If you haven’t registered for the 69th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, don’t wait any longer. The early bird registration discount ends in just three weeks, July 20. By registering before the early bird deadline, you get the maximum savings possible on your registration package. Online registration is quick, easy, with immediate confirmation. You can also book your housing at the same time. All attendees must be registered for the event before any housing reservations can be made. Additionally, staying within the official AHCA/NCAL housing block will result in $100 discount off your registration fees (exclusions apply, see website). If attendees book housing in the official AHCA/NCAL housing block and later cancel their reservation, the additional $100 registration fee will automatically be charged.
We hope to see you in San Diego, October 7-10.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
NCAL Policy Brief: Innovative Regulatory and Quality Programs for Assisted Living Communities
Lilly Hummel
The National Center for Assisted Living has published a policy brief with three case studies of state efforts to embrace quality measurement and improvement through collaboration for assisted living. The brief demonstrates the importance of partnership between states, assisted living providers and quality experts to improve care. It also emphasizes how quality programs can be integral to effectively targeting limited state resources for oversight. The brief outlines programs from the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living, New Jersey’s Advanced Standing, and the new Oregon initiative to advance quality measures for assisted living, residential care and memory care communities.
The National Center for Assisted Living has published a policy brief with three case studies of state efforts to embrace quality measurement and improvement through collaboration for assisted living. The brief demonstrates the importance of partnership between states, assisted living providers and quality experts to improve care. It also emphasizes how quality programs can be integral to effectively targeting limited state resources for oversight. The brief outlines programs from the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living, New Jersey’s Advanced Standing, and the new Oregon initiative to advance quality measures for assisted living, residential care and memory care communities.
Germs Are the “Move-In” You Don’t Want: AHCA/NCAL’s On-Line Infection Prevention and Control Program Works for Assisted Living Settings Too
Dave Kyllo
The methods for preventing and controlling infections are universal and apply regardless of setting. In other words, what works in health care settings will work in the assisted living setting too.
AHCA/NCAL developed a new comprehensive program to help nursing facility members meet the new infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship requirements now being enforced by CMS. While originally designed for nursing facilities, the Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) course provides education for all healthcare professionals who want to lead infection prevention efforts and prepares individuals to play an active role in the antibiotic stewardship efforts. Antibiotic stewardship is an overarching goal and priority among all health care professionals and is receiving a lot of attention from state and national health care regulators.
AHCA/NCAL’s course is an online, self-study program with 23 hours of training. It includes online lectures, case studies and interactive components taught by subject matter experts who have real life experience working in long term/post-acute care.
The course addresses both clinical and organizational systems, processes and cultural aspects of infection prevention and control that are fundamental to effectively leading and administering successful infection prevention and control programs and antibiotic stewardship programs. Strong and effective infection prevention programs and antibiotic stewardship efforts can set an assisted living center apart from the competition, especially when working with social workers and discharge planners who help seniors with their post-acute decisions
Upon successful completion of this program, participants will receive certificates including 23 ANCC contact hours. The training course registration fee is $450 for AHCA/NCAL members and $650 for non-members. There are no refunds and no transfers.
Payment and registration must be made online in ahcancalED. The IPCO course can be accessed here or at: https://educate.ahcancal.org/p/ipco.
Discounted group purchase rates are available for groups of 25 or more. Those interested in making a group purchase should email AHCA/NCAL at educate@ahca.org.
To access ahcancalED and the IPCO course, members will need to login with their AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords. For assistance obtaining AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords, please e-mail update@ahca.org with your name and facility contact information.
The methods for preventing and controlling infections are universal and apply regardless of setting. In other words, what works in health care settings will work in the assisted living setting too.
AHCA/NCAL developed a new comprehensive program to help nursing facility members meet the new infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship requirements now being enforced by CMS. While originally designed for nursing facilities, the Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) course provides education for all healthcare professionals who want to lead infection prevention efforts and prepares individuals to play an active role in the antibiotic stewardship efforts. Antibiotic stewardship is an overarching goal and priority among all health care professionals and is receiving a lot of attention from state and national health care regulators.
AHCA/NCAL’s course is an online, self-study program with 23 hours of training. It includes online lectures, case studies and interactive components taught by subject matter experts who have real life experience working in long term/post-acute care.
The course addresses both clinical and organizational systems, processes and cultural aspects of infection prevention and control that are fundamental to effectively leading and administering successful infection prevention and control programs and antibiotic stewardship programs. Strong and effective infection prevention programs and antibiotic stewardship efforts can set an assisted living center apart from the competition, especially when working with social workers and discharge planners who help seniors with their post-acute decisions
Upon successful completion of this program, participants will receive certificates including 23 ANCC contact hours. The training course registration fee is $450 for AHCA/NCAL members and $650 for non-members. There are no refunds and no transfers.
Payment and registration must be made online in ahcancalED. The IPCO course can be accessed here or at: https://educate.ahcancal.org/p/ipco.
Discounted group purchase rates are available for groups of 25 or more. Those interested in making a group purchase should email AHCA/NCAL at educate@ahca.org.
To access ahcancalED and the IPCO course, members will need to login with their AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords. For assistance obtaining AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords, please e-mail update@ahca.org with your name and facility contact information.
Congress and White House Unveil New Medicare Benefits for Chronically Ill
Drew Thies
Congress and the Trump administration are working together
to implement new laws that will extend Medicare coverage to individuals with
multiple chronic conditions. The changes seek to deal with long-term illnesses
that often can build on one another and that an increasing number of Americans
face as they age.
The Chronic Care Act, included in a budget approved by the
White House earlier this year, gave the Department of Health and Human Services
authority to extend new benefits under Medicare, such as social and medical
services, home improvements like wheelchair ramps, transportation to doctor’s
offices, and home delivery of hot meals.
“This is a way to update and strengthen Medicare,” said
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who designed and championed the law.
Most of the new benefits will be available for Medicare
Advantage plans, with the intention being that these plans will be tailored to
a patient’s specific needs based on their conditions.
Lawmakers hope that Medicare coverage of comparatively small
and inexpensive items such as infrastructure improvements can save Medicare
money in the long term by reducing costly rehospitalizations.
Decrease Your Odds of Getting the #1 Cited F Tag with AHCA/NCAL’s Highly Rated Infection Prevention and Control Training
Dave Kyllo
The most frequently cited F-Tag in standard nursing facility health
inspection surveys under the new survey process is F880 – Infection Prevention
& Control. Since November 2017 when the new survey process began, more than
one-third of surveys conducted across the nation have included a F880 Infection
Prevention & Control citation.
AHCA’s Infection Preventionist Specialized
Training (IPCO) program is
specially designed to prepare individuals to effectively implement and manage an
Infection Prevention & Control program in skilled nursing centers. It
addresses both clinical and organizational systems, processes and cultural
aspects of infection prevention and control which are fundamental to
effectively leading and administering a center’s Infection Prevention &
Control program.
AHCA’s course is an online,
self-study program with 23 hours of training that meets the educational
requirements outlined by CMS. It includes online lectures, case studies and
interactive components taught by subject matter experts who have real life
experience working in long term/post-acute care. The AHCA program gets
rave reviews with 97 percent of health care professionals who have completed
the course recommending IPCO to their colleagues.
The course addresses
both clinical and organizational systems, processes and cultural aspects of
infection prevention and control that are fundamental to effectively leading
and administering successful infection prevention and control programs and
antibiotic stewardship programs. Upon
successful completion of this program, participants will receive certificates
including 23 ANCC contact hours.
The training course registration fee is $450 for AHCA/NCAL
members and $650 for non-members. There are no refunds and no transfers.
Payment and registration must be made online in ahcancalED. The IPCO course can be accessed here or at: https://educate.ahcancal.org/p/ipco.
Discounted group
purchase rates are available for groups of 25 or more. Those interested in making
a group purchase should email AHCA at educate@ahca.org.
While CMS has
announced plans to offer a free infection prevention training course some time
in Spring 2019, AHCA/NCAL recommends investing in staff training now rather
than waiting at least another year to train staff on the requirements that
already are in effect. Despite the recent CMS training announcement, facilities
will continue to be surveyed on all the new infection prevention and control
requirements and the antibiotic stewardship requirements – the same
requirements leading to the most commonly cited F-Tag since November 2017 under
Phase I and Phase II of the CMS Requirements of Participation and the
implementation of the new survey process.
To access ahcancalED
and the IPCO course, members
will need to login with their AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords. For assistance
obtaining AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords, please e-mail update@ahca.org with your name and facility
contact information.
Avoid the F880 tag. Prepare your center and staff now for success
in infection prevention and control under the new survey process: Register for
IPCO!
$263 Gets Your Job Posting Connected to Nearly 300 Health Care Associations and Professional Societies
Dave Kyllo
An
abundance of qualified health care candidates are looking for jobs on the
national job board network built for health care professionals. Lead them to
your job vacancy through the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care
Career Center. The LTC Career Center is designed to help
members be competitive in attracting qualified candidates to fill their health
care positions.
Rates for
posting job vacancies have never been more affordable. Now through July 31,
open positions can be posted on the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care
Career Center for $263 per 30-day posting when employers use promo code SUMMER25. That’s 25% off the normal low
AHCA/NCAL rate of $350.
The
LTC Career Center gives
unprecedented targeted exposure because it connects with the Health Care Career Network by
providing visibility on the network’s nearly 300 national and state health care
organizations and societies. The Center is also fully integrated with Google’s job
search feature “Google for Jobs” creating greater exposure for job postings.
The
$263 for a 30-day posting gives even more value because employers who utilize
the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care Career
Center
receive free bonus exposure through rotating job listings on AHCA’s home page – the web site
where long term care professionals go for news and information. In addition,
employers who post vacancies through the AHCA/NCAL LTC
Career Center
get extra value through free rotating listings on the Long Term Care
Career Center
home page.
Of course, the LTC Career Center is
always free for job seekers and the LTC Career Center features
many of the best positions the long term care profession has to offer.
Make
the smart, low cost employee recruitment choice. Check out the LTC Career Center today and don’t
forget to use promo code SUMMER25 to
save 25% on your job postings. Employers may use the code up to three times
between now and July 31 on any number of postings.
Call
Robin at 866-964-2765 x2736 for more information about posting job vacancies on
the LTC Career Center and other discounted job listing packages.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Customize Your Convention Experience
Danielle Levitan
You have specific challenges that you
need to address on a daily basis. The AHCA/NCAL Convention
& Expo has targeted education sessions on the
issues that matter to you. Choose from more
than 70 education sessions that are
designed to help you find strategies for tackling even your toughest
challenges.
Rehab therapy
Dementia Care
Post-Acute Care
Quality Improvement
Risk Management
Survey and Regulatory
Workforce
Browse
the education tracks, and make plans to attend.
We also have several different registration
packages for you. Pick the one that’s right for you. But don’t wait.
Early bird registration ends July 20. When you register now
and then reserve your room in an AHCA/NCAL room block, you could save up to
$200!
CMS Continues Mailing New Medicare Beneficiary Cards
Lilly Hummel
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
continues to mail new Medicare cards to all beneficiaries. The change is intended to prevent fraud and identity theft.
CMS has created an informational
page for providers explaining what they need to do to get ready, and
released a timeline
of its mailing strategy. CMS has not yet mailed cards for about half of the
states, which will be ongoing throughout the summer. New Medicare cards are
starting to be mailed to people with Medicare who live in the following states:
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
CMS is in the process of mailing new cards to people who are
new to Medicare and to those who live in the following states and territories:
Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands,
Oregon.
CMS has finished mailing most cards to people with Medicare
who live in: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
and West Virginia. If resident with Medicare in these states did not get
a card, they can be directed here
or to call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227). There might be something that needs
to be corrected, such as updating their mailing address.
The Next Best Thing to a Crystal Ball
Stop shaking those Magic 8-balls hoping for an “outlook good” response. You deserve something more reliable.
Current projections show that the baby boomer generation won’t actually begin needing assisted living and senior care services for another 7 years. "Trends in Senior Housing" will discuss the latest economic trends, payment delivery models, and consumer demands. These expert panelists will enable you with the tools and resources you need to weather the market’s current oversaturation, while still preparing for the silver tsunami that is to come.
Put differently – you cannot afford to miss this session.
NCAL Day is a separate-ticketed event and must be purchased in addition to any convention registration package. Learn more about what NCAL Day at Convention has to offer.
Register by July 20 to save $100 off any Convention package.
And discover what the rest of the 69th Annual AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention has in store for all long term and post-acute care providers at www.NCALConvention.org.
NCAL Day is sponsored by:
NCAL Day at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo offers an insightful closing panel, “Trends in Senior Housing: How Do We Thrive from Now until 2025?” Join us Sunday, October 7 at the San Diego Convention Center for this unique opportunity.
Hear from senior living experts, Dr. David Grabowski from the Harvard School of Medicine and Robert Kramer from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), as AHCA/NCAL President & CEO Mark Parkinson moderates for a direct, focused discussion on how to build a thriving business now and in the future.
Put differently – you cannot afford to miss this session.
NCAL Day is a separate-ticketed event and must be purchased in addition to any convention registration package. Learn more about what NCAL Day at Convention has to offer.
Register by July 20 to save $100 off any Convention package.
And discover what the rest of the 69th Annual AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention has in store for all long term and post-acute care providers at www.NCALConvention.org.
NCAL Day is sponsored by:
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
New MACPAC Report on Medicaid
The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its June 2018 Report to the Congress. Click here to access a copy of the report, which focuses on the following topic areas:
the high cost of prescription drugs;
the opioid epidemic; and
the growing trend of delivering long term services and supports (LTSS) through managed care.
MACPAC issues these reports to inform policymakers, and their topic selection indicates opioid epidemic and Medicaid managed LTSS are hot topics for Medicaid right now.
The first chapter on barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment makes two recommendations to support information exchange among health care providers under the federal SUD confidentiality regulations known as Part 2. Part 2 has been criticized as confusing, restrictive, and challenging to implement; according to the Commission, additional guidance, education, and technical assistance to clarify these regulations would be a meaningful step to help providers, payers, and patients understand their legal rights and obligations and opportunities for information sharing that would facilitate integration of care.
Another chapter on barriers to SUD treatment builds on MACPAC’s June 2017 analysis, Medicaid and the Opioid Epidemic. The new analysis finds that although states already can cover many clinical SUD services, only 12 states pay for the full continuum. And while the institutions for mental diseases (IMD) exclusion often is cited as a barrier to paying for residential services, states can cover residential services under some conditions now through Section 1115 demonstrations and managed care. Eliminating the IMD exclusion would not address other coverage gaps or low participation of SUD treatment providers in Medicaid.
MACPAC also reflects on Medicaid’s role as the nation’s largest payer for LTSS and the growing trend to deliver these services through managed care. While states typically adopt managed LTSS (MLTSS) after gaining experience with managed care for acute care, the complex needs of people who receive LTSS and the wide range of services they use make implementation of MLTSS more complex. The Commission observes that adoption of new quality measures and efforts to improve encounter data have potential to improve evaluation and oversight activities.
the high cost of prescription drugs;
the opioid epidemic; and
the growing trend of delivering long term services and supports (LTSS) through managed care.
MACPAC issues these reports to inform policymakers, and their topic selection indicates opioid epidemic and Medicaid managed LTSS are hot topics for Medicaid right now.
The first chapter on barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment makes two recommendations to support information exchange among health care providers under the federal SUD confidentiality regulations known as Part 2. Part 2 has been criticized as confusing, restrictive, and challenging to implement; according to the Commission, additional guidance, education, and technical assistance to clarify these regulations would be a meaningful step to help providers, payers, and patients understand their legal rights and obligations and opportunities for information sharing that would facilitate integration of care.
Another chapter on barriers to SUD treatment builds on MACPAC’s June 2017 analysis, Medicaid and the Opioid Epidemic. The new analysis finds that although states already can cover many clinical SUD services, only 12 states pay for the full continuum. And while the institutions for mental diseases (IMD) exclusion often is cited as a barrier to paying for residential services, states can cover residential services under some conditions now through Section 1115 demonstrations and managed care. Eliminating the IMD exclusion would not address other coverage gaps or low participation of SUD treatment providers in Medicaid.
MACPAC also reflects on Medicaid’s role as the nation’s largest payer for LTSS and the growing trend to deliver these services through managed care. While states typically adopt managed LTSS (MLTSS) after gaining experience with managed care for acute care, the complex needs of people who receive LTSS and the wide range of services they use make implementation of MLTSS more complex. The Commission observes that adoption of new quality measures and efforts to improve encounter data have potential to improve evaluation and oversight activities.
Register for AcademyHealth's Annual Research Meeting - June 24-26!
AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting (ARM), the premier forum for health services research (HSR), convenes the foremost experts at the intersection of health, health care, and policy to share important findings and showcase the latest research on how the health system works, what it costs, and how to improve it.
The largest meeting of its kind, the ARM is packed with new research, cutting-edge methods, and robust discussions of HSR’s impact on health policy and practice.
Join more than 2,500 attendees June 24-26 in Seattle, Washington, to share and strengthen the evidence needed to inform the decisions that affect the health of individuals and communities.
Learn more and register today here!
Questions? Contact registrations@academyhealth.org.
What: 2018 Annual Research Meeting (ARM)
Where: Seattle, Washington (Washington State Convention Center)
When: June 24-26, 2018
Event Website: www.academyhealth.org/ARM
Where: Seattle, Washington (Washington State Convention Center)
When: June 24-26, 2018
Event Website: www.academyhealth.org/ARM
Snap to It! Your Guide to Planning NALW is Here
Rachel Reeves
Start preparing for the biggest week of the year with the National Assisted Living Week® (NALW) Planning Guide and Product Catalog. This year’s planning guide contains creative activity ideas and spirited products to highlight this year’s theme, “Capture the Moment.” The theme reminds assisted living residents to seize the day while celebrating the past. And reminds staff to focus on the little, everyday interactions that deliver high quality care in America’s assisted living communities.
Some of the suggested activities include:
- Creating a yearbook of the assisted living community’s residents and staff before NALW and then hold a signing party during
- Having a photo booth or backdrop available to take selfies
- Fulfilling a lifelong dream for a resident, perhaps by partnering with an organization like Second Wind Dreams (International Second Wind Dreams Day is September 13)
- Setting up an art activity to have residents draw or paint a key moment in their lives or a self-portrait and then have an art gallery event at the end of NALW
- “Captured in the Moment” awards for staff members who are caught by other staff going above and beyond the call of duty
The guide also links providers to this year’s NALW products, which can also be found in AHCA/NCAL’s online bookstore. Get in the spirit with t-shirts, balloons, posters and more. New to our NALW products this year – women’s t-shirts!
Beginning on Grandparents Day, Sept. 9 and running through Sept. 15, NALW will be celebrated in assisted living communities across the country. It’s an opportunity to thank staff members for their hard work and volunteers for their service. NALW is also a time to help the public better understand how assisted living communities play a crucial role in the larger long term care spectrum as well as the unique experiences and needs of residents.
Stay tuned for a forthcoming media toolkit to help assisted living providers promote NALW in their community.
For more information, please visit www.nalw.org.
Looking for Solutions to Your Toughest Workforce Challenges?
The 2018
AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo has answers.
A stable workforce directly impacts the quality of care you
provide at your centers. That’s why this year’s convention includes an entire track of
programming devoted to workforce issues. You’ll find sessions on recruitment,
retention, Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ), and more. You’ll also share ideas and
concerns with other long term and post-acute care professionals who understand
exactly what you’re facing on a day-to-day basis. You are sure to walk away
with specific strategies and plans to help you create the strong workforce
culture you need to succeed.
Just listen to what some of your peers said after attending last
year…
The AHCA/NCAL
convention…went above and beyond my expectations. The speakers were terrific
and provided me with new ideas for improving employee satisfaction and quality
care.
—Diana Roberts, Administrator, Evans Memorial Home
There is no better conference or opportunity to learn about our profession or to network with peers.
There is no better conference or opportunity to learn about our profession or to network with peers.
—Fred Benjamin, President, SNF Division, Lexington Health
Network
Early bird savings
ends July 20.
Ways to Save: Register for the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo
Jon-Patrick Ewing
If you haven’t registered for the 69th Annual
AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, don’t wait any longer. The early bird
registration discount ends in just four weeks, July 20. By registering
before the early bird deadline, you get the maximum savings possible on your
registration package. Online registration is quick, easy, with immediate
confirmation. You can also book your housing at the same time. All attendees
must be registered for the event before any housing
reservations can be made. Additionally, staying within the official AHCA/NCAL housing block will result in $100 discount off your registration fees (exclusions apply, see website). If attendees book housing in the official AHCA/NCAL housing block and later cancel their reservation, the additional $100 registration fee will automatically be charged.
We hope to see you in San Diego, October 7-10.
It’s Summertime and the Living is Easy with Mood Media
Dave Kyllo
Whether you want to sing Sweet Home Alabama all summer long or the Summer Breeze makes you feel fine, AHCA/NCAL members can create a festive summer atmosphere in their communities through music offered by Mood Media at AHCA/NCAL “Member Only” discounted rates.
Mood Media offers great musical variety for events or casual common area listening via the internet or streaming, and offers customized commercial free music options that allow facilities to tailor musical selections to meet changing resident preferences. Mood customers enjoy freedom from music licensing worries on Mood Media’s huge collection of music selections played on Mood Media‘s portable devices.
Use Mood Media’s music to:
AHCA/NCAL members receive exclusive discounted rates on Mood services and equipment with three-year agreements. The core music package starts at $29.99 per month or about $1 per day with a three-year agreement.
For more information about Mood Media’s services, call 800-345-5000 or go to http://partner.moodmedia.com/ahcancal/ (password: moodpartner).
Whether you want to sing Sweet Home Alabama all summer long or the Summer Breeze makes you feel fine, AHCA/NCAL members can create a festive summer atmosphere in their communities through music offered by Mood Media at AHCA/NCAL “Member Only” discounted rates.
Mood Media offers great musical variety for events or casual common area listening via the internet or streaming, and offers customized commercial free music options that allow facilities to tailor musical selections to meet changing resident preferences. Mood customers enjoy freedom from music licensing worries on Mood Media’s huge collection of music selections played on Mood Media‘s portable devices.
Use Mood Media’s music to:
- Improve the dining experience and set the mood in dining areas as residents gather for meals;
- Provide a variety of background music in common areas;
- Create a positive environment for activities; and
- Provide musical entertainment for social gatherings and happy hours.
AHCA/NCAL members receive exclusive discounted rates on Mood services and equipment with three-year agreements. The core music package starts at $29.99 per month or about $1 per day with a three-year agreement.
For more information about Mood Media’s services, call 800-345-5000 or go to http://partner.moodmedia.com/ahcancal/ (password: moodpartner).
Advance Your Long Term Care Career with ACHCA Administrator Credentialing
Dave Kyllo
Administrators are key players in the long
term care team and are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for our
loved ones. They touch the lives of residents and families, and most
importantly, ensure that their staff provides the highest level of quality care
to a vulnerable population.
AHCA/NCAL partners with the American
College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) for its administrator certification programs. The goals
of the partnership are to increase awareness of advanced certification and
professional growth opportunities and to encourage independent professional
certification for nursing facility and assisted living
administrators/directors.
ACHCA has established eligibility criteria prior to taking the exam, including two years of licensure (other
options exist for assisted living administrators in states without
administrator licensure) and continuing education requirements. Both must be
established before an individual is authorized to sit for the credentialing
exam. While ACHCA membership has many benefits for administrators/directors,
ACHCA membership is not a requirement for ACHCA certification.
The application fee for either the nursing facility or assisted
living certification exam is $150. AHCA/NCAL
members should use AHCA/NCAL members should use code AHCANCAL when they complete their initial ACHCA applications. The
single credential fee (the fee paid after an individual passes the exam) is
only $300 for AHCA/NCAL members, a $50 discount off the regular non-ACHCA
member price when AHCA/NCAL members use promo
code AHCANCAL at checkout.
Credentialing through ACHCA lasts five years. Recertification
involves obtaining 150 hours of continuing education in five areas during the
five-year certification period and paying a recertification fee.
ACHCA certification can provide State
licensure reciprocity with certain states. Licensing rules and requirements
vary by state. Check with your state licensing board for your state’s
reciprocity requirements. A list of state licensure boards and contact
information is maintained on the NAB website at www.nabweb.org.
For more information about ACHCA certification, go to www.achca.org/certification or call 1-800-561-3148.
Get Nationwide Exposure for Your Open Job Vacancies on the National Health Care Career Network for $263 Per Job Posting through July 31
Dave Kyllo
Finding
qualified employees is one of the greatest challenges facing long term care
providers and June’s open job statistics prove that the challenge is only
growing in the strong economy with a decreasing unemployment rate. The
AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care
Career Center
is designed to help members be competitive in attracting qualified candidates
to fill their health care job vacancies.
Rates for
posting job vacancies have never been more affordable. Now through July 31,
open positions can be posted on the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care
Career Center for $263 per posting when employers use promo code SUMMER25. That’s 25% off the normal low
AHCA/NCAL rate of $350.
The
LTC Career Center connects with the
Health Care Career
Network and gives prospective employers far greater exposure than local
ads and job boards by providing visibility on a network of nearly 300 national
and state health care organizations and societies. The Center is also fully
integrated with Google’s job search feature “Google for Jobs” creating greater
exposure for job postings.
There
are 34,282 open jobs posted by direct employers in the nursing care facility
(including SNFs), assisted living, and continuing care retirement community
(CCRC) sectors this month according to the latest CEB TalentNeuron statistics. That represents an increase of nearly
1,000 open positions in the last month that are posted by long term care employers.
The
CEB TalentNeuron statistics also show
an estimated 2,101,000 potential candidates in the nation’s workforce whose
skills likely match the qualifications being sought by long term care employers.
Figures show that 2,271 direct employers are competing for candidates this
month – about the same number as April and May. The average number of days a
job was posted was 34 days in June.
Employers
who utilize the AHCA/NCAL Long Term Care
Career Center
receive free bonus exposure through rotating job listings on AHCA’s home page – the web site
where long term care professionals go for news and information. In addition,
employers who post vacancies through the AHCA/NCAL LTC
Career Center
get extra value through free rotating listings on the Long Term Care
Career Center
home page.
Of course, the LTC Career Center is
always free for job seekers and the LTC Career Center features
many of the best positions the long term care profession has to offer.
Make
the smart, low cost employee recruitment choice. Check out the LTC Career Center today and don’t
forget to use promo code SUMMER25 to
save 25% on your job postings. Employers may use the code up to three times
between now and July 31 on any number of postings.
Call
Robin at 866-964-2765 x2736 for more information about posting job vacancies on
the LTC Career Center and other discounted job listing packages.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Stop the stigma with mental health
Person-centered care is holistic health care - focusing on mind and body.
With mental and behavioral health diagnoses increasing in assisted living, it is imperative that providers understand these diagnoses, how to screen for them, and how to best support residents with these diagnoses.
NCAL Day at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo offers an important education session for any assisted living provider, “Providing Mental Health Care in Assisted Living.” Join us Sunday, October 7 at the San Diego Convention Center for this critical discussion.
The recent, tragic passings of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain remind us that no one is immune from mental health issues. And studies show that depression in older adults tends to be more severe than in other age groups.
Join mental health and quality of life expert, Barbara Speedling to better understand how mental health impacts assisted living residents' physical health and overall well-being.
Barbara Speedling, BS
Author of “Why is Grandma Screaming?” (2014) and “Toward Better Behavior” (2017).
"Providing Mental Health Care in Assisted Living" will also help assisted living providers determine how to screen for mental health diagnoses and develop care plans to provide person-centered, holistic care to residents.
NCAL Day is a separate ticketed event and must be purchased in addition to any convention registration package. Learn more about what NCAL Day at Convention has to offer.
Register by July 20 to save $100 off any Convention package.
And discover what the rest of the 69th Annual AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention has in store for all long term and post-acute care providers at www.NCALConvention.org.
NCAL Day is sponsored by:
With mental and behavioral health diagnoses increasing in assisted living, it is imperative that providers understand these diagnoses, how to screen for them, and how to best support residents with these diagnoses.
NCAL Day at the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo offers an important education session for any assisted living provider, “Providing Mental Health Care in Assisted Living.” Join us Sunday, October 7 at the San Diego Convention Center for this critical discussion.
The recent, tragic passings of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain remind us that no one is immune from mental health issues. And studies show that depression in older adults tends to be more severe than in other age groups.
Join mental health and quality of life expert, Barbara Speedling to better understand how mental health impacts assisted living residents' physical health and overall well-being.
Barbara Speedling, BS
President/Quality of Life Specialist
Innovations for Quality Living
Barbara is a New York-based quality management consultant who provides education, training and support to community, residential and long-term care providers in the development of programs and services to meet a broad range of behavioral health needs.
Author of “Why is Grandma Screaming?” (2014) and “Toward Better Behavior” (2017).
"Providing Mental Health Care in Assisted Living" will also help assisted living providers determine how to screen for mental health diagnoses and develop care plans to provide person-centered, holistic care to residents.
NCAL Day is a separate ticketed event and must be purchased in addition to any convention registration package. Learn more about what NCAL Day at Convention has to offer.
Register by July 20 to save $100 off any Convention package.
And discover what the rest of the 69th Annual AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention has in store for all long term and post-acute care providers at www.NCALConvention.org.
NCAL Day is sponsored by:
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Webinar: Finding the Balance--Enhancing Self-Efficacy in Persons Living with Dementia
June 26, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Register for the event
Few attributes of personhood are more zealously protected than self-determination, and few fears more troubling than losing one's independence. For people with dementia this can be particularly intense. Using stories taken from more than 30 years of experience, geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Susan Wehr will illustrate why preserving autonomy and enhancing self-efficacy in people with dementia are important. She will discuss ways professionals can support individuals living with dementia—and their families—in making decisions, even in the context of diminished decision-making capacity.
Registration and Details
Registration is required to receive the webinar information. Visit the webinar information webpage to sign up and learn more. If you are interested but unable to attend, the webinar recording will be available at nadrc.acl.gov.
Register for the event
Few attributes of personhood are more zealously protected than self-determination, and few fears more troubling than losing one's independence. For people with dementia this can be particularly intense. Using stories taken from more than 30 years of experience, geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Susan Wehr will illustrate why preserving autonomy and enhancing self-efficacy in people with dementia are important. She will discuss ways professionals can support individuals living with dementia—and their families—in making decisions, even in the context of diminished decision-making capacity.
Registration and Details
Registration is required to receive the webinar information. Visit the webinar information webpage to sign up and learn more. If you are interested but unable to attend, the webinar recording will be available at nadrc.acl.gov.
AALNA/NCAL Caring Together Webinar: Talking the Talk: Having Difficult Conversation on LGBT-Related Topics
Lindsay Schwartz
Please join us for our quarterly AALNA/NCAL Caring Together Webinar, Talking the Talk: Having Difficult Conversation on LGBT-Related Topics, on June 19th 3:00 – 4:00pm Eastern. Caring for older adults often involves having difficult conversations, and these talks can be even more stressful when they touch on issues related to a person’s sexual activity, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. Many care providers are hesitant to raise issues related to same-sex sexual contact, gender expression, and LGBT relationships. Interacting with family members can add an additional layer of stress, especially if they are not comfortable with the older adult’s LGBT identity, sexual behavior, gender identity, or gender expression. This session is a safe and supportive space for participants to work through our tips for discussing LGBT identity in a respectful manner. We will work through conversations like: how to conduct LGBT affirming intake, how to apologize if you inadvertently use a disrespectful term, how to discuss a resident’s sexual behavior with their family members, how to advocate for a resident’s right to express their gender in the manner of their choosing, how to advocate for a resident’s right to control who can visit them, and how to address instances of bias between community members.
Webinar Speaker: Tim R. Johnston, Ph.D., is the Director of National Projects at Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE). He is responsible for directing SAGE’s national training initiatives, developing training curricula and providing consulting services to both aging and LGBT service providers. In addition to training, Tim oversees key national grants and projects, such as SAGE’s National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the US Administration for Community Living’s Senior Medicare Patrol Integration project, and elements of SAGE’s National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative.
Please register for the webinar here.
Please join us for our quarterly AALNA/NCAL Caring Together Webinar, Talking the Talk: Having Difficult Conversation on LGBT-Related Topics, on June 19th 3:00 – 4:00pm Eastern. Caring for older adults often involves having difficult conversations, and these talks can be even more stressful when they touch on issues related to a person’s sexual activity, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. Many care providers are hesitant to raise issues related to same-sex sexual contact, gender expression, and LGBT relationships. Interacting with family members can add an additional layer of stress, especially if they are not comfortable with the older adult’s LGBT identity, sexual behavior, gender identity, or gender expression. This session is a safe and supportive space for participants to work through our tips for discussing LGBT identity in a respectful manner. We will work through conversations like: how to conduct LGBT affirming intake, how to apologize if you inadvertently use a disrespectful term, how to discuss a resident’s sexual behavior with their family members, how to advocate for a resident’s right to express their gender in the manner of their choosing, how to advocate for a resident’s right to control who can visit them, and how to address instances of bias between community members.
Webinar Speaker: Tim R. Johnston, Ph.D., is the Director of National Projects at Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE). He is responsible for directing SAGE’s national training initiatives, developing training curricula and providing consulting services to both aging and LGBT service providers. In addition to training, Tim oversees key national grants and projects, such as SAGE’s National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the US Administration for Community Living’s Senior Medicare Patrol Integration project, and elements of SAGE’s National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative.
Please register for the webinar here.
Wonder How Alzheimer’s Disease Affects the Brain?
The National Institute on Aging at NIH has released a video that shows how Alzheimer’s affects the brain. This short video is a great resource to share with staff and family to better understand the impact of Alzheimer’s on residents.
AHCA/NCAL Convention Offers More Than 20 Tracks of Learning
Jon-Patrick Ewing
The
AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo is
designed to help you tackle the specific challenges you are facing today.
Improving lives by delivering solutions for quality care is the main goal. With
over 20 different tracks of learning, you are sure to get exactly what you need
and walk away with specific strategies you can implement back home immediately.
Browse all the sessions available
to you over the four days of convention. From workforce issues to the
Requirements of Participation, you'll find the solutions and ideas you seek.
Don’t
miss the Sunday, October 7, intensive session on the new Patient-Driven Payment Model (PMPD). AHCA
will present a 4-hour intensive session (repeated on Wednesday, October 10) at
this year's Convention & Expo that will help you understand what this means
for you and how to best prepare. The PDPM intensive will include an in-depth
training on the PDPM payment system. Especially important is that a member tool
kit will be introduced that will contain the core competencies framework as
well as a readiness review tool that will help you track your operational
readiness for PDPM. The intensive will also cover data gathered from 12
companies testing impacts of PDPM and provide hospital and discharge pattern
data that could be helpful in member markets. This session is reserved
for long term and post-acute care providers only.
Register today and save! The early bird registration deadline in July 20.
Register today and save! The early bird registration deadline in July 20.
Provider Reporting of Adverse Legal Actions
Lilly Hummel
As part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’
(CMS) ongoing focus to reduce provider burden, the agency
announced it no longer requires Medicare payment suspensions and
CMS-imposed Medicare revocations to be reported. The announcement specifies
which Final Adverse Actions must continue to be reported and how to do so.
Final Adverse Actions should be reported by Medicare providers and suppliers
with new or unreported actions and those individuals listed on an application
as having managing control or an ownership interest. The official
instructions to Medicare Administrative Contractors are also available.
AHCA Responds to Regulatory Concerns from State AGs
Drew Thies
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) sent a letter to
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma last week responding to
concerns the there has been a “rollback” of regulations on skilled nursing
facilities.
The letter is in response to a May 30 letter sent by 17
state attorneys general (AG) to CMS saying that federal oversight over SNFs has
weakened during the Trump administration. AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson
said in the association’s letter that the AG complaints are based on outdated
facts and ignore the purpose of the regulatory changes, which is to improve the
lives of SNF residents.
David Gifford, MD, senior vice president of quality and
regulatory affairs for AHCA, says, “We were surprised and disappointed” by the
way the AGs contextualized the changes CMS made. Dr. Gifford also spoke to the
increasing quality in SNFs, particularly in relation to the AHCA Quality
Initiative, which started in 2012.
“[T]he data from CMS do not support their claim that these
changes have made care worse or that stronger penalties will help improve care,”
he said.
AHCA will continue to educate lawmakers about the quality
improvements made in the SNF profession and the regulations providers must
abide by.
Demonstrate Your Geriatric Nurse Competency with Gero Nurse Prep
Dave Kyllo
AHCA/NCAL Gero
Nurse Prep
does much more than just prepare RNs to take the American Nurses
Credentialing Center
(ANCC) board certification exam in gerontological nursing.
It
increases experienced RNs’ knowledge of gerontological nursing practice. Gero
Nurse Prep students see a whopping 24 percent average increase on their pre-
and post-test scores.
The
statistics prove it. Gero Nurse Prep grads know more about gerontological
nursing. Taking the AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep course does
obligate a RN to sit for the ANCC Board certification exam. Registered nurses who
are interested in increasing their knowledge of gerontological nursing practice
can simply complete the AHCA/NCAL Gero
Nurse Prep
course earn 30 CEUs, and increase their skills and knowledge of geriatric
nursing.
AHCA/NCAL Gero
Nurse Prep
is also designed to thoroughly prepare RNs to take the ANCC board
certification exam in gerontological nursing. It does that. RNs who complete
the Gero Nurse Prep program have a passing rate of 96 percent on the ANCC exam
on their first try.
ANCC
is the world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization
and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. Less than one percent of
America’s RNs are board certified in gerontological nursing. That means having
an ANCC Board certified RN can easily give providers an edge in the
marketplace.
AHCA/NCAL Gero
Nurse Prep
is affordable at $690 for 30 CEUs worth of high quality training that gets
results. For RNs interested in pursuing Board certification through ANCC, that
cost is an additional and separate cost of $395.
Watch this video
to learn more about AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep and build a strong
geriatric nursing team with AHCA/NCAL Gero
Nurse Prep.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
From Chaos to Focus: The Quality Initiative is Your Answer
Lyn Bentley, MSW
What was your first reaction when you heard about the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative? Did you wonder if the Washington, D.C., atmosphere (however you might choose to define that) had gotten into the heads of association leadership? No, it’s not about D.C. It is all about the survey, regulatory and payment changes that have been impacting long-term care at the state and federal level. We have heard from many members that “there is just too much going on – where do I start? How do I do it all? And, oh, by the way, the residents need my focus!”
We agree that times are challenging and we believe that focusing on the Quality Initiative goals will help you to have a plan for meeting many of the challenges.
Nursing Centers
The goals of reducing hospitalizations, increasing customer satisfaction, improving functional outcomes, and reducing antipsychotics are strongly related to your success with the following national priorities:
Assisted Living Communities
The goals of improving staff stability, improving customer satisfaction, reducing hospital readmissions, and reducing antipsychotics all play an important role by:
What was your first reaction when you heard about the AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative? Did you wonder if the Washington, D.C., atmosphere (however you might choose to define that) had gotten into the heads of association leadership? No, it’s not about D.C. It is all about the survey, regulatory and payment changes that have been impacting long-term care at the state and federal level. We have heard from many members that “there is just too much going on – where do I start? How do I do it all? And, oh, by the way, the residents need my focus!”
We agree that times are challenging and we believe that focusing on the Quality Initiative goals will help you to have a plan for meeting many of the challenges.
Nursing Centers
The goals of reducing hospitalizations, increasing customer satisfaction, improving functional outcomes, and reducing antipsychotics are strongly related to your success with the following national priorities:
- The IMPACT Act, which requires reporting data about standardized measures across post-acute care settings;
- The Quality Reporting Program;
- Being part of preferred provider networks;
- Achieving compliance with regulatory requirements;
- Achieving a good Five-Star rating; and
- The SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program
Assisted Living Communities
The goals of improving staff stability, improving customer satisfaction, reducing hospital readmissions, and reducing antipsychotics all play an important role by:
- Preparing providers for possible reimbursement changes based on quality outcomes;
- Focusing on current national priorities and key indicators of quality care;
- Encouraging efficiency with health care dollars;
- Promoting consistent data measurement with continuing tracking;
- Highlighting the importance of goal setting with sustainable improvement; and
- Fostering person-centered care
Last Chance to Nominate for AHCA & NCAL Awards - Deadline Extended to June 15!
Time is running out to nominate a long
term
- Volunteer
of Year - 3 categories: Group, Adult
and - ID/DD
Hero of the Year
- Not
for Profit Program of the Year
- Not
for Profit Trustee Award
- Adminstratrator
of the Year
- Nurse
of the Year
- Caregiver
of the Year
- National
Assisted Living Week Programming Award
Jan Thayer Pioneer Award
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated dedication and leadership and made considerable contributions to the senior care profession.
Recipients receive a free trip to
San Diego!
The selected recipients of the awards listed above will be recognized in front of thousands of their peers at the 69th AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention and Expo held in San Diego, October 7-10, 2018. Recipients receive complimentary registration to the convention, round-trip airfare, and hotel accommodations. Additional programming and networking events will be available to the honorees.
Give them the national spotlight! This is the ultimate way to thank and honor a valuable team member for quality caregiving.
We look forward to reviewing your nomination! The deadline for all awards program nominations is Friday, June 15, 2018.
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