nurses’ stations.
 
Exception No. 4: Gift shops open to the corridor where protected in accordance with 19.3.2.5.
 
Exception No. 5: Limited care facilities in smoke compartments protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 19.3.5.3 shall be permitted to have group meeting or multipurpose therapeutic spaces open to the corridor, provided that the following criteria are met:
 
(a) The space is not a hazardous area.
 
(b) The space is protected by an electrically supervised automatic
smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4, or the space is
arranged and located to allow direct supervision by the facility staff
from the nurses’ station or similar location.
 
(c) The area does not obstruct access to required exits.
 
Exception No. 6: Spaces other than patient sleeping rooms, treatment
rooms, and hazardous areas shall be permitted to be open to the corridor
and unlimited in area, provided that the following criteria are met:
 
(a) The space and the corridors onto which it opens, where located
in the same smoke compartment, are protected by an electrically supervised
automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4.
 
(b)* Each space is protected by automatic sprinklers, or the furnishings
and furniture, in combination with all other combustibles
within the area, are of such minimum quantity and arrangement
that a fully developed fire is unlikely to occur.
 
(c) The space does not obstruct access to required exits.
Exception No. 7:* Waiting areas shall be permitted to be open to the
corridor, provided that the following criteria are met:
 
(a) Each area does not exceed 600 ft2 (55.7 m2).
 
(b) The area is equipped with an electrically supervised automatic
smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4.
 
(c) The area does not obstruct any access to required exits.
 
Exception No. 8: In a limited care facility, group meeting or multipurpose therapeutic spaces, other than hazardous areas, that are under continuous supervision by facility staff shall be permitted to be open to the corridor, provided that the following criteria are met:
 
(a) Each area does not exceed 1500 ft2 (140 m2).
 
(b) Not more than one such space is permitted per smoke compartment.
 
(c) The area is equipped with an electrically supervised automatic smoke detection system in accordance with 19.3.4.
 
(d) The area does not obstruct access to required exits. 
  

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  Magnetic Lock Update

If your facility is equipped with magnetic locks on your exit doors and is more than the 15 second delay, required by code, please read the following to know what you will need to provide on your plan of correction.   
 
When KSFMO inspects a facility that has a 30 second delay with a magnetic lock on any exit doors, this will be cited as a deficiency.  The Life Safety Code NFPA 101, 2000 edition only allows up to a 15 second delay, but has an exception to allow the Authority Having Jurisdiction to allow up 30 seconds.  But in order for us to be able to allow this we must see how many you have and their locations.  Your local inspector cannot approve the 30 second delay; this must be approved by the Topeka Office. 
 
What will you need to do once you have been cited for this?  You will be advised by your local inspector that you are required to submit an annual waiver request along with your Plan of Correction explaining the reason why the 30 second magnetic locks are necessary, how many doors are affected, and where the doors are located throughout your facility.  Through our enforcement process KSFMO will then determine if this will be acceptable.  Contact Brenda at KSFMO at 785-296-3401.
 
 

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  CMS Updates

GAO Report on Nursing Home Enforcement

The GAO Report on Nursing Home Enforcement, titled “Efforts to Strengthen Federal Enforcement Have not Deterred Some Homes from Repeatedly Harming Residents,” is currently linked on the member’s only section of the KHCA website.

The CMS comments are on pages 71 – 78.  Appendix II on page 64 lists the Percentaqge of Nursing Homes Cited for Actual Harm or Immediate Jeopardy, by State, for years 2000-2005.  Nationwide, the report states that in 2000 28 % of nursing homes were cited for actual harm or immediate jeopardy, down to the low of 15.7% in 2004 and up slightly to 16.8% in 2005.  During 2000, Kansas reported 37.9% of it's nursing homes were cited for actual harm or immediate jeopardy and has dropped slightly to 34.9% in 2005.  In 2000, there were 10 other states with a higher percentage than Kansas, none of which are in our same CMS Region. In 2005, the report shows that only 4 states reported a higher percentage than Kansas.  Most of the states that reported high levels in 2000, showed marked improvements by 2005. Most in fact cut their percentage in half.

Medicare Nursing Home Rates to Increase in Fiscal Year 2008

Medicare payments to nursing homes would increase by approximately $690 million in FY 2008 under new rates proposed by CMS.  This 3.3 percent increase would affect payment rates to nursing facilities that furnish certain skilled nursing and rehabilitation care to Medicare beneficiaries recovering from serious health problems.  The proposed rule for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) was placed on display at the Federal Register on May 1. To see the CMS Press Release please click: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp. For further information about the SNF PPS including a link to the proposed regulation, please click: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/snfpps/.

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  AHCA/NCAL Award Applications Available

Nomination forms for AHCA/NCAL's 2007 awards are now available. Last year's award winners set a high standard, and we are very much looking forward to continuing the tradition. Nominations for the Volunteers of the Year Awards program, Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living, NCAL Administrator of the Year, and the National Assisted Living Week Programming Award must be submitted through the state affiliates not individual facilities. However, the MR/DD Hero award nominations may come through any nominating source. Award applications must be postmarked by Monday, June 18, 2007. If you have questions please contact Alexis Starkey

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  NCAL Meets With Veterans Affairs About Pension Aid and Attendance Benefits

NCAL met with officials of the Veterans Affairs's Compensation and Pension Service to discuss a cooperative, long-term outreach program that would educate our members about VA benefits that could possibly provide veterans, their spouses, surviving widows or widowers, and dependent children assistance for long term care services. NCAL will educate members about this needs-based program though our Web site and future member publications.

The VA is concerned that assisted living providers will fall victim to organizations charging fees to submit application to the VA on behalf of an applicant. Charging a fee to fill out a VA application form is illegal. The VA offers free assistance for the Aid and Attendance Benefit, a benefit that provides payments for people requiring assisted living services. To contact a representative to help with an application, call the closest VA office through 1-800-827-1000. Or find the regional VA office at http://www.vba.va.gov/BENEFITS/ROcontacts.htm. Or find the county VA organization in your local telephone book. The VA has certified certain Veterans Services Organizations (VSO) to help individuals with the process. To verify if a VSO is certified visit, http://www1.va.gov/ogc/docs/bulletin23s.doc If you have any further questions, please contact Lisa Gelhaus at NCAL. 
 

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