Join KHCA, KAHSA, KACE and KDOA in these FREE regional meetings.
There is no charge to attend but please register on-line so the host homes know how many attendees to expect.

Regional Roundtables with will feature Audrey Sunderraj, MBBS, Director of Survey & Certification
with the Kansas Department on Aging and your regional manager. Click here for registration information.

Agenda

1. Introduction to your regional surveyor and to Audrey Sunderraj – Director of Survey and Certification.

2. Review KDOA org chart - because of the many retirements, layoffs, promotions and restructuring at KDOA, this is your chance to make sure contact list is up to date.

3. Discuss the QIS survey process – take a look at the trends across the state such as how long is the average survey? What is the average number of deficiencies? And much more.

4. Open Dialog about the survey process.

October 20, 2011
Lawrence
Pioneer Ridge
1-3pm

October 24, 2011
Salina
Holiday Resort
1-3pm

October 28, 2011
Hays:
Whiskey Creek Restaurant
1-3pm

November 14, 2011
Wichita
Larksfield Place
1-3pm

November 21, 2011
Chanute
Chanute Health Care
2-4pm

On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, the KHCA/kcal staff will be traveling to Wichita to prepare for the Denim and Diamonds Convention and Tradeshow. If you need to reach staff, please email mailto:khca@khca.org. Don’t forget to download your handouts by clicking here. Handouts will not be available on site. The tradeshow is sold out, the registration area is filled with fun displays, the education schedule is top notch and we have over 350 people registered. This year KHCA/kcal will really sparkle.                                   

On Tuesday, October 11, at 7 p.m. (CT), be sure to watch (or record for later viewing) the Republican Presidential debate in New Hampshire as the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the New Hampshire Health Care Association (NHHCA) team up as lead sponsors with media hosts Bloomberg TV and The Washington Post. On behalf of everyone in long term care, and those who are friends of LTC, participating in this debate will open new avenues for long term care messages, such as “Care Not Cuts,” with the candidates themselves and in a national forum. The debate will be broadcast globally by Bloomberg TV and streamed live at the washingtonpost.com web site. The associations were able to submit potential questions and provide long term care TV spots for airing during the debate. These same spots will be seen on local sponsor WBIN-TV, which broadcasts to the Boston, MA and Manchester, NH markets
.
Acclaimed interviewer Charlie Rose will moderate this debate-in-the-round and open discussion by asking candidates to explain their job-creation proposals. Candidates participating in the debate include Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

CMS recently issued a memo to state survey directors clarifying the use of Civial Monitary Penalty (CMP) funds by States. 

Memorandum Summary states: 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Approval: States must obtain CMS approval for the use of any CMP funds through either:
*  Categorical Approval:  The use has been identified by CMS via written policy as an acceptable use that does not require prior approval. See Section D for the initial list of categorically-approved uses, or;
*  Prior Approval:  States must receive prior approval from CMS for any CMP use that is not currently on the list of pre-approved categorical uses.  

State Options to Enlist Many Entities:  States may direct collected CMP funds to a variety of capable organizations so long as funds are used in accordance with statutory intent and the use is approved by the CMS. Click here for the full report.
 

The Office of Inspector General's ( OlG ) Work Plan sets forth various projects to be addressed during the fiscal year by the Office of Audit Services, Office of Evaluation and Inspections, Office of Investigations, and Office of Counsel to the Inspector General. The Work Plan includes projects planned in each of the Department's major entities: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the public health agencies; the Administrations for Children & Families; and Administration on Aging. Information is also provided on projects related to issues that cut across departmental programs, including State and local government use of Federal funds, as well as the functional areas of the Office of the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS). Some of the projects described in the Work Plan are statutorily required, such as the audit of the Department's financial statements, which is mandated by the Government Management Reform Act.

OIG does not provide additional details on jobs to be undertaken or information on the status of jobs contained in its Work Plan. For example, although estimated issue dates are provided in the Work Plan, we would not provide revised estimates or current status.

The areas involving nursing homes include:

Nursing Homes

Medicare Requirements for Quality of Care in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Safety and Quality of Post-Acute Care for Medicare Beneficiaries (New)

Nursing Home Compliance Plans (New)

Oversight of Poorly Performing Nursing Homes

Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness and Evacuations During Selected Natural Disasters

Medicare Part A Payments to Skilled Nursing Facilities

Hospitalizations and Rehospitalizations of Nursing Home Residents

Questionable Billing Patterns During Non-Part A Nursing Home Stays (New)

For detailed information click here.