ID/DD Digest: April 2019

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Join AHCA/NCAL on Capitol Hill to Raise Your Voice and Advocate for Quality Care

When you attend and participate in Congressional Briefing, you have the invaluable opportunity to meet and discuss key issues with your Members of Congress and their staff. Don’t miss the chance to discuss your concerns face to face. Contact your state affiliate to set up your meetings today.

New speakers are also being added every day! See the complete agenda and get all the details at cb.ahcancal.org.

Registration for the 70th AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo Is Now Open

This year’s jam-packed, four-day event honors you —the superheroes, warriors, and champions of quality care! Prepare to take on your toughest challenge in a single bound…From PDPM to changes in Five-Star to the new Rules of Participation, you’ll get concrete solutions and strategies that will make you feel like you have super powers:

· Extraordinary education sessions for SNF, AL, and post acute care providers and staff. Earn CEs, network, and learn from your peers.

· Super speakers, like Opening Keynote Speaker Doris Kearns Goodwin, World-renowned Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning Author.

· An out-of-this-world Expo Hall with hundreds of business partners providing demonstrations of the latest industry products and services.

Fill your toolbox with fresh ideas, inspiration, and action plans. Bring your staff and your family. There’s something for everyone. Visit AHCAConvention.org for details and hotel information.

AHCA Awards Program Nominations Are Open!

We are now accepting entries for the AHCA Awards Program. AHCA honors individuals who are committed to improving the quality of life for residents. Categories include:

· ID/DD Hero of the Year

· Not for Profit Trustee of the Year

· Not for Profit Program of the Year

· Volunteer of the Year

o Young Adult (Ages 13-19)

o Adult

o Group

Nominations packets are available on AHCA's website now through June 7, 2019. We encourage AHCA members take the time to submit a nomination to recognize those making a difference in the long term care industry. Honorees will be recognized at AHCA/NCAL's 70th Annual Convention and & Expo in Orlando this October.

We Need You for Our New Social Media Initiative

AHCA/NCAL is beginning a new social media advocacy initiative this year and is encouraging all members to get involved. The effort focuses on improving the overall image of the post-acute and long term care profession by sharing positive stories and pushing back on pieces that attempt to tie all providers to isolated negative events.

AHCA/NCAL will be sending interested members tips for getting more involved on social media, best practices for posting content, sample posts, and a roundup of positive stories about the profession on a regular basis. Individuals who want to get involved should email socialmedia@ahca.org to get on the mailing list. AHCA/NCAL is encouraging all members to get involved.

The campaign also will include a rapid response to stories that are unfairly negative about the profession or do not accurately portray the reality of post-acute and long term care. AHCA/NCAL hopes to build on these successes as the year continues. With thousands of buildings nationwide who touch the lives of millions of people, there is the chance to seriously affect the way the profession is viewed and treated by lawmakers and the media.

‘Live Soulfully’ Announced as 2019 Theme for National Skilled Nursing Care Week

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) recently announced “Live Soulfully” as the 2019 theme for National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), which will be held May 12-18. The theme “Live Soulfully” will celebrate skilled nursing centers, and their residents and staff, by showcasing how they achieve happy minds and healthy souls. Whether it’s planting, cooking, reading or listening to music, these centers pay it forward by helping individuals find happiness to improve quality of life. Centers will be encouraged to participate by hosting activities that display how they “Live Soulfully” and share their stories and experiences on social media.

“Each and every person in our profession makes an impact on the lives of our residents,” said AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “National Skilled Nursing Care Week celebrates our centers and caregivers for their tireless everyday work caring for others.”

Established by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in 1967, NSNCW, formerly known as National Nursing Home Week, recognizes the essential role of skilled nursing care centers in caring for America’s frail, elderly, and disabled. Skilled nursing care centers and members of the public can download NSNCW promotional materials at www.ahcancal.org/NSNCW and are encouraged to share activities, ideas, and experiences for the observance on social media using the hashtag, #NSNCW. AHCA will issue a planning guide and product catalog in late February. For more information on National Skilled Nursing Care Week, visit www.ahcancal.org/NSNCW.

New CMS Guidance on HCBS Settings Rule

CMS has issued new guidance to states that address several issues regarding the HCBS Settings rule. CMS will have an FAQ training session on Thursday, March 28 from 1:30-3:30ET. You can register here to attend this training.

This guidance leaves unchanged the regulatory requirement that states send for CMS heightened scrutiny review those HCBS settings that are (1) co-located with an institutional setting, (2) in a building located on the grounds of or immediately adjacent to a public institution (e.g., county-owned nursing center), or (3) any other settings that have the effect of isolating beneficiaries.

The guidance provides some clarity on the following:

· CMS clarifies the factors it will consider in determining whether a setting may have the effect of isolating individuals.

· CMS does not consider rural settings automatically presumed to be isolating and subject to heightened scrutiny. For settings in a rural area, just like for settings in any geographic area, states should refer to the factors used to determine whether a setting may have the effect of isolating individuals.

· Given the large number of settings that are required by regulation to undergo heightened scrutiny, CMS will conduct its heightened scrutiny review via a random sampling process. The agency provides some detail on the random sampling selection, the three possible CMS responses to a review, and when states can provide CMS with additional information. CMS also provides a more detailed list on what information states should submit to CMS for those settings randomly selected to undergo heightened scrutiny review.

· States are not expected to assess an individual’s private residence for compliance with the settings criteria when that resident receives non-residential HCBS. Additionally CMS does not require, but states have the option to require, that individuals receiving non-residential HCBS must reside in a compliant setting. For example, this could apply if a person receives adult day services but lives in a non-compliant setting.

Providers of Medicaid HCBS should stay tuned for new information from their state affiliates and Medicaid or Aging Departments.

ICF/IID Reports

AHCA's Research Department has released the following June 2018 updates for use by AHCA/NCAL members (Login Required):

· LTC Stats: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) Standard Health Survey Report, June 2018

· LTC Stats: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID), Facility and Resident Characteristics, June 2018

The standard health survey report includes Emergency Preparedness (E-tags) this year for the first time. If you have any questions relating to these reports, which include important ICF/IID state and national data, please contact AHCA’s Research Director, Kiran Sreenivas.

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds a monthly call or webinar concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability. One of the past calls focused on resources for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers. Information about future calls, and audio recording of previous ones, can be found here.

About AHCA/NCAL

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represent more than 13,700 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day.