“In addition, CMS, in partnership with the CDC, is rolling out an online, self-paced, on-demand Nursing Home COVID-19 Training focused on infection control and best practices. The training being offered has 23 educational modules and a scenario-based learning modules that include materials on cohorting strategies and using telehealth in nursing homes to assist facilities as they continue to work to mitigate the virus spread in their facilities. This program supplements training already underway to better equip nursing homes to contain and stop the spread of COVID-19. The training is a requirement for nursing homes to receive the additional funding from the Provider Relief Fund Program.“The training will be available to all 15,400 nursing homes nationwide along with specialized technical assistance to nursing homes who have been found to have infection prevention deficiencies in their most recent CMS inspection and had recent COVID-19 cases based upon their data submissions to CDC. A certificate of completion is offered and recognition badges can be downloaded for nursing homes to display on their website.”
Friday, July 31, 2020
CMS Required Training Coming for Additional Provider Relief Funds
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Urgent Action Needed - Submit Information on Your Assisted Living Community to HHS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering a possible distribution of CARES Act Provider Relief Funds to private-pay assisted living/memory care providers that are stand-alone or part of a CCRC, located in the U.S states and territories. NCAL, Argentum, ASHA, and LeadingAge are assisting HHS in an effort to collect the necessary information from these providers through a private, secure data collection portal to help ease a potential future distribution of application funds. At this time, we have no guarantee such a distribution will happen, nor are we aware of an allocation methodology, if such a distribution were to occur. However, providing HHS with this data is an important step forward, and we appreciate your help in being responsive to their request. Providers should submit the relevant data into this portal by Monday, August 3 at 5 pm Eastern Time.
Data Submission Portal Information
Who is eligible to submit information?
We encourage private-pay assisted living and memory care providers that are stand-alone or those part of a CCRCs in the U.S. states and territories to submit their data. Please note that some states may use different terminology (e.g. personal care homes, supportive living facilities, etc.) to describe their licensed assisted living-type providers. All of these providers are encouraged to submit their information. For purposes of this portal, the term licensure also includes assisted living and memory care communities registered or certified by the state. Submitting your data does not guarantee you will receive or be eligible to receive a payment. You do not need to be a member of one of our senior living trade associations to participate in this secure and confidential data-collection effort.
What data must be submitted?
- Name of licensed/registered/certified assisted living and/or memory care community
- Name of entity that holds the license/registration/certification
- Address
- Community license/registration/certification number (some states may not provide a number)
- Corresponding Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Taxpayer ID Number for the filing company
- Contact information for the person submitting data
- Include licensed assisted living that is part of a CCRC or a skilled nursing facility (SNF), even if the SNF has already received funding from the Provider Relief Fund.
All of the above information should be submitted either manually or by uploading a specific file (see instructions for details) in the secure data collection portal . You will need to create an account. Please complete all the fields to ensure your submission will be accepted. Incomplete submissions will likely result in a delay in their inclusion.
What is the deadline to submit data?
Please submit the requested data into the secure data collection portal by Monday, August 3 at 5 pm ET.
Thank you for your quick action in support of this vital aid to our industry. If you have any questions, please contact us at ncal@ncal.org.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Point-of-Care Antigen Tests: What SNFs Need to Know
- Quidel Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA
- BD Veritor System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2
CMS Issues SNF QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet
CMS Updates MDS RAI Contacts List
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Use the Free Test Drive of the CARES® Online Dementia Training Program to Introduce New Staff to Person-Centered Dementia Care
Give Your Staff the Real-World Tools They Need to Improve Functional Outcomes
- Module 1 – Explores the connection between functional outcomes and person-centered care, and how utilization of evidence-based pragmatic programs leads toward continuous improvement.
- Module 2 – Reviews the regulations related to functional outcomes including the CMS Requirements of Participation and how functional improvement impacts reimbursement.
- Module 3 – Covers best care coordination practices for short- and long-stay patients, including coordinating with therapy processes, and provides an overview of effective restorative nursing programs.
- Module 4 – Closely examines care practice application and what individuals can do to increase function, team engagement and concludes with a discussion of various quality initiatives that lead to better outcomes.
- Module 5 – Reviews the tools and resources needed to further functional outcomes improvement approaches to person-centered care.
AHCA/NCAL’s Infection Preventionist Training Includes Bonus Covid-19 Content
CMS SNF PDPM Interrupted Stay Claim Issue Workaround Announcement
- Bill two months at a time, or
- Bill a month plus the days in the following month that span the interrupted stay plus 1 day
Monday, July 27, 2020
Survey for Residents on COVID Nursing Home Experience
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Public Health Emergency Extended
CMS Releases List of Nursing Homes Prioritized for POC Testing Instrument
HHS FAQ Updates on Auditing and Funds Transfers
- A financial audit conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (45 CFR 75.216); or
- A Single Audit in conformance with the requirements under 45 CFR 75 Subpart F.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Preliminary Provider Relief Fund Reporting Guidance Released
These reporting instructions will provide directions on reporting obligations applicable to any provider that received a payment from the following PRF distributions. The reports will allow providers to demonstrate compliance with the T&Cs, including use of funds for allowable purposes, for each PRF payment. HRSA plans to provide recipients with Question and Answer (Q&A) Sessions via Webinar in advance of the submission deadline. Additional details will follow regarding the Q&A Sessions.
HHS also provides dates for reporting. The reporting system will become available to recipients on October 1, 2020. All recipients must report within 45 days of the end of calendar year 2020 on their expenditures through the period ending December 31, 2020. However, recipients who have expended funds in full prior to December 31, 2020 may submit a single final report at any time during the window that begins October 1, 2020, but no later than February 15, 2021. Recipients with funds unexpended after December 31, 2020 must submit a second and final report no later than July 31, 2021.
Four Strategies to Help Long Term Care Providers Navigate the Impacts of COVID-19 on Healthcare Costs
- Education is key
Businesses need to pay more detailed attention to their health plan spending and manage healthcare benefits with the same level of care and scrutiny as they would to other expenses within their business. Spend some analytical energy understanding why costs have been exceeding the benchmark.
Educating employees about their healthcare options will also lead to cost savings in the long run. Providing care navigation services that help them understand what kind of healthcare and treatment options they should receive will allow them to seek care at a fair price and reduce unnecessary appointments or procedures. - Preventative care
Employees of long-term care facilities are doing their best to provide preventative care to their patients amidst a pandemic. Promoting preventative care for the health and wellbeing of the employees themselves is a way to show that they are valued and supported by their healthcare plan and by their employer.
A business that pushes preventative care both within the workplace and through preventative services offered in a healthcare plan will not only recruit and retain new employees but will save in the long run. - Promote technology
Offering telehealth options to employees will not only boost revenue but reduce healthcare costs for the employee. As we face an uncertain future, the promise of health care in virtual form will ensure that employees are still receiving the care they need. - Consider new healthcare plans
There is no better time to rethink and redesign your health benefit options to employees. Given that COVID-19 has hit long-term care facilities the hardest, it is important that health benefits be used as a tool to retain and recruit employees.
A Better Way for PT/OT Professionals to Address Functional Decline in SNF Patients
- Screen all patients for safe participation in high intensity rehabilitation
- Establish an appropriate high intensity plan of care for eligible patients
- Execute effective and engaging rehabilitation sessions informed by high intensity rehabilitation strategies
- Perform ongoing monitoring of patient response to activity and adapt high intensity plans of care throughout the length of stay
- Communicate and document completely and efficiently to facilitate continuity of care
- Identify current gaps in care for older adults that high intensity rehabilitation can address and advocate for its use in the skilled nursing setting
Registration Is Now Open for the 71st AHCA/NCAL Virtual Convention & Expo
- Infection Control and Prevention
- Person-Centered Care
- Behavioral Health
- Clinical Care
- Assisted Living
- ID/DD and Not for Profit
- Workforce Solutions
- Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
- Reimbursement
- Technology and Innovation
- Quality Improvement
- Post-Acute Care
- PDPM