Quality Care Investment Act Moves Forward

Representative Bob Bethel (R-Alden) introduced the Quality Care Assessment Act into the Federal and State Affairs Committee today, Thursday, February 4, 2010. This is the first of many steps toward making the provider assessment a reality and bringing some much needed relief to the Kansas Nursing Home Medicaid crisis. The steps necessary for a piece of legislation to become law are lengthy and sometimes complicated. On Monday, February 8, 2010 the bill will be "read in" on the House floor and will be assigned a number. From there, hearings will be scheduled.

KHCA will be calling upon members in the coming weeks to testify before the House on the impact of the Medicaid cuts and the relief that will be provided by the Quality Care Assessment Act.  

What you can do to help:
Talk to your staff and family members about the Quality Care Assessment Act.
Contact your legislators and ask them to support the bill.
Contact KHCA with questions.
Log on to the KHCA website www.khca.org for talking points.
Answer the call when KHCA needs you to testify.

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  Astute Member Catches Rate Error

It always pays to double check the numbers

Recently one of our members took a look at his turn around document and noticed that the wrong rate had been plugged in. This lower rate and subsequent lower payment was caught immediately and reported to the state. Facilities are urged to check their rates submitted after January 1 to assure that they are correct.

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  Education News

March 1, 2010
1:30pm
Webinar
Understanding the IDR Process featuring KDOA’s Greg Reser, and Americare’s Karla Baum and Marci Mejia

March 3-5 & 8-10
8:00 – 5:00pm
Topeka
Adult Care Home Operator Course

MDS 3.0 Training
Two different types of MDS 3.0 training will be offered by KHCA. Once again, we will be partnering with AANAC to provide the three day RAC-CT certification course. We will also be partnering with KDOA, KACE and KAHSA to provide two day trainings in three different locations. Registrations are not open yet, but brochures will be emailed to all facilities. Keep in mind that the MDS 3.0 will not go into affect until October 1, 2010. Plan your strategy accordingly to assure your staff receives proper training. Training too soon may result in errors in current MDS coding or the potential for staff not retaining the information learned. Please consider waiting until July.

KHCA and AANAC
July 28-30   Lawrence
August 25-27  Wichita
September 22-24  Topeka
November 3-5  Lawrence

KHCA and KDOA
September 1 & 2  Pittsburg
September 15 & 16 Topeka
September 29 & 30 Wichita

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  HIPAA Deadlines

Significant changes to HIPAA privacy and security requirements are the result of the federal stimulus funding which is promoting electronic health records. Most Health Information Technology for Economic and Clincial Health Act or HITECH/HIPAA provisions become effective February 17, 2010.
Some highlights of HITECH are:
Imposed new "breach" notification requirements.
Requires that Business Associates comply with the HIPAA Security Rule.
Broadens enforcement authority and increases penalties.
Modifies HIPAA privacy and indivdual rights provisions.

Deadlines are right around the corner and facilities need to make implementation plans now. For more information go to the CMS website.

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  Health Care Reform and Therapy Cap Legislation Remain Stalled

As previously reported, Congressional leaders and the White House are struggling behind the scenes to find a way forward on health care reform. No strategy has been decided upon, and leaders in both the House and Senate are working with the rank and file Members to see what is achievable. 
In the absence of health care reform, AHCA is working to get Congress to take up legislation extending the exceptions process for the Medicare Part B Therapy Cap.  Based on discussions with Congressional leadership, AHCA believes that our advocacy is having an impact and that Congress recognizes the importance of this issue and is committed to acting on the exceptions process.  To keep the pressure on Congress, it is vital that every AHCA member contact their senators and representative to tell them about the urgency of this issue.   For questions regarding health care reform or therapy caps, contact khca@khca.org.

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  CMS Posts Remaining MDS 3.0 RAI Chapters and Tools

New MDS 3.0 material has recently been posted on the CMS website. To access the new version of the MDS 3.0 item subsets, available in zip file format (7 MB), click here. The file contains printable documents with the required subset of data items for each MDS 3.0 (admission, quarterly, annual, significant change, discharge, entry, etc.). The zip file for the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual, dated January 27, 2010 is also available here (20MB). The RAI file contains Chapters 1—6 and Appendices. Each section in Chapter 3 is contained in a separate PDF file. The previously-posted MDS 3.0 Item Matrix has been removed from the CMS list of downloads and placed in Appendix F of the RAI Manual referenced above.

Information about "Train-the-Trainer” Conferences can be found here. Provider representatives, MDS consultants/instructors and others will attend the April 13-15 session in Baltimore, Maryland. There is a multi-tiered registration process for this conference, with open registration beginning February 22, 2010.
For questions, please contact Sandra Fitzler.

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