Kansas Nursing Homes Celebrate National Nursing Home Week

Happy Nursing Home Week!!

KHCA would like to congratulate Kansas Nursing Home Providers for their continued pursuit of excellent quality care for the elders entrusted to them.

This year’s theme, “Enriching Every Day” highlights that the wellspring of an ability to enrich people’s lives stems from seeing residents of any age or disability as individuals and valuable members of the larger community and the nursing home community.

Nursing Home Week is also about those giving care. These workers help residents overcome the many obstacles and infirmities of age and disability. Caregivers form meaningful, enduring relationships with residents and families that are beneficial to everyone – to the resident and to the caregivers who often consider each other “family.”

Enriching Every Day reflects our appreciation to seniors for their life experiences and valuable contributions to the community and family life. Nursing Home Week should give us pause to consider the many challenges that need to be addressed so that our  parents, friends and neighbors receive the care, dignity and attention they deserve in their golden years.

Don’t forget to upload all of your great photos from this week on the special page set up on Facebook for National Nursing Home week. Click here for the link.  

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  CMS Works on "fix" for RUG-IV Delay

CMS has issued a MLN Matters article addressed to  SNF billing Medicare contractors (Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs) and/or Part A/B Medicare Administrative Contractors (A/B MACs)) for services paid under the SNF Health Insurance Prospective Payment System(HIPPS) 

The article clearly indicates that ”Recent legislation postponed implementation of the RUG-IV system until October 1, 2011.” CMS, however, goes on to say that “CMS is including new HIPPS codes that are included in the RUG-IV system into the standard system effective October 1, 2010. Further direction on HIPPS usage for October 1, 2010 is forthcoming.”

This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6916  (Transmittal 1958) issued April 28, 2010 which describes major changes to the SNF HIPPS case-mix system. CR6916 contains an Addendum with new HIPPS codes resulting from the conversion to the new RUG-IV coding system. The 5-digit HIPPS codes include two components: the 3-digit classification code assigned to each RUG group, and newly defined 2-digit assessment indicators (AIs) that specify the type of assessment used to support billing. The new codes follow the same format as the current codes. Additional codes have been added for the new RUG categories that will be needed when RUG-IV is implemented.  

The MLN Matters article is confusing because it appears to indicate CMS is pushing forward with code changes necessary for RUG IV.  Questions to CMS on this MLN Matters article brought the initial response that CMS would, of course, follow the law and reiterated the information provided in the article to the effect that further direction on HIPPS usage for October 1, 2010 would be  forthcoming.  We are following up to get a better understanding of CMS’ timetable regarding its intended  further direction on HIPPS usage for October 1, 2010.  

You can reach the documents by clicking on their title. MLN Matters 6916 and Transmittal 1958.

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  Educational Opportunities Abound

KHCA/KCAL Education Committee has been very busy planning excellent training opportunities for nursing home and assisted living staff. Below you will find a brief description of each class as well as a link to the registration brochure. Licensed nursing home administrators who are due for relicensing this year should have received information from Health Occupations Credentialing by now. Renewing online is quick and easy. Please contact us if you need copies of continuing education certificates. Each certificate is $10 to reprocess. Need help? Contact Linda at lmowbray@khca.org.

May 18 and 20 – PREPARE (click title for brochure)
Lawrence/Dodge City and Hays/Wichita
Cost: FREE
7 CEs ADM – 7 Contact hours nursing and other professionals

PREPARE is an award winning national disaster preparedness initiative created by Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging designed to provide long-term care and senior living communities with the competencies needed to respond to any natural or man-made disaster or emergency.

May 18 – Advance Directives (click title for brochure)
Webinar
1.5 CEs ADM – 1.5 Contact hours nursing and other professionals

Advance Directives or Advance Care Planning continues to change and evolve. From Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care to guardianships and conservatorships, the rules, the laws and implementation should be reviewed by staff involved in the process on a regular basis. Join Pam Smith, JD/LNHA from Medicalodges, Inc. for an informative session on what your residents, families and staff need to know about advance directives.

June 9 – Resident Care Coordinator Course (click title for brochure)
Russell
7 Contact hours nursing – 7 CE’s ADM for administrators who are also nurses

Join KCAL professional nurses for a full day of training specifically designed to give nurses in AL, RHCF and HP the tools they need to succeed. From “up-to-date” regulatory information to hints for designing systems, this course will provide “The Right Stuff” for a nurse to succeed as a Resident Care Coordinator.

June 10 – Introduction to Physical Assessment for LPNs (click title for brochure)
Russell
7 Contact hours nursing – 7 CE’s Res Care for administrators who are also nurses

This class specifically targets LPNs whose training did not include physical assessment.

The objective of this class is to deliver information that will help the learner recognize deviations from normal findings and to take appropriate action.  It is expected that the LPN will be able to determine appropriate actions to implement care that are within his/her scope of practice and to report findings to other health care providers
At the conclusion of this class, attendees will have been introduced to the basics of physical assessment and will be able to gather enough preliminary assessment information to know when the data obtained deviates from normal assessment findings.  The LPN assessor will understand when to refer the client/resident for additional assessment to a registered nurse or a physician. 

June 15 – HCBS From the Beginning… (click title for brochure)
RESCEDULED FROM MAY 12, 2010
Topeka
4 CE’s ADM – 4 Contact hours nursing and other professionals

KCAL and KDOA have designed this seminar to address the complexities of managing the Home and Community Based Service program in the Assisted Living/Home Plus Setting. This seminar is especially beneficial to Operators, Administrators, Business Office Managers, and Nurses involved in the care planning and billing of HCBS clients.

June 17 – Ready, Set Go – MDS 3.0 (click title for brochure)
Wichita
8 CEs ADM – 8 Contact hours nurses and other professionals

A common sense approach to pulling existing skilled nursing facility systems into compliance with updated regulatory standards for successful implementation of MDS 3.0.

Objectives: Identify Facility Program/System Changes Required to Implement MDS 3.0, Explore Operational Considerations for Successful Implementation of MDS 3.0,Review Staff Member Roles, Accountabilities and Training Requirements.

June 21 – Resident Care Coordinator Course (click title for brochure)
Overland Park
7 Contact hours nursing – 7 CE’s ADM for administrators who are also nurses

Join KCAL professional nurses for a full day of training specifically designed to give nurses in AL, RHCF and HP the tools they need to succeed. From “up-to-date” regulatory information to hints for designing systems, this course will provide “The Right Stuff” for a nurse to succeed as a Resident Care Coordinator.

June 29 – Ready, Set Go – MDS 3.0 (click title for brochure)
Topeka
8 CEs ADM – 8 Contact hours nurses and other professionals

A common sense approach to pulling existing skilled nursing facility systems into compliance with updated regulatory standards for successful implementation of MDS 3.0.

Objectives: Identify Facility Program/System Changes Required to Implement MDS 3.0, Explore Operational Considerations for Successful Implementation of MDS 3.0, Review Staff Member Roles, Accountabilities and Training Requirements.

July 14 – Introduction to Physical Assessment for LPNs (click title for brochure)
Overland Park
7 Contact hours nursing – 7 CE’s Res Care for administrators who are also nurses

This class specifically targets LPNs whose training did not include physical assessment.

The objective of this class is to deliver information that will help the learner recognize deviations from normal findings and to take appropriate action.  It is expected that the LPN will be able to determine appropriate actions to implement care that are within his/her scope of practice and to report findings to other health care providers
At the conclusion of this class, attendees will have been introduced to the basics of physical assessment and will be able to gather enough preliminary assessment information to know when the data obtained deviates from normal assessment findings.  The LPN assessor will understand when to refer the client/resident for additional assessment to a registered nurse or a physician

July 20 – Joint Provider Training with KSFMO (brochure is not yet available)
Topeka
6 CE’s ADM – 6 Contact hours for nurses and other professionals

Fire Alarms and Sprinklers Systems - Skip Johnson, Simplex Grinnell
Fire Stopping - Larry Laubhan, Poole Fire Protection
Generators - Paul Harris ,Generator Services, Inc
Top Ten Deficiencies and Discussion from KSFMO - Amanda Yorke, KSMFO

July 21 – Joint Provider Training with KSFMO (brochure is not yet available)
Wichita
6 CE’s ADM – 6 Contact hours for nurses and other professionals

Fire Alarms and Sprinklers Systems - Skip Johnson, Simplex Grinnell
Fire Stopping - Larry Laubhan, Poole Fire Protection
Generators - Paul Harris, Generator Services, Inc
Top Ten Deficiencies and Discussion from KSFMO - Amanda Yorke, KSMFO

July 28-30 – AANAC MDS 3.0 RAC-CT Training (click title for brochure)
Lawrence
27 Contact hours for nurses – 27 CE’s ADM and other professionals

This MDS 3.0 training is the gold standard of MDS instruction. Students will have an opportunity to test on-line following the course to become certified through AANAC as a Resident Care Coordinator – Certified. Course presented by AANAC master trainer Becky LaBarge

August 4-6 and 9-11 – KCAL Adult Care Home Operator Course (click title for registration)
Topeka
30 ADM hours and 15 Res Care hours for administrators – 45 Contact hours for nurses and other professionals

KCAL, an affiliate of Kansas Health Care Association (KHCA), has designed this Adult Care Home Operator Course to meet the needs of individuals wishing to become Assisted Living (AL) Residential Health Care (RHC) and Home Plus (HP) Operators in Kansas.
This course is recommended for current Operators as a beneficial update on the latest information in assisted living and residential health care.
As presenters of the first Adult Care Home Operator Course in the state, KCAL and KHCA have been leaders in the AL/RHC/HP field since its inception in Kansas. Kansas AL/RHC professionals as well as state regulators will offer their knowledge on the elements necessary to successfully operate these facilities.
Attendance for the entire course is required to be eligible to sit for the Operator’s Exam.

August 25-27 – AANAC MDS 3.0 RAC-CT Training (click title for brochure)
Wichita
27 Contact hours for nurses – 27 CE’s ADM and other professionals

This MDS 3.0 training is the gold standard of MDS instruction. Students will have an opportunity to test on-line following the course to become certified through AANAC as a Resident Care Coordinator – Certified. Course presented by AANAC master trainer Becky LaBarge

September 1 & 2 – KDOA Presents MDS 3.0 (click title for brochure)
Pittsburg
12 Contact hours for nurses – 12 CE’s ADM and other professionals

This two day training is a step by step walk through the MDS 3.0 and is designed for the nurses who will be responsible for the MDS process. The course will be taught by Caryl Gill, RN, BSN of KDOA and State RAI Coordinator Vera VanBruggen, RN, BA of KDOA.

September 15 & 16 – KDOA Presents MDS 3.0 (click title for brochure)
Topeka
12 Contact hours for nurses – 12 CE’s ADM and other professionals

This two day training is a step by step walk through the MDS 3.0 and is designed for the nurses who will be responsible for the MDS process. The course will be taught by Caryl Gill, RN, BSN of KDOA and State RAI Coordinator Vera VanBruggen, RN, BA of KDOA.

September 22-24 – AANAC MDS 3.0 RAC-CT Training (click title for brochure)
Topeka
27 Contact hours for nurses – 27 CE’s ADM and other professionals

This MDS 3.0 training is the gold standard of MDS instruction. Students will have an opportunity to test on-line following the course to become certified through AANAC as a Resident Care Coordinator – Certified. Course presented by AANAC master trainer Becky LaBarge

September 29 & 30 – KDOA Presents MDS 3.0 (click title for brochure)
Augusta
12 Contact hours for nurses – 12 CE’s ADM and other professionals

This two day training is a step by step walk through the MDS 3.0 and is designed for the nurses who will be responsible for the MDS process. The course will be taught by Caryl Gill, RN, BSN of KDOA and State RAI Coordinator Vera VanBruggen, RN, BA of KDOA.

October 21 & 22 – KHCA/KCAL 60th Annual Convention and Tradeshow (brochure not available)
Wichita
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