As part of Secretary Sullivan and KDOA's efforts to better their relationships with providers, KDOA has created a survey to get KHCA/kcal members' feedback. Please provide KDOA with your comments by participating in this survey.  Click HERE to participate.  The survey results will be anonymous, so you are encouraged to be as honest as possible.

After 32 years of service to Kansas, Bill McDaniel has decided to retire.  A reception will be held Friday, March 4th, beginning at 3:30 in the party room (ground floor) at Bosco's (5th and Kansas).  The attached flyer contains the details. Cards and stories about your interactions with Bill would be greatly appreciated.

PASRR is required on every NF admission regardless of payer source.  Only NF PASRR/CARE trained staff complete section A & B at admission if the resident admits without it.  Out-of-state residents need to admit with a PASRR or have one completed.  The only exception to PASRR is if the individual has a terminal illness or coma as certified by the physician.  Call KDOA CARE Division 785-291-3359 if you have questions regarding PASRR.  

KDOA has been working with AAA’s and NF’s to develop a web-based referral process for CARE assessments.  By developing this referral process we hope to eliminate errors and mis-communication that can lead to Medicaid payment issues for NF’s.  The goal is to have the form self-populate as much information as possible with drop down and check mark boxes to save time.  This web-based referral process would also serve as a tracking tool for the NF’s to ensure the CARE referral was sent.

The significant change language related to MDS 3.0 is located at the KDOA Provider website:  http://www.aging.state.ks.us/CARE/Alerts/Resident_Review_Memo_MDS3-0.pdf

KDOA training regarding PASRR/CARE will be mornings in March, April, or May.  Call your local Area Agency on Aging to register and receive free CEUs.  

Attention:  The attached link provides access to CARE/PASRR information.  The CARE Newsletter for CARE Assessors will be posted in March and September only.  Future CARE Assessor Training, Alert information and valid proofs of PASRR will be included.

The annual due date for cost report submission to KDOA is nearing. Submission of the Nursing Facility Financial and Statistical Report is due February 28, 2011, and can be downloaded online at KDOA’s website. It is more important than ever that an accurate bed count by category (NF, AL, IL) be included on the cost report.

Instructions for reporting the data to KDOA, as well as the required forms (available in Microsoft Excel format) can be found on the KDOA website  .  All NF providers that have operated a facility for 12 or more months on December 31 shall file a calendar year cost report. Get more information here  on the cost report.

KDOA conducted 292 annual surveys of nursing homes in 2010.  Of those, 18 ( 6.2%) were deficiency free, while 20.9% included a G or greater deficiency.  On average, KDOA cited 9.8 deficiencies per survey. The 3 most prevalent G+ deficiencies were:  F314 Pressure Sores, F325 Nutrition Status, and F323 Accidents and Supervision. 

The 3 most frequently cited deficiencies overall were:  F329 Unnecessary Drugs, F279 Comprehensive Care Plans, and F371 Food Procure/Store/Prepare/Serve.  A comprehensive report on 2010 Nursing home survey trends including new data on deficiencies by survey district is available here. (When prompted, click use evaluation version to open this file.)

This is to notify you that the KSFM Fire Facts are now available for review and download. 
Thank you for your patience and understanding during the past few months while they were taken offline for revisions.

To access:
From our main page:  www.ksfm.ks.gov
Click the prevention tab
Then click the link for “Codes, Rules & Laws” (right side)
You will find a link for the Fire Facts from that page

Here is a the direct link
http://www.ksfm.ks.gov/fire-facts/

Amanda Yorkey
Program Consultant
Kansas State Fire Marshal
 
700 SW Jackson, Suite 600
Topeka, KS 66603
 
785-296-0659 phone
785-296-0151 fax

PROVIDER UPDATE
To: Medicaid Nursing Home Providers
From: NF/PACE Division
Subjects: 
* CORRECTION: Provider Assessment  Reporting Information
* Update on Revised Rate Implementation
Date: February 18, 2011

CORRECTION: Provider Assessment Reporting Information

In our update dated February 3, 2011 (redistributed today via email) we directed providers to accrue both the provider assessment expense and the anticipated revenue enhancements related to 2010 into the 2010 cost report.  We have since received feedback from some accountants that doing so would improperly report income and expenses since both were tied to an approval that was not made until February 2, 2011.  They have suggested instead that the income and expense be reported for 2011.  Please work with your accounting advisors to determine the reporting method for your home.  However, if you do report the expense on the Medicaid cost report it should be reported on line 181 and the entire expense should be adjusted out as it will not be used in the calculation of per diem rates.  The Medicaid share of this expense will be passed through to providers as a lump sum payment when the assessment is paid.

Update on Revised Rate Implementation

We expect to begin implementing the revised rates that were distributed last week on Monday, February 21, 2011.  HP Enterprises, our fiscal intermediary, has indicated that they will process rate updates one quarter at a time each week.  Therefore on Monday we will update the July 1, 2010 rates and mass adjustments for that quarter will begin processing.  Providers should see an adjustment for each previously adjudicated claim, with a date of service between July 1, 2010 and September 30, 2010, on their remittance advice dated February 24, 2011.  We expect to continue the rate update/mass adjustment process with updates for the October 1, 2010 quarter the week of February 28, 2011.  We expect to complete the process the week of March 7, 2011 with updated rates for the January 1, 2011 quarter.  If this time line changes we will provide notice as soon as possible.

New England Building
503 South Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS  66603-3404

phone:  785-296-4986
fax:  785-296-0256
wwwmail@aging.ks.gov
www.agingkansas.org

CMS has announced that states will not be required to implement  Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Programs by April 1, 2011. The new implementation date will be announced when the final rule is issued later this year.

AHCA submitted comments on RACs, with one of our chief concerns being the imposition of an additional audit program that will result in duplicative auditing, excessive administrative and processing costs, and increased disruption to the operation of providers and the provision of care. We are pleased that CMS has delayed the implementation date for the program. We understand that several states have requested waivers from the program and we hope that CMS will be taking this time to reexamine Medicaid RACs and provide positive responses to those waiver requests.
 

Kansas Health Care Association/Kansas Center for Assisted Living CEO Cindy Luxem lead a team from Kansas to meet with newly elected representatives on behalf of AHCA/NCAL. Others from Kansas included in the trip were  Sedgwick Healthcare Center Administrator Kevin Crowley and Lakepoint of Wichita co-owner Warner Harrison. One of the stops on the tour was with Freshman Congressman Mike Pompeo.

Today is the deadline for submitting your Brozen Application materials.

BRONZE – COMMITMENT TO QUALITY LEVEL
Applicants are assessed by their ability to describe their mission, characteristics,
and key challenges and to recognize the relationship of these factors to their
ability to achieve performance improvement.

The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award is public recognition of your facility’s quality achievements. The application process itself delivers great benefits, including:
• Gaining a true picture of your mission, goals, and customer expectations;
• Assessing and maximizing your facility’s strengths;
• Applying systematic approaches that produce consistent results across operations;
• Receiving customized feedback and solutions to improve performance;
• Increasing your performance management, planning, training, and assessment proficiencies; and
• Validating and securing the links between continuous improvement, quality, and customer satisfaction.

KFMC would like for your organization to produce a 2-3 minute video promoting patient safety in your organization and send (via CD/DVD) to KFMC by March 3, 2011.

Every healthcare setting has an impact on the overall delivery of safe healthcare. We want consumers to know that keeping them safe when they trust us to care for them is important. The Kansas Foundation for Medical Care, Inc. (KFMC) invites you to show your spirit! We invite Kansas Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Physician Offices and Home Health Agencies to get involved in this very important week.

This is a fun contest that will provide a platform to show your community and peers throughout the state that your team is dedicated to patient safety. Give your staff a chance to show their pride, use their creativity (the sky is the limit), and promote patient safety in a fun teamwork-friendly way. All entries will be judged by a panel of Kansas stakeholders, the winner will be announced during Patient Safety Week and will receive $500 toward an educational intervention to enhance patient safety.
For more information, click here.