Every quarter, nursing facilities are required to submit staffing information through the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) system. To ensure accurate reporting, providers are encouraged to review PBJ reports prior to tomorrow's Nov. 14 reporting deadline.
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On Friday, Nov. 1, CMS released the 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update, which includes significant changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting requirements for nursing homes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, nursing homes will be required to electronically report information about COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This will replace the current nursing home COVID-19 reporting requirements to NHSN that are set to sunset on Dec. 31, 2024.
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Every quarter, nursing facilities are required to submit staffing information through the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) system. To ensure accurate reporting, providers are encouraged to review PBJ reports prior to the Nov. 14 reporting deadline.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has announced resources for reporting the annual health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccine summary for the 2024–2025 influenza season. These include several resources and upcoming webinars.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the Oct. 2, 16 and 30 issues of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include a newly noticed rule regarding the Home- and Community-Based Services Subsidy Program and numerous regulatory analyses.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen has endorsed two new recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding COVID-19 and pneumonia vaccines.
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Beginning on Oct. 1, 2024, CMS added a new item, O0350, to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) to indicate whether a resident’s COVID-19 vaccination is up-to-date. To code this item accurately, long-term care staff will need to stay current with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 vaccinations.
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On Oct. 16, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an updated warning regarding Cue Health’s COVID-19 tests due to the risk of false results. If you have Cue Health COVID-19 tests, the FDA recommends that you stop using them immediately and dispose of the entire test cartridge in your general waste. Providers should retest patients using a different FDA-authorized test if an inaccurate result is suspected from a Cue COVID-19 test.
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The October 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) reported an issue with the data reported on the SNF Provider Threshold Report. This report allows providers to monitor their compliance status of the required data submission for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). At this time, the report has not yet been updated to align with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 data submission requirements, which may result in the number and percentage of Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessments submitted in compliance to be lower than expected.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the January 2025 refresh. Providers have until Nov. 14, 2024, to review their performance data. Only updates/corrections to the underlying assessment data before the final data submission deadline will be reflected in the publicly reported data on Care Compare.
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Several boards under the purview of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) have received reports from their licensees of scam calls and letters stating that their Iowa license is under investigation and facing suspension.
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The August 2024 edition of the Long-Term Care Survey Manual is now available. This updated edition is crucial for long-term care facilities to ensure compliance with the latest standards set by the July CMS guidance, effective Aug. 8, 2024.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory to inform health care providers of a supply disruption of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and intravenous (IV) solutions from the Baxter International’s North Cove Facility in North Carolina, due to Hurricane Helene. The supply disruption may impact patient care and require adjustments to the clinical management of patients. Health care providers should immediately assess their supply and develop plans and mitigation strategies to reduce the impact on patient care.
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Due to the IV fluid and sterile solutions supply chain issues, UnityPoint Health has implemented evidence-based conservation strategies throughout its health system. However, it anticipates its current supply of IV fluids and other sterile solutions will continue to decrease before supply returns to normal inventory levels. UnityPoint asks its skilled nursing and long-term care facility partners to join its efforts during this time by administering oral hydration in nursing facilities first, if the patient can tolerate it, before sending them to the ER for fluids.
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The October 2024 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for tomorrow, Oct. 17, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
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Starting Oct. 4, 2024, a new acute respiratory illness metric has replaced the influenza-like illness (ILI) metric on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Respiratory Illness Data Channel. This new metric offers a more comprehensive measurement of both the “big three" respiratory viruses (COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus) and other respiratory infections. Long-term care facilities are encouraged to use this metric to guide infection prevention and control measures.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network's (NHSN's) simplified Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF) Respiratory Pathogens and Vaccination Module is live. The prior six forms for reporting have decreased to two forms with the new module. Individuals are now considered up-to-date for their COVID-19 vaccine if they have received a single dose of the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF’s) October 2024 Newsletter is now available. Topics in this issue include National Depression Screening Day resources, COE-NF In-Action update, a Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTCmed) and COE-NF collaborative podcast, nursing facility guidance regarding requirements for using psychotropic medications, a depression zone tool, upcoming education events and more.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host a respiratory surveillance webinar for the 2024-2025 influenza season this Friday, Oct. 11, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) is offering complimentary infection preventionist (IP) training courses. The Long-Term Care Infection Preventionist Essentials, held Oct. 29-31, provides foundational education required for the role of the IP and explores best practices of being an effective IP in a long-term care setting. This course includes guidance for IPs to create and manage successful infection prevention and control programs and mitigate both health and regulatory risk at your facility.
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Unlock vital mental health skills and join one of the upcoming Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) October training events to gain essential knowledge in suicide prevention and trauma-informed care. Each evidence-based session is led by expert speakers and offers ACCME and NAB credits.
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The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Carver College of Medicine and The State Hygienic Lab, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, will host eight interactive, discussion-based exercises over the next year. These exercises will focus on raising awareness and improving the response of hospitals and long-term care facilities to multidrug-resistant organism threats across the state of Iowa.
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Facilities must be ready to respond to a variety of emergencies, including extreme weather events and workplace violence. To aid in this effort, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response's Technical Resources, Assistance Center and Information Exchange (ASPR TRACIE) has released new and updated health care preparedness resources. These resources are designed to help facilities comply with CMS emergency preparedness requirements and enhance their overall readiness.
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Long-term care (LTC) facilities are invited to register for the next year of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS') LTC Open Office Hours. These sessions, hosted by Iowa DHHS' Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program, are a complimentary resource to share important public health information with leaders in long-term care organizations.
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The September 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the Sept. 18 issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include newly noticed rules regarding employer records and reports and health care employment agencies and technology platforms.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced upcoming webinars to review changes to the Resident Data Collection Form and the definition of "up to date" for weekly COVID-19 vaccination reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). These changes are anticipated to go into effect on Monday, Sept. 30. Webinars will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Tuesday, Oct. 1.
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CMS has released a new document titled the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual Version (v) 1.19.1R Hyperlink Update Supplement. It is now available in the downloads section on the CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual page. This document serves as a supplementary list of links in the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.19.1 that require updates as identified throughout the lifetime of the document.
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Last week, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services updated the employee manual related to Medicaid resources. In this update, it revised the average monthly statewide cost of nursing facility services. The average monthly statewide cost of nursing facility services is used to determine the penalty period for transfer of assets.
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The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.19.1R Hyperlink Update Supplement is now available in the downloads section on the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual webpage. This is an informational document that includes hyperlinks that have been identified as requiring an update over the lifetime of the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.19.1, effective Oct. 1, 2024.
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OSHA has issued a final rule updating the Hazard Communication Standard (Haz-Com Standard) to align with the seventh revision of the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The rule was published on May 20, 2024, and became law on July 19, 2024. This updated standard is an opportunity for all long-term care centers to update their labels, Safety Data Sheets and training.
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IHCA invites nursing facility members to review the facility-specific Your Top-Line reports in LTC Trend Tracker, which include the most recent updates to the CMS Care Compare website. New in this quarterly report is an analysis and explanation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM)-based staffing calculations, as well as a review of your facility’s current staffing as it relates to the CMS minimum staffing standards requirements.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is offering two free training opportunities in September for all nursing facility staff. These trainings include Understand the Science of Addiction and Recovery on Sept. 19 and Mental Health First Aid on Sept. 27.
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On Friday, Sept. 6, CMS issued a press release indicating that it and Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS) are notifying people whose protected health information or other personally identifiable information may have been compromised in connection with Medicare administrative services provided by WPS. WPS processes Medicare Part A and Part B claims in various locations around the country.
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Four additional CMS skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing (SNF VBP) measures take effect Oct. 1, 2024 that will determine Medicare Part A rates beginning Oct. 1, 2026. These measures are in addition to the four measures already in place that impact rates starting on Oct. 1, 2025. AHCA is offering a one-hour course that details the new CMS measures and discusses how CMS calculates VBP measures, risk adjustment, facility score and payment adjustments.
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CMS is offering an updated series of web-based training courses that provide an overview of the assessment and guidance to promote accurate coding of the post-acute care cross-setting Section GG data elements. Each course contains interactive exercises to test your understanding.
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The Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed) is offering $100 to administrators who complete a crucial survey on the cost/benefit of vaccinating in skilled nursing facilities or assisted living communities. This survey, conducted through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded cooperative agreement, aims to better understand the operational value — beyond the positive clinical outcomes — of immunizing residents and staff.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Quality Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 6.0, Change Table, Risk Adjustment Appendix File, Imputation Appendix File and Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC) to International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 Crosswalks are now available. These documents serve as an update to the specifications used to calculate quality measures that are included in the SNF QRP effective Oct. 1, 2024.
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With the triple threat of influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) looming as schools start and fall arrives, early and thorough preparation is essential to protect your residents and staff. By taking proactive steps now, you can significantly reduce the impact of respiratory viruses in your facility this winter. IHCA shares a checklist to guide your readiness efforts, with key recommendations based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for long-term care settings.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. These vaccines are specifically formulated to target currently circulating variants. With the approval of these COVID-19 vaccines, alongside the already approved influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines, long-term care providers should contact their pharmacy or vaccine supplier to arrange ordering for administration this fall.
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Join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) on Monday, Sept. 16, at noon, for an overview of the latest respiratory virus vaccination recommendations, testing and treatment guidance and infection prevention strategies.
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CMS originally released the October 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) Preview Reports on July 15, 2024, with a preview period that continued through Aug. 14, 2024. CMS recently discovered that a technical glitch prevented the posting of SNF Preview Reports for swing bed providers. Because of this, CMS has decided to allow a second preview period for all SNF providers. The technical issue has been corrected and the October 2024 SNF Preview Reports are now available for all providers.
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The August 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The CMS Skilled Nursing Facility/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum has been cancelled for Sept. 5, 2024. The CMS registration webpage has been updated.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) has partnered with the American Medical Director’s Association (AMDA) to host two evening webinars. These interactive sessions present an opportunity for medical directors, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and nursing home leaders to collaborate and consider opportunities to improve care for residents experiencing substance use disorders and/or serious mental health illness. Join COE-NF and AMDA today at 5:00 p.m. for its webinar, "Exploring Options: Pain Management for Patients with Substance Use Disorder."
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CMS recently issued the final rule for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) fiscal year (FY) 2025 update. AHCA has developed a summary of the final rule and CMS has provided a fact sheet.
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Beginning Aug. 8, 2024, surveyors will begin evaluating the updated requirements to the facility assessment. IHCA is sharing an updated facility assessment template with members, which was created and shared by Health Quality Innovators, the Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for Kansas.
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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS’) Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program recently released an algorithm to assist long-term providers in their decision-making processes related to enhanced barrier precautions (EBP).
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After several months of very low COVID-19 activity in Iowa, cases are on the rise again. To help leaders respond to positive cases in their facilities, IHCA has provided resources, including IHCA's COVID-19 Clinical Guidance Summary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infection Prevention and Control Guidance, information on test kits from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, free personnel protective equipment supplies from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and more.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is offering eight free training opportunities in August for all nursing facility staff. Two of the webinars will take place today - "Practical Strategies for Managing Behavioral Health Needs of Nursing Home Residents" and "AMDA Roundtable Webinar: Exploring Options - Pain Management for Patients with Substance Use Disorder."
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With the Aug. 8, 2024, deadline quicky approaching, IHCA reminds members of the need to include new requirements in their unique Facility Assessments, as outlined in the CMS Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting. IHCA has prepared Facility Assessment Update Guidance to assist members in their efforts to integrate the new elements into their existing Facility Assessments.
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The July 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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In May, CMS issued the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) final rule. The rule included expanded regulatory requirements for nursing facility assessments, effective Aug. 8, 2024. AhcancalED offers a new resource, Strengthening Facility Assessments to Adapt to Regulatory Changes, which explains the regulations, CMS guidance, operational considerations and examples of what facilities have used to implement the new requirements.
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On July 12, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a medical alert regarding increased risk of heat related illness for persons taking antipsychotic medications. Individuals receiving antipsychotic medications are at particular risk of heat stroke and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) during periods of extreme heat. Children and the elderly are at increased risk.
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The July 2024 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the October 2024 refresh. Providers have until Aug. 14, 2024 to review their performance data.
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CMS recently developed and published webinar materials for the Overview of the Early Look Performance Score Report for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program from the webinar held on May 2. Webinar materials include the slides, recording, transcript and answers to participants’ questions.
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The Gero Nurse Prep course offered by AHCA/NCAL significantly increases registered nurses' gerontological nursing competency test scores.
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Leadership from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) recently shared that recertification survey timing may be off schedule for the remainder of this fiscal year while it works to achieve compliance with its performance measures. Members should keep this in mind when approaching survey preparedness actions. Maintaining all survey entrance information in anticipation of an early survey is recommended.
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On Monday, CMS released QSO-24-14-NH regarding updates coming on July 31, 2024, to Nursing Home Care Compare and the public data.cms.gov website. The updates accommodate previously announced changes that CMS made public in September 2023.
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Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) staffing data for Q2 2024, April 1 – June 30, 2024, is due by 10:59 p.m. on Aug. 14. Skilled nursing providers are advised to submit their data early and consult the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their submissions.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and CMS have released two new rules advancing protections against discrimination in health care. Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities goes into effect on July 5, and Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance goes into effect on July 8. Providers must take action to ensure compliance with these rules.
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On June 26, CMS posted an unpublished version of the Proposed Rule: Calendar Year 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Quality Reporting Program Requirements; etc. to the Federal Register. This proposed rule includes a requirement to continue reporting resident-level data for long-term care facilities (i.e., nursing homes) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). If finalized, beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, facilities would be required to electronically report information about COVID-19, influenza and RSV in a standardized format and frequency.
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Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated recommendations for COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines. Providers should contact their pharmacies and begin the process of ordering vaccines for the upcoming season.
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CMS notes it has identified phishing scams for medical records. This may include scammers faxing providers fraudulent medical records requests to obtain patient records. If you think you received a fraudulent or questionable request, work with your medical review contractor to confirm if it is real. Submit medical documentation through the Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD) system or CMS medical review contractor secure internet portals, when available.
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On June 27, AHCA and 11 other national organizations sent a letter to CMS administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging the agency to withdraw its proposal to increase enforcement through excessive civil monetary penalties (CMPs).
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the June 26, 2024, issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include human services department and professional licensure division updates.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is offering six free virtual training opportunities in July. The next training, "Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training" will take place next Tuesday, July 9.
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Earlier this year, legislators voted to change the training requirements for mandatory reporters in Iowa. Effective July 1, 2024, mandatory reporters of both child and dependent adult abuse will be required to complete the full two-hour training course every three years to maintain current certification. Based upon this recent change in rules, the one-hour renewal course will no longer be available after June 30, 2024.
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The facility assessment requirements were revised under the “Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting” final rule, effective August 8, 2024. AHCA has recently developed a new resource to assist skilled nursing facilities in preparing to meet the new requirements of the facility assessment.
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Antipsychotic medications remain an area of high focus for CMS, as seen during surveys, ongoing quality measures in the Five-Star Quality Rating program and the recently implemented schizophrenia audits. To support member efforts to manage antipsychotic use, the AHCA Clinical and Regulatory Team has refreshed the Antipsychotic Medication Management Toolkit. This toolkit includes a variety of evidence-based tools that may be used by members in quality improvement efforts. In addition to the main toolkit, there are three fact sheets and a separate case study for staff education.
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The June 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working in partnership with Mathematica and the Harkin Institute to improve community-based services in Iowa. To inform these efforts, it is conducting a survey among providers to learn more about services and supports needed to enable people with long-term service and support needs to stay in their communities.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites you to attend town halls for the Iowa Solutions for Aging with Independence and Longevity (IA SAIL) project as they work toward building a multisector plan on aging within the state. The town hall sessions are open to the public and are an opportunity to share insights, give suggestions and discuss concerns as DHHS works to meet the needs of Iowans in all phases of the aging process.
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Yesterday, CMS released the revised guidance for the Long-term Care Facility Assessment regulation (QSO-24-13-NH), as part of the federal staffing mandate finalized last month.
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Providers of post-acute health care services have been employing minors for decades. Now more than ever, employers in the long-term care, assisted living and home health settings are broadening their workforce options with young people under the age of 18 to meet the demands of their customers, combat the impact of a national workforce shortage and provide a gateway to future health care careers. Although employment of young people is beneficial to patients/residents, the system and the employees themselves, complicated federal and state rules can cause confusion and increase regulatory compliance risk for employers.
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CMS reports they continue to see a significant increase in the number of complaint investigations being conducted. This increase is due to several factors, including catching up from delays in surveys related to the pandemic. There are several approaches facilities can take to resolve grievances and reduce complaints being reported to state survey agencies. Having an effective grievance resolution process is the best way to stay ahead of complaints and resolve any concerns residents and/or families may have when they occur.
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The ICHC survey committee reviewed the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) surveys that were performed and published from the first quarter of 2024 (January-March 2024).
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the June 12, 2024, issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include licensure, continuing education and practice requirements for social workers and discipline when standard of care is not met.
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Within the past week, several IHCA members have reached out with questions about notices received from their learning management systems related to dependent adult and child abuse mandatory reporter certification. IHCA has provided further clarification to ensure providers understand the ongoing requirements for mandatory reporter recertification.
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As tornadic activity has been making headlines right here in Iowa this spring, long-term care facilities and assisted living programs should be assessing their preparedness for such events. This includes reviewing procedures, mitigating hazards, providing training and testing plans through drills and exercises.
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CMS has posted the draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.19.1. The MDS 3.0 RAI User's Manual v1.19.1 will be effective beginning Oct. 1, 2024.
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The Q1 2024 Life and Fire Safety survey trend report is now available on the IHCA Member Resource Portal. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Citations for reporting of abuse, specifically that which involves resident-to-resident altercation, have intensified in Iowa nursing facilities over the past five years — often rising to harm or immediate jeopardy scope and severity. IHCA has developed a list of areas commonly cited that facilities should consider as it relates to reporting allegations, as well as various abuse reporting and behavioral health resources.
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NCAL’s Infection Prevention and Control 101 for Assisted Living is an online 35-minute course that reviews what an effective assisted living infection prevention and control (IPC) program should include, the role quality improvement plays in assisted living IPC, the importance of understanding IPC precautions and identifies the key stakeholders who should engage in an IPC program.
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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) to provide a complimentary webinar, "Recognizing and Investigating an Outbreak in Your Facility," on Wednesday, June 12, from noon – 1:00 p.m.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is offering eight free training opportunities in June. The next training, titled "Building a Better Suicide Risk Assessment: The Nuts and Bolts of the Columbia Protocol C-SSRS" is Wednesday, June 12, at 1:00 p.m.
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Join Telligen QI Connect this June for its monthly educational events. The next event is tomorrow, June 6, at noon and will cover pneumonia vaccines in nursing homes. Topics of other June events include root cause analysis, quality essentials, substance use disorders, antibiotic stewardship and more.
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The June 13 CMS Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum has been cancelled. The CMS registration webpage has been updated to reflect this cancellation.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly area of note found in the May 29, 2024, issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin includes agency realignment within the Human Services Department.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in...
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and CMS recently issued a final rule, Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities, which advances protections against discrimination in health care. The purpose of the rule is to restore protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability. AHCA/NCAL has developed a member summary that highlights the impacts on long-term care providers.
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Facilities are required to report abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment of residents to state survey agencies, such as the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, as outlined in F609. IHCA has provided examples of methods to protect residents and AHCA has prepared an abuse and neglect webinar, which can be found on AHCANCALEd. The webinar includes tip sheets on each abuse f-tag, including F609.
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The May 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. Bi-weekly areas of note include discipline, licensure and continuing education for nursing home administrators.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
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All quarter one 2024 Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. tonight, May 15. Providers are advised to submit data early and consult the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their submissions. If any errors are detected, they must be corrected prior to the final submission deadline. Please note that corrections are not accepted after that date.
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Survey preparedness occurs throughout the year and facilities should strive to be always “survey ready.” There are extra considerations that should be taken to prepare when you are in your survey window. In this article reviews survey preparation tips, as well as items that should be included in your facility's survey notebook to ensure a seamless survey process.
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Each year, F600 (Free from Abuse and Neglect) continues to be one of the top cited F-tags and is frequently cited at a Jeopardy level scope and severity. AHCA has reviewed Immediate Jeopardy citations and pulled out key takeaways to create tip sheets.
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Last week, AHCA member centers received a special edition of the Your Top-Line Report from LTC Trend Tracker. In addition to the usual data provided, this report focuses on minimum staffing and uses Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data to outline how your facility meets each of the final rule requirements today. The report outlines compliance deadlines for each requirement (for reference), hours needed to meet each requirement (if not met) and possible census decrease to meet the requirement. The report also details whether your center is urban or rural for purposes of this rule, which impacts the compliance deadline imposed. AHCA's LTC Trend Tracker is a free service available to all IHCA members.
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To help connect members to the wide variety of resources AHCA makes available, the AHCA Quality and Regulatory team created a consolidated list of currently available regulatory tools. Included in this comprehensive resource are various tip sheets, guides, webinars, online education courses and more! The resources are organized according to the regulations outlined in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual and links are embedded in the document for ease of navigation.
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The May 16 CMS Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum has been cancelled.
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Save the dates for two upcoming webinars on enhanced barrier precautions (EBPs) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC Townhall: Understanding EBPs will take place next Wednesday, May 22, and EBP Open Office Hour with AHCA and the CDC will take place on Wednesday, June 5. These webinars are designed for anyone involved with or working in long-term care facilities who seeks to deepen their understanding of EBPs.
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Some infectious diseases can spread easily in communal health care settings, and it is important for leaders and clinicians to recognize the definitions and indicators of outbreaks and be prepared to respond efficiently when these situations arise. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) to provide a complimentary webinar, Recognizing and Investigating an Outbreak in Your Facility, on Wednesday, June 12, from noon - 1:00 p.m.
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CMS is offering a four-minute, animated explainer for skilled nursing providers titled, “Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Items: Using Sources Other Than the Resident to Code.” This video is intended to assist providers in accurately determining when the use of other sources is allowed for SDOH items: A1005. Ethnicity, A1010. Race, A1110. Language, A1250. Transportation, B1300. Health Literacy and D0700. Social Isolation.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
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The Gero Nurse Prep course offered by AHCA/NCAL significantly increases registered nurses' (RNs’) gerontological nursing competency test scores.
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Although some specific areas of implementation remain unknown at this time, IHCA has recently updated guidance to assist members in their understanding of the federal staffing rule and provide implementation assistance. This guidance will be updated as more information becomes available. Additionally, AHCA hosted a webinar for members to illustrate the provisions of the Final Rule. A complimentary recording of the webinar is available for AHCA members to review.
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IHCA reminds members of the upcoming Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) submission deadline. All quarter one 2024 PBJ data must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. next Wednesday, May 15. Providers are advised to submit data early and consult the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their submissions. If any errors are detected, they must be corrected prior to the final submission deadline. Please note that corrections are not accepted after that date.
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What is a Manual Minimum Data Set (MDS) Change Request Form and how does this apply to you? Chapter five of the Resident Assessment Index (RAI) Manual v1.18.11 outlines the correction policy for the MDS. For MDS assessments that have been completed, submitted and accepted in Internet Quality Improvement Evaluation System (iQIES), facilities should correct any errors necessary to ensure that the information in iQIES accurately reflects the resident's identification, location, overall clinical status or payment status.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. Bi-weekly areas of note found in the May 1, 2024, issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include standards for certificate of need review and the certificate of need program.
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The Center of Excellence in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) invites you to an exclusive series unlocking the complexities of schizophrenia in long-term care, coupled with essential suicide prevention training. The next webinar will take place tomorrow, May 9, and will cover differential diagnosis.
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Telligen has partnered with the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CSPESN) to assist nursing facilities with vaccination clinics. Through this partnership, pharmacies and their Quality Innovation Network – Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) partners will manage the majority of work associated with offering a vaccine clinic. In addition to COVID-19, they also offer pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
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Dentons Davis Brown recently released two articles that may be of interest to members regarding payroll rounding policies and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
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On March 20, 2024, CMS released QSO-24-08-NH, which required nursing homes to adhere to enhanced barrier precaution (EBP) guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although some specific areas of implementation remain unknown at this time, IHCA has recently updated guidance to assist members in their understanding of EBP and provide implementation assistance.
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IHCA reminds members of the upcoming Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) submission deadline. All quarter one 2024 PBJ data must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2024. Providers are advised to submit data early and consult the staffing reports in CASPER to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their submissions. If any errors are detected, they must be corrected prior to the final submission deadline. Please note that corrections are not accepted after that date.
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CMS requires that a certified nursing assistant (CNA) perform at least a day of nursing or nursing-related duties every 24 months. IHCA reminds members to review and update, if necessary, the listing of actively employed CNAs found under their organization’s login on the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) database. Members unable to report electronically should develop an internal process to report CNAs at least every two years.
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The April 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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CMS will host an Overview of the Early Look Performance Score Report for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program tomorrow, May 2, at 1:00 p.m. This educational webinar will provide an overview of the SNF VBP Program’s new Early Look Performance Score Reports, including the data used and the methodology employed to model results in the reports, the contents of the reports and instructions to access your facility’s report.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites post-acute providers to attend the 2024 Iowa Infection Prevention and Control Conference on May 7 and 8 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. This two-day, in-person conference brings together medical professionals invested in the improvement and management of evidence-based infection prevention and control principles. This program will be of particular interest to infection preventionists, medical directors and providers, nurses and allied health professionals involved in the advancement of infection prevention in the post-acute setting.
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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum, originally scheduled to take place May 2, has been rescheduled to May 16 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. A bi-weekly area of note found in the April 17, 2024, issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin includes a newly noticed rule regarding health care employment agencies.
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On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Final Non-Compete Rule and U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Overtime Rule were released. AHCA/NCAL commented on the proposed rules during the open comment periods and has developed a summary of the final rules, as well as their potential impacts on long-term care providers.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
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Earlier this week, the White House announced the release of the minimum staffing requirements. IHCA provides a high-level outline of the provisions regarding the final staffing rule. Additionally, AHCA/NCAL's minimum staffing final rule webinar recording is now available.
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The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) recently released a summary regarding the final Medicaid Access Rule. Additionally, NAHC will host a Medicaid Access Rule webinar tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m.
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The ICAL COVID-19 Clinical Guidance Summary for assisted living (AL) and residential care facilities (RCFs) has recently been updated. Members are encouraged to review the summary and take note of new updates.
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In September 2023, CMS released a memo outlining anticipated updates to Care Compare. Members are reminded that many of these changes will be present in this week’s refresh of Care Compare. Related to the October 2023 Minimum Data Set revisions, quality measures (QMs) and staffing ratings will be adjusted. Additionally, CMS has revised the staffing rating methodology related to providers who fail to submit complete or erroneous staffing data.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services project, Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME), will use Iowans’ input to improve home and community-based services (HCBS). People who need or use HCBS, caregivers, service providers, case managers, advocates and community members are encouraged to participate in a brief 10–20-minute poll to offer feedback on the proposed changes to HCBS waivers. Please submit your feedback by Friday, May 17, 2024.
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In July 2019, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) introduced updated mandatory reporter training modules for child and dependent adult abuse, updating the renewal cadence requirement from five years to three and allowing any mandatory reporter training completed prior to July 1, 2019, to remain valid for five years. As we approach the five-year anniversary of the rule change, members are reminded that mandatory reporters with certificates issued prior to July 1, 2019, should update their training certificates with the newer version of the DHHS-approved training, which can be found on IHCA’s on-demand education platform.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites post-acute providers to attend the 2024 Iowa Infection Prevention and Control Conference on May 7 and 8 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. This two-day, in-person conference brings together medical professionals invested in the improvement and management of evidence-based infection prevention and control principles. This program will be of particular interest to infection preventionists, medical directors and providers, nurses and allied health professionals involved in the advancement of infection prevention in the post-acute setting.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
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Post-acute providers, such as nursing facilities, assisted living programs, residential care facilities and home health agencies, along with other provider types in Iowa, are required to complete both criminal background checks and dependent adult/child abuse registry reviews using the SING platform prior to employment of an individual. Provider types not required by state rules to complete background checks and/or abuse registry reviews may not be allowed access to the SING platform at the current time. Therefore, IHCA recommends that members partner only with health care employment agencies that are registered with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) due to the risk of incomplete background check and abuse registry reviews.
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The April assisted living (AL) and residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites medical professionals to attend the virtual 2024 Annual Governor’s Conference on Substance Use, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery next Tuesday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 24.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites post-acute providers to attend the 2024 Iowa Infection Prevention and Control Conference on May 7 and 8 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. This two-day, in-person conference brings together medical professionals invested in the improvement and management of evidence-based infection prevention and control principles. This program will be of particular interest to infection preventionists, medical directors and providers, nurses and allied health professionals involved in the advancement of infection prevention in the post-acute setting.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology is offering a complimentary long-term care infection preventionist (IP) virtual training on May 8-10. This intensive, foundational course provides training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings. Meeting CMS minimum regulatory requirements for IP training, it also grounds the novice IP in their role and develops a broad understanding of IPC management to drive successful outcomes.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP).
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The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) recently evaluated and reassigned program coordinator territories. Members are encouraged to review the updated map outlining the newly designated service areas. Although there is no immediate action required by providers, this change may impact the primary point of contact for some nursing facilities.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently updated recommendations for U.S. suppliers of plastic syringes, consumers, health care providers and facilities.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites medical professionals to attend the 2024 Annual Governor’s Conference on Substance Use, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery on April 23 and 24. The purpose of the conference is to establish a meaningful dialogue among health professionals by focusing on trending topics, best practices and strategies for addressing barriers in behavioral health. This year’s conference will be hosted virtually to enable professionals from many geographical areas to participate.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS') Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) Program team offers an opportunity for nursing home leaders to learn more about HAI-related topics each month with its Long-Term Care Office Hours Call. Hosted by Dr. Andrew Hennenfent, DHHS Program Manager, this complimentary 30-minute call takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at noon and provides an open forum for attendees to learn more about hot topics and ask questions related to infection prevention and control. The next call is Tuesday, May 7.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites post-acute providers to attend the 2024 Iowa Infection Prevention and Control Conference on May 7 and 8 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. This two-day, in-person conference brings together medical professionals invested in the improvement and management of evidence-based infection prevention and control principles. This program will be of particular interest to infection preventionists, medical directors and providers, nurses and allied health professionals involved in the advancement of infection prevention in the post-acute setting.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering a complimentary long-term care infection preventionist (IP) virtual training on May 8-10. This intensive, foundational course provides training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings. Meeting CMS minimum regulatory requirements for IP training, it also grounds the novice IP in their role and develops a broad understanding of IPC management to drive successful outcomes.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP). Although board certification is not required, gaining this credential is a way for the individual infection preventionist and their organization to show their commitment to infection prevention and control best practices.
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On March 20, 2024, CMS released QSO-24-08-NH, which required nursing homes to adhere to Enhanced Barrier Precaution (EBP) guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although some specific areas of implementation remain unknown at this time, IHCA has prepared guidance to assist members in their understanding of EBP and provide implementation assistance.
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The March 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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With the new COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for adults over the age of 65, nursing facilities should be considering their approach to address the need for additional vaccination opportunities for their residents. If your team would like some help organizing and deploying a clinic, Telligen has partnered with the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CSPESN) to assist nursing facilities with vaccination clinics.
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Next Wednesday, April 10, from noon-1:00 p.m., Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host a free webinar for all health care professionals interested in understanding
microbiology culture and sensitivity reports. Discussion will include the differences between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, drug resistance and emerging pathogens.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering a complimentary long-term care infection preventionist (IP) virtual training on May 8-10. This intensive, foundational course provides training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings. Meeting CMS minimum regulatory requirements for IP training, it also grounds the novice IP in their role and develops a broad understanding of IPC management to drive successful outcomes.
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Beginning in May 2024, the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) will host six monthly one-hour cohort sessions. These sessions are FREE to attend. This series is intended to improve the behavioral health knowledge and skillset for all staff working in CMS certified nursing facilities across the U.S.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP). Although board certification is not required, gaining this credential is a way for the individual infection preventionist and their organization to show their commitment to infection prevention and control best practices.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will host a webinar today, Wednesday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m., providing an overview of important updates to the definition of long-term care reporting for COVID-19 vaccines. If you are unable to attend the webinar today, there is an opportunity to register for a second session that will cover the same topics on Tuesday, April 2, at 1:00 p.m. Advance registration is required to receive an email confirmation with the webinar details.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit tomorrow, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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CMS recently issued QSO-24-08-NH regarding the implementation of enhanced barrier precautions (EBPs) in nursing homes to prevent the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). While EBPs were introduced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2019, they were not included in guidance for state survey agencies. An AHCA/NCAL memo issues formal guidance under F880 Infection Prevention and Control to state survey agencies and long-term care facilities on the use of EBP, aligning with the existing national standards effective April 1.
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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long-Term Care (SNF/LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The call was previously scheduled for March 21.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering a complimentary long-term care infection preventionist (IP) virtual training on May 8-10. This intensive, foundational course provides training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings. Meeting CMS minimum regulatory requirements for IP training, it also grounds the novice IP in their role and develops a broad understanding of IPC management to drive successful outcomes.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP). Although board certification is not required, gaining this credential is a way for the individual infection preventionist and their organization to show their commitment to infection prevention and control best practices.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is changing the definition of "up-to-date" for COVID-19 vaccine reporting in long-term care (LTC) beginning Quarter two of 2024 (week of April 1, 2024). This change, which reflects the latest guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to ensure the most effective vaccine protection for individuals, especially those aged 65 years and older. The NHSN vaccination team will host webinars on March 27 and April 2 to detail these changes to the surveillance definition of being up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
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In the last four years, there have been several updates to Home Health Agency (HHA) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) through final rule-making. These updates had not been incorporated into the State Operations Manual (SOM) and therefore lacked interpretive guidelines around these rule changes. On March 15, 2024, CMS updated the SOM, not only with the new regulations, such as the occasional allowance of one remote supervisory visit per certification (G810), but also added interpretive guidelines and provided a complete overhaul to surveyor guidance and protocols.
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The 2023 fourth quarter home health agency (HHA) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering a complimentary long-term care infection preventionist (IP) training May 8-10. This intensive, foundational course provides training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings. Meeting CMS minimum regulatory requirements for IP training, it also grounds the novice IP in their role and develops a broad understanding of IPC management to drive successful outcomes.
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On Wednesday, April 10, from noon-1:00 p.m., Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will host a free webinar for all health care professionals interested in learning more about understanding a culture and sensitivity report. Discussion will include the differences between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, drug resistance and emerging pathogens.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit next Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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The March 21 CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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The Iowa Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (IPALTC), a chapter of the American Medical Directors’ Association (AMDA), aims to support medical providers and clinical leaders in post-acute and long-term care settings. IPALTC offers networking opportunities, clinical best practices insights and leadership training. To enhance engagement, quarterly member calls will begin next Friday, March 29.
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The Maximus Clinical Services Division and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are pleased to offer several free in-person training events coming up in April. Join Brad Goodin and Amanda Kaiser of Maximus, and Lila Starr of Iowa DHHS, for the Spring 2024 Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Road Show, and take a deeper dive into PASRR compliance, status changes, ServiceMatters and more. Upcoming training will take place in Ottumwa on April 23, West Des Moines on April 24, Waterloo on April 25 and Denison on April 26.
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The University of Iowa’s Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy has introduced a scholarship program to assist employees of long-term care facilities in their quest to become Board-Certified in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP). Although board certification is not required, gaining this credential is a way for the individual infection preventionist and their organization to show their commitment to infection prevention and control best practices.
Read More
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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Indwelling devices, such as central intravenous lines and foley urinary catheters, are necessary tools to help treat people who are ill. While these devices do not cause infections, they can provide a route for germs to enter the body if not inserted and maintained properly. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and ECRI are offering a complimentary webinar next Tuesday, March 13, from noon - 1:00 p.m. to highlight best practices to prevent device-related infections and device management.
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Fire drills are a key component of any fire safety program. While the Life Safety Code (LSC) requirements for fire drills are not complicated, fire drill compliance consistently lands on the list of top cited deficiencies during life safety surveys (K-712). AHCA/NCAL has highlighted the key requirements and best practices around fire drills.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued updated guidance for respiratory viruses in community settings. The CDC’s respiratory virus guidance is intended for a general audience and community settings, including assisted living communities. It does not apply to health care settings, including nursing homes.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will soon launch an updated website as part of its Digital Communication Modernization and Clean Slate initiatives. Before the new website launches, the CDC is inviting partners to preview and provide feedback on a subset of test pages. The beta pages are available through March 29, 2024. This beta site will feature selected topics, offering a sneak peek into what's coming once the website is officially launched in the coming months.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the Feb. 21, 2024 issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include licensure of physician assistants and social workers, continuing education, discipline and practice of social workers, declaratory orders, petitions for rule-making and more.
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Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule, entitled Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which goes into effect on March 11, 2024. This rule revises the Department’s guidance on how the agency determines who is an employee or independent contractor under the FLSA. AHCA/NCAL will host a webinar this Friday, March 8, at noon on how the new final rule will impact the workplace of long-term care providers and answer providers' questions.
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Set up a vaccine clinic for your nursing home at no cost to your organization. Telligen QI Connect has partnered with the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) to provide nursing homes with a vaccine clinic option. Clinics must be scheduled in February or March 2024.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering two complimentary, virtual Long-Term Care (LTC) Essentials courses on March 5-6 and May 8-10. Space is limited to one registrant per facility, so early registration is encouraged. This intensive, foundational course benefits health care professionals in LTC by providing training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in LTC settings. It includes the topics CMS requires and also grounds the novice infection preventionist (IP) in the role and practice of being an effective IP, including creating and managing successful IPC programs and mitigating risk at your facility.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule, entitled Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which goes into effect on March 11, 2024. This rule revises the Department’s guidance on how the agency determines who is an employee or independent contractor under the FLSA. AHCA/NCAL will host a webinar next Friday, March 8 at noon on how the new final rule will impact the workplace of long-term care providers and answer providers' questions.
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Long-term care (LTC) centers must adhere to specific requirements for compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). The nature of airborne hazards, the presence of respiratory threats, the specific respiratory protection program (RPP) and the resulting compliance requirements will vary between organizations. Employers must recognize that once a RPP is established, ongoing maintenance is necessary to ensure compliance with the OSHA standard.
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The February 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
Read More
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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On Feb. 8, a CMS Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Connects newsletter clarified that hospice and skilled nursing facility medical directors and administrators are always considered managing employees for Medicare provider enrollment purposes and should be reported. The notice provided clarification that providers should not wait for the revalidation period and must submit any missing medical director or administrator via the change of information submission as soon as possible.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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Join Telligen QI Connect for its webinar this Friday, Feb. 9, at 11:00 a.m., titled, “Management of Patients on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder During the Nursing Home Stay.” This webinar is part of Telligen’s Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization Collaborative Opioid Series.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the Jan. 24, 2024 issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include board administrative processes, complaints and investigations and discipline relating to the Professional Licensure Division. If and when issues arise, IHCA will take appropriate steps in an effort to remediate problems for members.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CMS will host a webinar today, Jan. 31, at 1:00 p.m. regarding strategies to increase immunization rates in long-term care. This webinar is geared toward nursing home leaders, medical directors, directors of nursing and infection preventionists interested in collaborating with their staff, residents and families to maximize COVID-19 vaccination rates at their facilities.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the 2024 Iowa Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa. This summit is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and focus on implementation strategies to promote facility-wide incorporation and improved antimicrobial use and patient outcomes for both humans and animals.
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The Life Safety Code is a complex document, and managing life safety compliance can be a complicated task for any provider. An effective compliance program requires personnel with specialized knowledge in numerous life safety concepts and components. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has developed two webinars focused on life safety, free for members. The first is an introduction for new facility directors while the second provides tips for navigating some of the most frequently cited life safety tags.
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Join Telligen QI Connect for its next session of the Quality Innovation Network (QIN)-Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Collaborative Opioid Series, Management of Patients on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) During the Nursing Home Stay: Admissions Assessment and Treatment, Addressing Stigma and Naloxone Training, next Friday, Feb. 9, at 11:00 a.m.
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In the ever-evolving battle against respiratory diseases, long-term care (LTC) providers play a pivotal role in safeguarding the health of our most vulnerable populations. As rates of respiratory diseases remain high across the country, your ongoing efforts in encouraging vaccinations among residents and staff are more crucial than ever. The American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has developed comprehensive resources to assist LTC providers in promoting vaccinations, educating and offering vaccines to staff and residents.
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Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released materials pertaining to visitation guidance. Materials include a patient visitation FAQ letter, FAQ on patient visitation at certain federally funded entities and facilities and a press release regarding obligations to ensure religious non-discrimination in patient visitation.
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The January 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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With the recent subzero temperatures across the Midwest, many facilities and programs have experienced situations where additional heat sources might be considered. When a building loses its primary heating source, due to failure or other disaster, members are reminded that this circumstance is reportable to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) under IAC 50.7. Members are encouraged to consider a commercial portable heating option where a unit is placed outside of the facility and heat is pumped into the building. Should space heaters be required in such emergency situations, several safety considerations must be made.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CMS will host a webinar next Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. regarding strategies to increase immunization rates in long-term care. This webinar is geared toward nursing home leaders, medical directors, directors of nursing and infection preventionists interested in collaborating with their staff, residents and families to maximize COVID-19 vaccination rates at their facilities.
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As of the week of Jan. 1-7, 2024, the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN’s) weekly COVID-19 vaccination health care personnel (HCP) form no longer collects information on primary series vaccination.
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Respirators are a specific and more advanced type of personal protective equipment (PPE) and come with a host of regulatory requirements over and above those requirements that apply to other PPE. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard can be complicated and is highly dependent on the type of hazard and respirator used, IHCA has highlighted the basic requirements that affect most long-term care centers.
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The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) recently released a press release regarding its Annual Assisted Living Regulatory Review which summarizes key selected state requirements for assisted living licensure or certification. It provides information for every state on topics such as which state agency licenses assisted living, recent legislative and regulatory updates affecting assisted living, scope of care, limitations of services, staffing, training and more.
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The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.19.1 and Item Matrix are now available in the downloads section on the MDS 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS Item Sets v1.19.1 will be effective beginning Oct. 1, 2024.
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The January 2024 residential care facility (RCF) and assisted living (AL) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. Bi-weekly areas of note found in the Jan. 10, 2024 issue of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin include continuing education, discipline and licensure for nursing home administrators, standards for Certificate of Need (CON) review and more. If and when issues arise, IHCA will take appropriate steps in an effort to remediate problems for members.
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Join the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Program next Tuesday, Jan. 23, at noon for a free webinar, Optimizing Antibiotic Therapy: Managing Adverse Events, Drug Interactions and Renal Adjustments. This webinar is made for those working in the long-term care setting, including prescribing clinicians, nursing home administrators and leadership, registered nurses (RNs) and infection preventionists.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the April 2024 refresh. Providers have until Feb. 15, 2024 to review their performance data.
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The Gero Nurse Prep course offered by the American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) significantly increases registered nurses' (RNs’) gerontological nursing competency test scores.
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CMS requires that a certified nursing assistant (CNA) perform at least a day of nursing or nursing-related duties every 24 months. IHCA reminds members to review and update, if necessary, the listing of actively employed CNAs found under their organization’s login on the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) database. Members unable to report electronically should develop an internal process to report CNAs at least every two years.
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Are you currently responsible for the medical direction of a health care entity in the event of a disaster? Are you interested in serving in that role in the future? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center and Information Exchange (TRACIE) will host the Medical Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response Virtual Conference on Feb. 7-8, 2024. This two half-day virtual, interactive conference will feature individuals who have a medical direction role during disasters for their health care facility. Participants are encouraged to register early, as attendance will be limited.
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The December 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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In the rollout of Phase 3 Requirements of Participation (ROP), CMS updated regulatory language within F880-Infection Prevention and Control to include the expectation for nursing facilities to have a water management plan (WMP). The objective of a WMP is to minimize the growth and spread of opportunistic pathogens, such as Legionella. Although rare, cases of Legionellosis do arise in Iowa. IHCA recommends members review their water management plan to ensure it contains necessary actions to protect the health and safety of residents.
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The Iowa PreAdmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) support team at Maximus have developed a comprehensive series of informative webinars designed to walk providers through many key aspects of the PASRR process and maximize their use of Iowa's assessment management system, AssessmentPro. Whether you are new to PASRR or a seasoned veteran, these trainings have been designed to illustrate the process, from basics to advanced concepts. All webinars are presented free of charge, and IHCA encourages members to invite team members who participate in the admission, care planning and discharge processes to register.
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Since October 2022, skilled nursing facilities have been required to submit an annual health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination summary to the National Health Safety Network (NHSN). This report includes seasonal influenza vaccination information for three categories of personnel: employees, licensed independent practitioners and adult students/volunteers for the entirety of the influenza season. Members are encouraged to gather data throughout the influenza season (Oct. 1-March 31) to facilitate accurate and streamlined reporting. IHCA reminds members that this report must be submitted by May 15 each year.
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Are you currently responsible for the medical direction of a health care entity in the event of a disaster? Are you interested in serving in that role in the future? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center and Information Exchange (TRACIE) will host the Medical Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response Virtual Conference on Feb. 7-8, 2024. This two half-day virtual, interactive conference will feature individuals who have a medical direction role during disasters for their health care facility. Participants are encouraged to register early, as attendance will be limited.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites you to attend the 2024 Antimicrobial Stewardship Summit on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. This one-day event is designed to highlight the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, illustrate implementation strategies to promote organization-wide incorporation and improve patient/resident outcomes. IHCA encourages members to reserve this date on the calendar and plan to attend. Registration is not yet available but will be shared by IHCA when the link is provided.
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Beginning Jan. 2, 2024, a revised Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) rule will go into effect. This new rule clarifies that nurses relocating to another compact state will have 60 days from the date of relocation to apply for licensure in the new state of primary residence. Although nurses holding a compact license have been required to obtain a license in their state of primary residence since 2018, this revision creates a timeframe for which this action must be completed.
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Within long-term care (LTC), where meticulous recording and documentation are routine practices, the analysis of both resident and employee events takes a central role. Employee injury and illness tracking is governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under 29 CFR Part 1904. This article serves as the first installment of a two-part series on OSHA recordkeeping. In this initial piece, AHCA/NCAL introduces the OSHA Standard and covers terms and key insights. The subsequent article will cover the new regulations set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
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As reported in July, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expanding its requirements to electronically submit employee injury data through its Final Rule on Improving Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. The updated regulation requires electronic submission of OSHA 300 Logs and Form 301 (incident reports), in addition to the 300A summaries that are already submitted electronically. It's essential to understand that while this updated regulation goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, it applies to the 2023 data you'll be submitting before March 2024. Meaning, the current year (2023) 300 Logs, Form 301, and 300A summaries must comply with this new requirement and be submitted before March 2, 2024.
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As 2023 ends, AHCA’s regulatory department has provided a wrap-up of resources released throughout the year. Each of the resources were prepared with members in mind. AHCA's goal is to support and ensure you have the tools to stay compliant with a variety of regulatory requirements.
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The University of Iowa’s College of Nursing began a research study in 2021 to identify best practices related to dining activities for individuals with cognitive and memory impairments. During the pilot study, the Optimizing Mealtime Care and Outcomes (OPTIMAL) program found preliminary evidence that improved resident outcomes of resistive behavior, functional impairment and food intake amount. The OPTIMAL team is inviting all Iowa nursing homes, assisted living programs and residential care facilities caring for individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments to take part in the program, which focuses on in-person staff training and facility approach to mealtime. To indicate your interest in this program, please complete the brief survey before Jan. 12. Participation is free and CEUs are available.
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CMS will host its next Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum tomorrow, Dec. 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The forum provides an opportunity for live dialogue with CMS and is open to all stakeholders. Current forum agenda topics include the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 1.19.1 release, Nursing Home Quality Initiative announcements, SNF Quality Reporting Program announcements, MDS 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual, MDS error message guide, Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) MDS user interface and more.
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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with the University of Iowa to develop and host tabletop exercises for nursing homes focused on Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). These free tabletop exercises will be four-hour interactive discussion-based exercises that will address how providers identify and respond to multidrug-resistant organism threats. The first event will take place next Tuesday, Dec. 12, in Mason City.
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The November 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The University of Iowa’s College of Nursing began a research study in 2021 to identify best practices related to dining activities for individuals with cognitive and memory impairments. During the pilot study, the Optimizing Mealtime Care and Outcomes (OPTIMAL) program found preliminary evidence that improved resident outcomes of resistive behavior, functional impairment and food intake amount. The OPTIMAL team is inviting all Iowa nursing homes, assisted living programs and residential care facilities caring for individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments to take part in the program, which focuses on in-person staff training and facility approach to mealtime. To indicate your interest in this program, please complete the brief survey before Jan. 12. Participation is free and CEUs are available.
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With influenza season in full swing and COVID-19 cases popping up all around, members are reminded of the regulatory requirements to notify the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when conditions meet criteria for an outbreak. Iowa DHHS has provided an outline of circumstances which should prompt your facility to report to Iowa DHHS.
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CMS released Admin Memo: 24-05-NH to provide guidance to surveyors on areas of focus for Federal Monitoring Surveys (FMS). For Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025, CMS identified three long-term care Health National Concern Areas, including nurse staffing, unnecessary psychotropic medications and facility-initiated discharge. Resources are available for facilities to ensure regulatory compliance for unnecessary psychotropic medications and safe discharges.
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OSHA inspections can arise from various circumstances, including programmed assessments targeting high-hazard workplaces and unprogrammed responses to imminent dangers, fatalities or employee complaints. In this article, AHCA/NCAL expands on the previous discussion regarding the types of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections. Additionally, AHCA/NCAL includes OSHA procedures to expect and general outcomes of an inspection in a long-term care (LTC) organization.
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Nursing homes, assisted living programs and residential care facilities in Iowa have regulatory requirements that require self-reporting of specific circumstances to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL). During IHCA’s District Education Events held earlier this month, a DIAL representative mentioned that initial self-reports lacking important information may not be considered adequate to meet reporting obligations.
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As the spread of respiratory viruses increases this fall/winter, IHCA/ICAL reminds providers about the availability of free COVID-19 tests through the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Abbott BinaxNOW Test Kit Program. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and assisted living (AL) communities continue to receive, or are eligible to receive, free monthly shipments of Abbott BinaxNOW over the counter (OTC) COVID-19 test kits. Facilities/communities must have an active Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) waiver to be eligible to participate in this program.
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HealthCap, a trusted AHCA partner, is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m. titled, "Emergency Preparedness: Evacuate or Shelter in Place?" This webinar will discuss emergency response plans, including the critical decision-making criteria for making timely and effective decisions when nursing homes and assisted living facilities are facing emergencies.
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In this column, IHCA’s Brenda Irlbeck, VP, Quality Improvement and Regulatory Compliance, discusses the difference in perspectives between health care providers and how intentional effort must be made to foster connections in an environment where quality improvement and collaboration are a shared responsibility.
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During at least one of IHCA's District Education events, a representative from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) erroneously presented that college credits could be counted toward the annual requirement for 12 hours of in-servicing for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The interpretive guidance for federal regulation (F730) states that the facility must provide in-services based upon performance review findings. Therefore, credits earned from community colleges/universities/vocational schools do not contribute to compliance for this F-tag. DIAL representatives verified that the information was incorrectly presented and apologize for any confusion it may have caused.
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HealthCap, a trusted AHCA partner, is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m. titled, "Emergency Preparedness: Evacuate or Shelter in Place?" This webinar will discuss emergency response plans, including the critical decision-making criteria for making timely and effective decisions when nursing homes and assisted living facilities are facing emergencies.
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IHCA member Melissa Reed, DHA, nursing home administrator at Solon Retirement Village in Solon, Iowa, recently had her column, “Doctoral research doesn't support the need for CMS proposed staffing mandates,” published in McKnight's Long-Term Care News.
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As a part of the annual U.S. Antibiotics Awareness Week, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS') Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology is hosting two free webinars for long-term care (LTC) professionals related to antibiotics on Nov. 16 and 28.
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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with the University of Iowa to develop and host tabletop exercises for nursing homes focused on Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). These tabletop exercises will be four-hour interactive discussion-based exercises that will address how providers identify and respond to multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) threats.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) November 2023 Newsletter is now available. Topics in this issue include an in-depth look at Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), SAD and nursing facility regulatory guidance, how seasonal changes may affect nursing home residents, resources related to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and co-occurring disorders, upcoming education opportunities and more.
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IHCA thanks all its members who submitted comments on the CMS proposed minimum staffing rule. The official comment period closed Monday, Nov. 6, and AHCA/NCAL’s initial goal was to submit 10,000 comments from AHCA/NCAL members. In all, more than 18,000 comments were submitted, including 447 from Iowa alone, exceeding the goal to make sure CMS understands the devastating impact of this proposed rule on the long-term care profession. In addition, more than 13,500 comments were submitted from AHCA/NCAL members as part of the pre-rule campaign conducted earlier this year, for a total of 31,000+ comments submitted on this proposed rule.
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Iowa Center for Assisted Living (ICAL) has updated its abuse policy template to reflect a clarification for programs enrolled in Iowa Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS’) Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Elderly Waiver program. Because Iowa Administrative Code 441.176.4(1) applies to dependent adult abuse in the community, it also applies to those receiving benefits from the HCBS Elderly Waiver program.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom this Friday, Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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Your immediate action is needed to address CMS’ proposed unfunded staffing mandate for nursing facilities (NFs) released on Sept. 1. This rule, if implemented in its current form, will make staffing challenges even more difficult during the current workforce crisis and threatening access to long-term care options for all providers. All IHCA, ICAL and ICHC members are strongly encouraged to submit comment letters to CMS on this proposed rule. Comment letters are due by Monday, Nov. 6.
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CMS recently updated several surveyor resources that can be found in the survey resources folder on the CMS website. The changes made were technical and appear to be made to update any outdated information that is no longer applicable.
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The purpose of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection is to ensure compliance with safety standards and protect the well-being of both your employees and residents. IHCA has provided a list of the top five most common reasons an inspection may be conducted in a long-term care (LTC) center, as well as a list of tips to implement an effective OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Program in your LTC facility.
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As a reminder, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are required to report annual health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination summary data through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). IHCA recommends members maintain ongoing vaccination data collection throughout the entire influenza season to ensure the availability of accurate information when reporting is completed.
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The approval of the new COVID-19 vaccines for 2023-2024 triggered a change in the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN's) surveillance definition of “up-to-date” on COVID-19 vaccine to align with the new vaccine recommendations.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) VIS. Vaccine information statements are important tools to use when educating staff and residents/clients about vaccines. To further support vaccination administration, the CDC released an FAQ to address additional vaccine related questions.
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IHCA is excited to announce the launch of new enhancements made to the IHCA Member Resource Portal. This innovative platform is set to transform the way members access valuable information and stay up-to-date with the latest guidance and resources for long-term care providers.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom next Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) will take place Saturday, Nov. 18 through Friday, Nov. 24. USAAW is an annual one-week observance that gives participating organizations an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic use to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) October 2023 Newsletter is now available. Topics in this issue include National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month details, the 2023 World Mental Health Day theme, an in-depth look at Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), COE-NF resources for nursing facilities, nursing facility guidance updates, upcoming training events and more.
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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) have partnered together to provide a complimentary webinar next Wednesday, Nov. 8, to discuss infection control strategies and best practices related to the presence of animals in health care settings. Appropriate protocols are necessary to protect residents/tenants from the potential risk of infection specific to exposure to animals.
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As the nation prepares for the impending cold and flu season and new COVID-19 booster shots are being rolled out, long-term care facilities nationwide are taking steps to ensure the health and well-being of their residents and staff. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) released its 2023 #GetVaccinated Toolkit, a comprehensive set of resources designed to equip providers with the tools and information needed to promote and facilitate critical vaccinations among residents and staff this fall and winter.
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AHCA/NCAL recently shared that CMS has posted errata updates to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual, version 1.18.11 on the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual page, effective Oct. 1, 2023. Provider MDS nurses and staff responsible for completing the specific sections of the MDS or Care Area Assessment (CAA) requirements impacted by this errata update should review and implement it as soon as possible.
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CMS requires that a certified nursing assistant (CNA) perform at least a day of nursing or nursing-related duties every 24 months. IHCA reminds members to review and update, if necessary, the listing of actively employed CNAs found under their organization’s login on the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) database. Members unable to report electronically should develop an internal process to report CNAs at least every two years.
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As a reminder, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are required to report annual health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination summary data through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). IHCA recommends members maintain ongoing vaccination data collection throughout the entire influenza season to ensure the availability of accurate information when reporting is completed.
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The October 2023 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The October 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website to assist you with managing survey quality and is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom on Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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In the CMS minimum staffing proposed rule, CMS requests comments on an alternative total nurse staffing standard of 3.48 hours per resident day (HPRD). IHCA appreciates members who have already submitted comments to CMS about the proposed rule, and is asking for your help again to weigh in on this 3.48 HPRD alternative, specifically. AHCA/NCAL will host a webinar this Friday, Oct. 20, at 2:30 p.m. to discuss how to address this in comments to CMS.
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AHCA has released new resources to encourage and support vaccinations in long-term care facilities this season. The new reimbursement guide addresses frequently asked questions and provides answers regarding vaccine payment options for skilled nursing facilities. Additionally, AHCA’s #GetVaccinated Toolkit provides a comprehensive set of resources designed to equip providers with the tools and information needed to promote and facilitate critical vaccinations among residents and staff this fall and winter.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom on Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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CMS will host its next Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum (ODF) tomorrow, Oct. 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The forum provides an opportunity for live dialogue with CMS and is open to all stakeholders.
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With the recent focus on staffing levels in nursing homes, it is no surprise that surveyors are evaluating compliance with all related F-tags (483.35 Nursing Services) during survey. CMS has provided clarification of compliance related to the requirements for eight consecutive hours of registered nursing coverage each day (F727) and 24-hour licensed nursing coverage (F725).
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In the CMS minimum staffing proposed rule, CMS requests comments on an alternative total nurse staffing standard of 3.48 hours per resident day (HPRD). AHCA/NCAL appreciates members who have already submitted comments to CMS about the proposed rule, but is asking for your help again to weigh in on this 3.48 HPRD alternative, specifically. AHCA/NCAL will host a webinar next Friday, Oct. 20, at 2:30 p.m. to discuss how to address 3.48 HPRD in comments to CMS' minimum staffing proposal.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom on Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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The October 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Heath in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is offering six free training opportunities in October. The first training, Tools for Creating Calm in Times of Distress, begins tomorrow, Oct. 5. Additional trainings offered this month include Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in NF, An Overview of Bipolar Disorder for NF Staff, Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention Training, Mental Health First Aide (MHFA) and Person-Centered Care in Nursing Facilities: How to Make it Work.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom on Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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Your immediate action is needed to address CMS’ proposed unfunded staffing mandate for nursing facilities (NFs) released on Sept. 1. This rule, if implemented in its current form, will significantly impact not only NFs, but also the entire health care continuum, including home health and assisted living providers, by making the competition and costs for staff even more difficult during the current workforce crisis and threatening access to long-term care options for all providers. We are currently in a 60-day comment period window, with comments due by Nov. 6, 2023. It is crucial for all NF providers to actively participate in the comment process to help mitigate the detrimental impact this rule could have on an already strained long-term care workforce.
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A recent simplification of Iowa Administrative Code, section 481-58.24, removed stringent, state-specific requirements for dietary managers and added verbiage which defers to federal regulatory language related to qualifications for dietary managers in nursing home settings. IHCA received confirmation from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) that completion of a department-approved ANSI certified food protection manager course would meet minimum requirements for an individual to serve as the dietary manager in a nursing home setting. The DIAL website contains a list of approved providers of the course. Members seeking to qualify an employee to serve as the dietary manager are reminded that only one of the available courses are required and must be successfully completed by the candidate before they are hired/transitioned into the role.
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IHCA reminds nursing home leaders of the state-specific requirement to report disease outbreaks to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), found in IAC 641.1. To promote streamlined reporting, Iowa DHHS has created a one-pager to assist health care professionals with understanding which circumstances related to respiratory illnesses should be reported.
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CMS recently released QSO-23-21-NH regarding updates coming in April 2024 to Nursing Home Care Compare staffing and quality measures. The updates accommodate previously announced changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) taking place Oct. 1, 2023. This includes changes to the staffing level case-mix adjustment methodology from Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-IV) to Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Additionally, CMS announced it will be removing the CMS-672 form (Resident Census and Conditions of Residents).
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On Sept. 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for emergency use updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2023-2024 manufactured by ModernaTX Inc. and Pfizer Inc. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that if you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past two months to get the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine.
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As the nation prepares for the impending cold and flu season and new COVID-19 booster shots are being rolled out, long-term care facilities nationwide are taking steps to ensure the health and well-being of their residents and staff. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) released its 2023 #GetVaccinated Toolkit, a comprehensive set of resources designed to equip providers with the tools and information needed to promote and facilitate critical vaccinations among residents and staff this fall and winter.
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The seventh annual Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference, hosted by Broadlawns Medical Center, will be held in person at Des Moines University in Des Moines and streamed live online via Zoom on Nov. 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This course is open to all interested health care professionals. In its seventh year, the Geriatric Behavioral Health Conference brings together behavioral health professionals to learn about geriatric dementia and other mental health disorders in older adults.
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CMS is offering a set of cue cards to assist providers in conducting the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) in writing, the resident mood interview (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2 to 9), the pain assessment interview and the interview for daily and activity preferences, as referenced in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Index (RAI) v1.18.11 coding guidance. In addition, CMS is offering a three-minute, animated explainer video titled, “BIMS and BIMS Summary Score: Stopping and Coding an Incomplete Interview for Home Health, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Long-Term Care Hospitals Skilled Nursing Facility Providers.”
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The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Heath in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF) is offering six free training opportunities in October. These trainings include Tools for Creating Calm in Times of Distress, Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in NF, An Overview of Bipolar Disorder for NF Staff, Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention Training, Mental Health First Aide (MHFA) and Person-Centered Care in Nursing Facilities: How to Make it Work.
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The Gero Nurse Prep course offered by the American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) significantly increases registered nurses' (RNs’) gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrants can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep now through Nov. 17, 2023.
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IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by Iowa Health Care Association to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are hosting a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 14, at 2:30 p.m. Long-term care providers, facility staff and resident advocates are encouraged to attend.
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The latest Your Top-Line publication for skilled nursing centers is now available in LTC Trend Tracker with facility-level staffing data to help your organization understand the impact of CMS’s minimum staffing standard proposed rule.
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Updates are now available in the downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The errata document contains revisions to pages in chapter four of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual version (v)1.18.11R that better align the Care Area Assessments (CAAs) with the Care Area Trigger (CAT) specifications, as well as a revision to Section D that corrects the coding instructions guidance for item D0160 Total Severity Score. Download the PDF file “MDS3.0RAIManualv1.18.11R.Errata.September.8.2023”
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Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging fungus that is a serious global health threat. C. auris is particularly concerning as it can be misidentified as other organisms, is multidrug-resistant and can spread in health care settings. Although no clinical cases of C. auris have been identified in Iowa to date, several bordering states have reported the presence of many cases. Residents in post-acute settings are at greater risk of acquiring C. auris due to their prolonged admission in the health care setting, potentially having exposure to acute settings, presence of co-morbidities and diminished immune responses. Therefore, post-acute care leaders in Iowa should be aware of the risk of C. auris and understand best practices to protect residents.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has partnered with the University of Iowa to develop and host tabletop exercises (TTX) for nursing homes. These exercises are a great way to test your facility’s emergency response plan. The hypothetical topic will be an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB).
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Please take a moment to view this video message from IHCA President and CEO Brent Willett for a brief overview of the proposed federal staffing mandate, what’s next and how you can make an impact.
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On Friday, Sept. 1, CMS issued a new proposed rule to enforce a federal staffing minimum mandate for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The proposed rule increases hours per resident day (HPRD) staffing requirements to 0.55 for registered nurses (RNs) and 2.45 for nursing aides (NAs), adds a 24/7 RN staffing requirement and includes additional facility assessment reporting requirements. IHCA will hold a special SNF Provider Update Call today, Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 3:00 p.m. This call, sponsored by Right Dose, A Guardian Pharmacy, will provide a detailed summary of the proposed rule specific to Iowa, along with IHCA member specific guidance. It is important for all SNF providers to engage in the comment process to help mitigate the damaging effect this proposed rule will have on an already devastating workforce crisis in long-term care.
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IHCA would like to provide members a cautionary note about a recent uptick in the number of deficiencies related to staffing requirements found within Iowa nursing facility survey reports. Specifically, deficiencies related to the total number of hours of licensed nursing each day and eight hours of consecutive registered nurse (RN) coverage have become a focal point for surveyors.
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The August 2023 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) recently shared updated survey entrance forms for nursing facilities and assisted living programs with IHCA to pass along to providers. Members are encouraged to review the documents and use them to prepare the items listed for surveyors upon entrance into the facility or program.
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The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual version (v)1.18.11 is now available in the downloads section on the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual page. The MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.18.11 will be effective beginning Oct. 1, 2023.
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The August 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. An area of note that was found in the Aug. 9 and 23 issues include a newly noticed rule regarding agency alignment.
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Your urgent attention and action are needed to safeguard the future of home health care. CMS has proposed a rule that would include a staggering 9.36% rate cut, posing severe, long-term consequences to Iowa's home health care agencies. ICHC urges home health members to submit comment letters to CMS. Letter templates have been provided to assist in preparing comments, which are due online via the Federal Register by Aug. 29.
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The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has partnered with Formation HealthCare and is using CarePrepare and In-Cite data to provide members access to state assisted living survey data. This NCAL member resource (log-in required) is an easy-to-use interactive tool that identifies deficiency summaries and regulations by state.
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Save time and money with IHCA Professional Consulting from IHCA Provider Solutions. IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by Iowa Health Care Association to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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Understanding how taking urgent, thorough corrective action to establish past noncompliance is a tool every leader should possess. Several IHCA members have reported success with establishing past noncompliance. However, many also reported the need to suggest the surveyor recognize past noncompliance. If comprehensive corrective actions have been completed and substantial compliance can be demonstrated, facilities are encouraged to communicate a request to the survey team or program coordinator to consider past noncompliance be applied. IHCA encourages its members to review a new guidance document now available called Reduce Risk Through Past Noncompliance, and was created to assist facilities in their understanding of past noncompliance.
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The IHCA Member Clinical Guidance Summary has been updated. Members are encouraged to review the summary. In the updated version, members will find a table of contents with active links to the categories of content they are looking for.
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Long-term care facilities, assisted living programs and home health providers holding a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate will continue to receive COVID-19 test kits until further notice. Before disposing of testing supplies that are believed to be expired, members are reminded to review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website to determine if the FDA has issued an expiration extension, allowing test kits to be used past the expiration date printed on the box.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. An area of note that was found in the July 26 issue includes a newly noticed rule regarding the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship.
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Due to the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) quarterly deadline, the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) Service Center is projecting an increase in the volume of calls and emails between now and Aug. 14, 2023.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) are hosting a free webinar titled, “Infection Prevention Best Practices in Home Care Settings,” on Sept. 13 from noon to 1:00 p.m. The webinar is designed for Iowa’s frontline health care workers with a focus on those who interact in any capacity with persons seeking health care in the home, including environmental services/housekeeping personnel, emergency medical services personnel, pharmacists, home health service providers, therapists, dietitians and non-clinical staff.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers must use Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of their employees. Now only one page long, the new edition is easier for employers and employees. Other improvements include clearer instructions and guidance on acceptable receipts and the auto-extension of some documents found on the Lists of Acceptable Documents.
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The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) published a final rule on Improving Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. This rule, effective Jan. 1, 2024, modifies existing requirements for reporting workplace injuries and illnesses. This rule directly impacts long-term care (LTC) facilities (skilled nursing, assisted living and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ID/DD)) with more than 100 employees.
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The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 version v1.8.11v4 final item sets were updated on July 7, 2023, draft Resident Assessment Index (RAI) guidance was released on April 3, 2023, and substantial changes were made to several sections, including changes to section Q (Participation in Assessment and Goal Setting).
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Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities continue to receive, or are eligible to receive, free monthly shipments of Abbott BinaxNOW over the counter (OTC) COVID-19 test kits from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This program, which has been in place since 2020, will continue through at least the end of 2023.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an updated COVID-19 website. The updates are intended to make it easier for the public to find relevant information on COVID-19.
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Respiratory season can be dangerous for individuals 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions. Elderly individuals residing in nursing homes and assisted living communities are at most risk of complications due to respiratory illnesses. As fall approaches, long-term care (LTC) providers should be preparing to vaccinate their residents and staff against common respiratory viruses.
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The July 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Due to the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) quarterly deadline, the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) Service Center is projecting an increase in the volume of calls and emails between now and Aug. 14, 2023.
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Join the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) on Aug. 9 from noon to 1:00 p.m. for its free webinar, Infection Prevention and Best Practices: Supplemental Disinfection Techniques. This webinar is designed for Iowa’s frontline health care workers with a focus on those who interact in any capacity with persons seeking health care.
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Age Friendly Healthcare Systems is currently recruiting nursing home teams for the American Hospital Association's (AHA) "Action Community" that begins in September. The Action Community is a free virtual learning opportunity for nursing homes to come together with different health care systems (including hospitals and ambulatory settings) for over seven months to accelerate the adoption of the 4Ms Framework.
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In the calendar year 2024 home health rate update proposed rule, CMS proposed several new regulations governing Medicare provider enrollment. These proposals apply to home health and hospice providers.
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The Q4CY22 release of the Home Health Agency (HHA) Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) is now available for download through the PEPPER Resources Portal.
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The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 version v1.8.11v4 final item sets were updated on July 7, 2023, draft Resident Assessment Index (RAI) guidance was released on April 3, 2023, and substantial changes were made to several sections, including changes to section O (Special Treatments, Procedures and Programs).
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. An area of note that was found in the July 12 issue includes an adopted and filed rule related to licensure by verification for veterans and their spouses.
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IHCA’s Professional Consulting provides IHCA members with expert facility-level MDS, EHR and quality consultation services from qualified specialists designed to improve quality and maximize reimbursement.
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The MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v4 final item sets were updated on July 7, 2023, draft RAI guidance was released on April 3, 2023, and substantial changes were made to several sections, including section N (Medications).
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The July 2023 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA’s Professional Consulting provides IHCA members with expert facility-level MDS, EHR and quality consultation services from qualified specialists designed to improve quality and maximize reimbursement.
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Health care employment agencies, also known as staffing agencies, operating in Iowa are now expected to comply with several regulatory requirements. IHCA's Brenda Irlbeck has provided a message to members to assist in implementing best practices to improve accountability and transparency with their partnering agencies.
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IHCA President and CEO Brent Willett advocates for the nursing home profession by discussing current staffing needs, a looming federal staffing mandate and potential solutions for protecting access to long-term care in our local communities in a new interview on Iowa Press. The interview aired on Iowa PBS on Sunday, July 10, and is available to stream online. Iowa Press is the premier statewide legislative news program watched regularly by Iowa's state and congressional leaders.
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AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson sent a letter to President Biden this week underscoring serious concerns regarding a federal staffing mandate for nursing homes that is expected to be issued soon by CMS. Opposing this mandate has also been a key priority of IHCA, and the association voiced its disapproval of the mandate while meeting with Iowa's congressional delegation last month, in a comment letter to CMS, in a Des Moines Register op-ed and in an Iowa Press interview last week.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is no longer collecting primary vaccination series data. To reflect this update, CMS removed the percentages of residents and staff with completed primary vaccination series from the Nursing Home Care Compare website and the COVID-19 Nursing Home Data website on July 6. Both sites will continue to display the “up to date” vaccination data, which the CDC will continue to collect.
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The MDS 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets were updated on June 7, 2023, draft RAI guidance was released on April 3, 2023, and substantial changes were made to several sections, including section K (Swallowing/Nutritional Status).
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In early 2022, the Biden Administration initially introduced its intent to release a new federal rule introducing minimum staffing requirements in nursing homes. At that time, the White House announced the rule would be published in spring 2023. Now that spring has gone, the timeline for release of the rule has become a bit more uncertain. IHCA continues to monitor the development and release of the minimum staffing rule and will provide communication and guidance as soon as possible following its release.
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Since their release on April 3, 2023, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 version v1.8.11v2 final item sets and draft Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) guidance were updated and substantial changes were made to several sections. AHCA has provided the following update regarding changes to section J.
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The June 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) are presenting a FREE webinar on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. for frontline health care workers highlighting the impact of environmental cleaning and disinfection practices. IHCA recommends infection preventionists, environmental services personnel, nurse managers, nurses’ aides, dietary personnel and activity staff listen in to hear key points about infection prevention practices relevant to daily tasks for each individual role.
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IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by IHCA to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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Enhance your understanding of Iowa’s new health care employment agency (HCEA) requirements by attending the HCEA Compliance Review Webinar on Monday, June 26. This course is for Iowa long-term care providers, leaders from health care employment agencies and current/future agency employees.
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CMS continues to evaluate the Biden Administration’s proposed federal staffing mandate for nursing homes, and given the complexities of such a proposal, is conducting a series of meetings the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to aid in the development of rules to implement the proposed mandate. With meetings taking place between CMS and OMB over the next week, IHCA does not expect rules to be issued before next week and continues to monitor the status of the rule development by CMS. Once final rules are issued, IHCA will provide a member alert and additional guidance on the rule.
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Updates to the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) Long-Term Care Facility Surveillance Pathways are now live. In case your team missed the live training sessions, a recording of the webinar and the slides are available for review. In addition, a live training webinar to highlight approaching updates to the COVID-19 vaccination reporting modules was held on June 20. A replay of the live webinar will be held on June 27, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.
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Since its release on April 3, 2023, the final Minimum Data Set (MDS) item sets version 1.18.11v2 and the draft MDS 3.0 Resident Assessment Index (RAI) User’s Manual version 1.18.11 were updated. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has highlighted changes and what members need to know.
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The IHCA Member Clinical Guidance Summary has been updated to reflect the newly-updated guidance regarding COVID-19 infection control practices, including vaccination and testing requirements, set forth by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following the conclusion of the public health emergency (PHE). The new IHCA member guidance addresses in detail the recent release of the CMS final rule regarding the end to vaccination requirements for health care personnel and the expiration of testing requirements found in QSO-20-38-NH. Members are encouraged to review the summary and consider how to best make changes in accordance with the new expectations.
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The June 2023 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by IHCA to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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During early May 2023, the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) conducted a Kaizen event to identify opportunities to streamline the survey process across health facilities’ division bureaus. During the event, it was determined that two specific long-term care surveyor actions could be updated.
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On May 31, 2023, CMS announced a final rule that makes key changes involving staff and resident COVID-19 testing and vaccines. This rule will be effective 60 days after its publication date, or Aug. 4, 2023.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. The bi-weekly areas of note found in the May 31 issue includes adopted and filed rules related to residential care facility minimum physical standards, health care facilities administration and nursing facilities' five-year rule review.
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Join Telligen QI Connect for its educational event, Unmasking the Impact of Schizophrenia Diagnosis Coding and Antipsychotic Stewardship in Nursing Homes, today, May 31, at 1:00 p.m. This is an interactive event to review the CMS Memorandum Summary for Erroneous Schizophrenia Coding (QSO-23-05-NH) and inappropriate antipsychotic medication use in long-term care.
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HealthCap will host a free webinar on Tuesday, June 20 at 1:00 p.m. titled, "Resident Rights - Coming Soon to a State Near You." The webinar will discuss evolving issues on the state and federal levels related to resident and staff rights.
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Earlier this month, AHCA/NCAL released a member update regarding the release of QSO-23-14-ALL, which addressed that the COVID-19 Health Care Provider Vaccine Mandate would “soon end.” The release of this memo has raised many member questions as to when the COVID-19 Health Care Provider Vaccine Mandate will end. There is a formal and lengthy process CMS is required to take to end any rule. Therefore, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate remains in place until further rule-making occurs. AHCA/NCAL will notify members once more information is available.
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The May 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by Iowa Health Care Association to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites the post-acute community to join its annual Iowa Infection Control Conference at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames on May 23-24, 2023. This program is intended to enhance infection control knowledge and share evidence-based best practices with infection preventionists, providers, nurses and allied health professionals.
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Yesterday, AHCA provided an update regarding an exception and extension opportunity for some member facilities who have experienced issues accessing the Healthcare Personnel Safety Component (HPS) in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) to report the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) required data on annual health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination.
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CMS recently published memo QSO-23-15 CLIA, outlining the impact of the ending of the public health emergency (PHE) on the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements and flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key changes impacting long-term care providers operating under CLIA Certificates of Waivers (COW) are identified by CMS.
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The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ended on May 11, 2023. IHCA has updated its guidance document, IHCA Guide to the End of the PHE for Skilled Nursing Facilities, which provides a framework for members to use in their operations. The document covers regulatory, life safety code and payment flexibilities related to the COVID-19 emergency blanket waiver, telehealth, emergency preparedness regulations waived by CMS, new requirements established during the pandemic and more.
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The clinical guidance summaries for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living programs have been updated to reflect the newly-updated guidance set forth by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following the conclusion of the public health emergency (PHE).
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CMS has released updates to several survey resource documents, including the Entrance Conference form and the Infection Prevention, Control and Immunization Critical Element (CE) pathway. This was done to align with updated regulations and guidance related to the end of the public health emergency (PHE), and as noted with the expiration of COVID-19 testing requirements (QSO-20-38-NH) and the updates made to visitation (QSO-20-39-NH).
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AHCA has released new association resources for members to help support survey and regulatory efforts. These resources are now available on AHCA's education platform, ahcancalED, and are free for IHCA members.
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In partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is offering complimentary, virtual Long-Term Care (LTC) Essentials courses. Space is limited to one registrant per facility, so early registration is encouraged. This intensive, foundational course benefits health care professionals in long-term care by providing training and competency-building to manage the unique challenges of infection prevention and control (IPC) in long-term care settings. It includes the topics CMS requires and also grounds the novice infection preventionist (IP) in the role and practice of being an effective IP, including creating and managing successful IPC programs and mitigating risk at your facility.
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CMS is offering a virtual training program that provides instruction on the updated guidance for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) v1.18.11 Manual and Item Set. This training is part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure SNF providers have access to the educational materials necessary to understand and comply with the guidance changes. This guidance will affect reporting requirements associated with the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) that will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2023.
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On May 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Interim Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel (HCP) During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. As previously announced, the CDC is discontinuing the COVID-19 Community Transmission map with the end of the public health emergency (PHE) on May 11. IHCA's clinical guidance summary for skilled nursing facilities has been updated to reflect the newly-released guidance set forth by CDC and CMS.
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On April 27, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced reductions to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting pathways which are anticipated to take effect next month. Specific information regarding these changes will be reviewed during the upcoming tentative webinar trainings scheduled by the CDC for June 1 and June 7.
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Last fall, the CMS Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) announced a requirement for SNFs to report health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination summary data beginning on Oct. 1, 2022. Beginning with the 2022-2023 influenza season, SNFs must submit data for the entire influenza vaccination season (Oct. 1 through March 31) to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The deadline to report this data is Monday, May 15, 2023. Failure to report complete data for SNF QRP will result in a 2% reduction in the SNF’s annual rate. The NHSN has scheduled office hours to answer questions about reporting. Office hours will be held today, May 10 and Thursday, May 11 at noon. Failure to report complete data for SNF QRP will result in a 2% reduction in the SNF’s annual rate. The NHSN has scheduled office hours to answer questions about reporting. Office hours will be held today, May 10 and Thursday, May 11 at noon.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites the post-acute community to join its annual Iowa Infection Control Conference at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames on May 23-24, 2023. This program is intended to enhance infection control knowledge and share evidence-based best practices with infection preventionists, providers, nurses and allied health professionals.
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On May 1, CMS released new regulatory guidance for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The memo outlines each waiver CMS put into place during COVID-19 and how the end of the PHE will affect those waivers. Additionally, the memo outlines timelines for certain regulatory requirements issued through the PHE, including ending of COVID-19 staff vaccination requirements. This memo applies to long-term care, intermediate care facilities and other provider types.
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On April 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced reductions to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting pathways, which are anticipated to take effect in June 2023. The reductions include elimination of the Therapeutics Pathway and several fields will be removed from the COVID-19 Module Surveillance Pathways, which include Resident Impact Facility Capacity and Personnel Impact. The COVID-19 Module Surveillance Pathways and COVID-19 Vaccination Module remain as two separate modules and will need to be reported on a weekly basis.
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The Health and Human Services (HHS) program that distributes Abbott BinaxNOW tests to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and assisted living (AL) communities will continue after the end of the public health emergency (PHE). HHS has not set an end date and is looking for opportunities to continue supporting facilities and communities with testing supplies.
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As the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is nearing its end on May 11, 2023, there have been many changes and flexibilities needed to respond to the PHE. Some of these flexibilities became permanent over the years, some have been extended and some will end after May 11. To assist providers with navigating those changes, CMS had developed a new roadmap with additional details about end of PHE changes, which includes fact sheets specific to home health.
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The April 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Save time and money with IHCA Professional Consulting from IHCA Provider Solutions. IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by the Iowa Health Care Association to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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Resident safety is one of the most complex responsibilities of nursing home staff. With varying circumstances for each individual, it can be difficult to stay current with each resident’s specific needs or wishes. When family or friends visit, it seems reasonable to think that those individuals will also act in favor of the resident’s best interests. However, that may not always be the case. IHCA encourages members to talk with their teams about remaining vigilant in their efforts to monitor residents’ needs while visitors, known or unknown to the resident or facility, are present.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) invites the post-acute community to join its annual Iowa Infection Control Conference at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames on May 23-24, 2023. This program is intended to enhance infection control knowledge and share evidence-based best practices with infection preventionists, providers, nurses and allied health professionals.
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The April 2023 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the July 2023 refresh. Providers have until May 15, 2023 to review their performance data.
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Malinda Shultice, ICAL board member and executive director of Cedar Ridge Village in West Des Moines, penned a guest column recently published in McKnight's Long-Term Care News regarding staffing in senior living communities, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Shultice shares three key concepts to help aide in overcoming staffing challenges in long-term care facilities post-pandemic. The concepts of focus include authenticity, connectivity and diversity.
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Established in 1967 by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), sponsored by Essity, celebrates the essential role that skilled nursing care centers play in providing high quality 24-hour nursing care to millions of America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. Staff, residents, families and members of the local community are encouraged to come together to participate in activities that cultivate and spread kindness during this special week, which will run May 14 through May 20, 2023.
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IHCA Provider Solutions is a new service line offered by the Iowa Health Care Association to help Iowa long-term care providers with effective solutions to maximize their operations and drive positive results. IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program. IHCA’s Professional Consulting provides IHCA members with expert facility-level MDS, EHR and quality consultation services from qualified specialists designed to improve quality and maximize reimbursement.
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For the past four weeks, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) has highlighted specific F-tags with a regulatory focus area for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags. This week's edition highlights §483.24 — Activities of Daily Living.
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This year’s Spring Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Roadshow, presented by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Maximus, will focus on aging and mental health issues. These free, in-person trainings will take place at different locations on May 2-5 and are available to anyone working in health care regardless of their role in the PASRR submission process.
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The Notifications of Enforcement Discretion issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will expire at 11:59 p.m. on May 11, 2023, due to the expiration of the COVID-19 PHE. This policy change will no longer permit providers to use technology, such as unsecure iPads, smart phones or other technology, for telehealth services after Aug. 9, 2023, unless they meet the stringent HIPAA patient privacy requirements. There will be a 90-day transition period for covered health care providers to come into compliance with the HIPAA Rules with respect to their provision of telehealth.
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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum (ODF) is scheduled for tomorrow, April 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This call will cover Minimum Data Set (MDS) v1.18.11 updates, the MDS transition to Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES), a Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) update, an overview of the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities and more.
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For the next two weeks, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) will highlight specific F-tags with a regulatory focus area for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags. This week's edition highlights §483.40 — Behavioral Health Services.
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The March 2023 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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CMS has added cue cards as a resource to assist providers in conducting the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 to 9) and the Pain Interview, as referenced in the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-E) coding guidance. This resource is intended to be utilized as a supplemental patient communication tool that provides a visual reference for the coding of response options.
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Due to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently ending the mandatory reporting order in the state, case data is no longer available to inform the data shown within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Data Tracker. Since September 2020, providers have been using the CDC’s Community Transmission rates as directed in QSO-20-39-NH to determine appropriate infection prevention measures, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Until CMS releases new guidance, providers are reminded that the guidance remains in effect.
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With Professional Consulting from IHCA Provider Solutions, you receive an expert evaluation of your current processes and personalized recommendations to make the most of your time – and money! IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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The idea of completing MDS assessments remotely, or off-site, was not an option that many providers took into consideration – until they found themselves with late or inaccurate assessments because MDS coordinators were short on time. Your facility is required by CMS to submit timely and accurate Minimum Data Set (MDS) submissions and will be ultimately held accountable for remote MDS outcomes. IHCA offers the following tips for establishing an effective remote MDS relationship.
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With Professional Consulting from IHCA Provider Solutions, you receive an expert evaluation of your current processes and personalized recommendations to make the most of your time – and money! IHCA Provider Solutions services include professional consulting, group purchasing benefits, endorsed products and the Iowa Health Care Quality Partners (IHCQP) Network program.
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On March 31, 2023, the CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Quality Safety Oversight (QSO) Group released QSO Memo QSO-23-10-NH, which updates the enhanced enforcement policy that was implemented early in the pandemic. This update is related to changes that have occurred throughout the pandemic, including an interim final rule that established long-term care facility vaccine immunization requirements. CMS noted the need to continue to evaluate guidance.
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CMS is preparing to move to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) for Minimum Data Set (MDS) submissions. In order to ensure access to the new system, please follow CMS's instructions to create a new account and establish credentials by April 13, 2023.
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On Monday, CMS released the final version of the updated Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets (version 1.18.11) and the drafted Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual. The new MDS Item Set will become effective Oct. 1, 2023.
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On March 22, 2023, CMS began sending electronic certificates to laboratories that opt-in on their Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) application (Form CMS-116) to receive email notifications. These laboratories will be emailed a link to their CLIA certificate, which they can print in hard copy. Generally, new certificates will be emailed approximately 30 days prior to the expiration of the current certificate.
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On March 22, 2023, the CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Quality Safety Oversight Group issued a long-awaited revised 21-page Guidance and Survey Process for Reviewing Home Dialysis Services in a Nursing Home (Rev QSO-18-24-ESRD) to state survey agency directors. The effective date is immediately.
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For the next three weeks, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) will highlight specific F-tags with a regulatory focus area for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags. This week's edition highlights §483.80(d) — Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunizations.
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The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum (ODF) is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This call will cover Minimum Data Set (MDS) v1.18.11 updates, the MDS transition to Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES), a Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) update, an overview of the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities and more.
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The March 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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For the next four weeks, IHCA will highlight specific F-tags with a regulatory focus area for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags. This week's edition highlights §483.80 — Infection Control - Infection Prevention.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a report, Increasing Threat of Spread of Antimicrobial-Resistant (AR) Fungus in Health Care Facilities, regarding an emerging fungus, Candida auris (C. auris).
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Beginning this Friday, March 24 at 8:00 p.m., there will be a planned upgrade to the Secure Access Management Service (SAMS) database. This may potentially impact nursing home users’ ability to submit data into the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) during the outage window from Friday, March 24, through Sunday, March 26.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently published notice that the state’s mandatory reporting order will end on March 31, 2023. As the COVID-19 federal public health emergency (PHE) will officially end on May 11, 2023, many requirements have begun to change.
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The American Health Care Association (AHCA) recently launched a new National Infection Program Forum (NIPF). This is a national forum for any infection preventionist (IP) or infection prevention champion in long-term care (LTC) to share resources, lessons learned and get questions answered. This national forum will also provide a mechanism to rapidly disseminate federal updates and resources about infections in LTC as they become available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CMS or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed albuterol sulfate inhalation solution, 0.5% in shortage status starting in October 2022. Due to recent news of additional manufacturer closures, the shortage is likely to continue, if not worsen. Although the shortage has not impacted many Iowa providers, IHCA encourages members to reach out to their partnering pharmacies to discuss response plans in the event the shortage affects their ability to provide or administer this necessary medication to residents/tenants/clients.
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CMS recently released a short video tutorial to assist providers with coding GG0170C — Lying to Sitting on Side of Bed. This five-minute video is designed to provide targeted guidance using simulated patient scenarios.
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The placement of video cameras in resident rooms has been a hot topic in post-acute settings for years. Due to the risk involved with these devices, IHCA discourages members from allowing placement of video cameras or other types of recording equipment in resident rooms. Members are encouraged to review their admission and/or occupancy agreements to determine if the existing version reflects the facility's or program’s position on placement of recording devices.
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Often, misconceptions exist about who has authority to direct the disposition of a person’s body at the time of their death. Because power of attorney (POA) terminates when death occurs, the designation of a person to make such decisions is determined by the hierarchy in Iowa Code 144C.5. In July 2017, Iowa passed legislation allowing a person to complete a standalone final disposition directive indicating who they wish to be responsible for the final disposition of their body and ceremony arrangements at the time of their death. Members are encouraged to consider if the use of this optional document is appropriate or necessary for any person living in their program/facility.
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Throughout the pandemic, infection preventionists (IPs) have been faced with an ever-changing, overwhelming charge to understand, implement and maintain the barrage of new rules and regulations put into place to protect residents and staff. An article from the March 4, 2023, edition of the American Journal of Infection Control discusses the necessity to focus on the well-being of IPs by fostering resilience, providing resources for IPs to return to their routine tasks and the supporting educational programs for those entering the infection prevention world.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS), formerly Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), is offering some educational sessions for long-term care providers in Iowa. Members are encouraged to participate in any events that might assist them in their quality improvement and infection prevention efforts.
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As the Biden Administration plans to establish a federal staffing mandate for nursing homes this year, AHCA/NCAL is making the case against such a mandate. This week, AHCA/NCAL issued a press release explaining how such a mandate would be impossible to implement and will only exacerbate the current staffing crisis.
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Iowa nursing facilities are currently grappling with a historic labor crisis. CMS is anticipated to issue a minimum staffing rule this spring. An unfunded staffing mandate would only exacerbate the workforce issue and be detrimental to long-term care access in Iowa. IHCA submitted a comment letter to CMS last week regarding this issue.
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The February 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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In partnership with the American Health Care Association (AHCA), IHCA is asking all nursing facility members to submit comments to CMS on the proposed minimum staffing mandate. CMS is anticipated to issue the rule in early May, and now is a critical time for providers to help shape the final rule by sharing the impact such a mandate would have on their organization. AHCA has provided resources to assist members in writing their letters, and letters are due by next Tuesday, Feb. 28.
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CMS announced in the QSO-23-05-NH memo it will be completing schizophrenia minimum data set (MDS) audits in nursing homes. IHCA has provided a summary to ensure members have the most updated information on coding schizophrenia on the MDS and information on the exclusion of the diagnosis on the quality measures.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has released an updated version of the Excel Data Tracking Worksheet for facilities reporting COVID-19 vaccination data on health care personnel (HCP) through the Healthcare Personnel Safety Component.
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The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will come to an end on May 11, 2023. IHCA has created a new guidance document, IHCA Guide to the End of the PHE for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), which provides a framework for members to use in their operations after the PHE ends.
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On Feb. 13, 2023, CMS posted a proposed rule to increase ownership, managerial and other information required to be disclosed by Medicare and Medicaid funded nursing homes. The proposed rule would implement provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act requiring disclosure of information about nursing home ownership and oversight. CMS states that this additional data would give a more complete background on the organizations and individuals that own, oversee and facilitate the operations of nursing homes.
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The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will come to an end on May 11, 2023. Throughout the PHE, various waivers, regulations, enforcement discretion and sub-regulatory guidance were utilized to ensure access to care and give health care providers the flexibilities needed to respond to the PHE. Some of these flexibilities became permanent over the years and some have been extended to end after May 11. In August 2022, CMS created a roadmap for the end of the PHE to help guide providers toward returning to previous health and safety standards and billing practices.
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The most recent release of the publication, Your Top-Line Report, from AHCA’s LTC Trend Tracker includes valuable staffing information specific to each nursing facility. As the nursing home industry anticipates the release of minimum staffing requirements, each center should evaluate their current staffing patterns to better understand its position as it relates to the predicted 4.1 hours per resident day (HPRD) standard.
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In partnership with the American Health Care Association (AHCA), IHCA is asking all nursing facility members to submit comments to CMS on the proposed minimum staffing mandate. CMS is anticipated to issue the rule in early May, and now is a critical time for providers to help shape the final rule by sharing the impact such a mandate would have on their organization. AHCA has provided resources to assist members in writing their letters, and letters are due by Feb. 28.
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IHCA has received several inquiries from facilities interested in accepting admissions from the six nursing and assisted living facilities previously owned by QHC management that have entered into receivership by the Iowa Department of Inspections of Appeals (DIA). IHCA is currently working on identifying the appropriate contact for admission inquiries and will provide more information as soon as it is available.
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On Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced its plan to end the federal public health emergency (PHE). This announcement meets the Administration’s promise of providing 60 days’ notice of the end of the PHE. Based on the guidance, the PHE will end on May 11, 2023. The end of the PHE also marks the end of Section 1135 National Blanket Waiver. IHCA and ICHC have provided information on how this will impact skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health (HH) agencies.
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CMS released QSO Memo QSO-23-05-NH, which outlines how audits on erroneous schizophrenia coding will impact Five Star ratings. The memo also outlines how CMS displays citations under dispute on Nursing Home Compare but will not affect Five Star until the disputes are resolved.
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The January 2023 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released two scientific reports evaluating the effectiveness of the bivalent booster in nursing home residents. These two studies provide evidence that the bivalent booster confers additional protection against the latest COVID-19 variants beyond prior infection and prior boosters.
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It is crucial to report current COVID-19 vaccination status to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The up-to-date definition applies when reporting data through the NSHN COVID-19 Vaccination Modules and the Resident Impact and Facility Capacity (RIFC) Pathway for first quarter (Q1) 2023.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated by CMS and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the April 2023 refresh. Providers have until Feb. 16, 2023, to review their performance data.
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CMS released QSO Memo QSO-23-05-NH, which outlines how audits on erroneous Schizophrenia coding will impact Five Star ratings. The memo also outlines how CMS displays citations under dispute on Nursing Home Compare but will not affect Five Star ratings until the disputes are resolved.
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The Five Star Preview Reports were made available on Jan. 23, 2023. The reports only remain in the QIES system for a short amount of time, so please save and/or print these reports for your records. Nursing Home Care Compare will update with the Five Star data on or around Jan. 25, 2023.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) invites all IHCA members to participate in a free webinar “Pathogen X,” on Feb. 8 at noon. In this session, speakers will address preparation strategies appropriate to be equipped for a future pandemic.
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The eighth edition of Nursing Home Administration organizes the art of administration into need-to-know tasks. Available in both print and digital formats, the eighth edition of this authoritative text covers new federal laws, requirements and policies, as well as the impact of COVID-19 and the 2022 domains of practice for the licensing examination standards of the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards. Place your order through Springer Publishing and receive a 30% member discount and free ground shipping.
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The January 2023 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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It is important that all skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers contact CMS now to share how the Biden Administration’s proposed minimum staffing requirements for SNFs would impact your community. CMS is in the process of drafting the rule for minimum staffing requirements now, which is due to be released with the SNF Payment Rule in late March or early April. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is hosting a webinar this Friday, Jan. 20, at 11:00 a.m. to share how to provide feedback to CMS while it considers the details of the impending rule.
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CMS recently announced an updated third edition of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Public Reporting (PR) Tip Sheet. The purpose of the tip sheet is to help providers understand CMS’ public reporting approach to the SNF QRP to account for CMS quality data submissions that were either optional or excepted from public reporting due to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).
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The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra recently renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists. This is effective Jan. 11, 2023, and will continue for 90 days pursuant to federal law. The PHE renewal through mid-April provides for the uninterrupted continuation of several flexibilities that have protected beneficiary access to important services in as safe and effective manner as possible.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued preliminary findings about monitoring the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine’s safety that discusses an initial increase of strokes in their safety monitoring data for the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. However, the totality of the data currently suggests that it is very unlikely that the initial signal represents a true clinical risk. This announcement does not change IHCA/ICAL/ICHC’s recommendation for people to be vaccinated.
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In December 2022, the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) released finalized administrative rules to operationalize the health care employment agency bill that was adopted into Iowa Code last year. This new set of rules outlines actions required of health care employment agencies (HCEA) that provide direct care staff to health care facilities in Iowa. IHCA has updated its guidance document, IHCA’s Guidance on Health Care Employment Agency Reform, to provide more detail. Additionally, suggested action items for health care provider members are included.
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With recent updates from CMS related to required qualifications for the director of food and nutrition services, an individual who has two years’ experience of dietary management in the nursing facility setting and has completed a course of study in food safety and management (by no later than Oct. 1, 2023) can serve as the facility’s director of food and nutrition services. To meet the education requirement, providers can choose one of several DIA-approved options of the certified food protection manager (CFPM) courses.
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The December 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The first session of Telligen's Wake Up Wednesday: High-Risk Medication Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes (ECHO) Series will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The objective of this series is to improve patient outcomes, which will be achieved by learning from experts who will share key information and strategies focusing on high-risk medication management, resident safety and quality of care.
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IHCA continues to track issues of importance to members, including the subjects mentioned in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin that is released every two weeks. An area of note that was found in the Dec. 13 issue includes an adopted and filed rule regarding the College Student Aid Commission.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it is taking steps to make it easier for long-term care (LTC) facilities to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to staff and residents. The CDC is now allowing LTC pharmacies to transfer COVID-19 vaccine/boosters to LTC facilities in single dose vials to directly vaccinate residents and staff by waiving some of the reporting requirements LTC pharmacies had to follow. This move comes after strong advocacy by AHCA/NCAL. IHCA strongly encourages members to consider engaging in this option, as it provides quick and easy access to single dose vials of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster to help encourage uptake among residents and staff alike.
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With the recent six-week campaign announced by the Biden Administration to focus on vaccination uptake in long-term care (LTC) settings, a renewed focus on accurate reporting of vaccination status for residents and staff is imperative. Since the advent of vaccination reporting in May 2021, facilities have become well-versed on the process of weekly reporting. However, with the changes in vaccination recommendations, the details of accurate reporting have become increasingly confusing. IHCA has provided helpful hints to be sure that your information is timely and correct.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released interim guidance for long-term care (LTC) and post-acute care facilities for the 2022-2023 influenza season.
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The Biden Administration announced a COVID-19 Winter Preparedness Plan involving several strategies to expand access to testing, vaccines and treatments. To support the Winter Preparedness Plan, the White House has released a Winter Playbook for nursing homes and other long-term care (LTC) facilities. The playbook outlines actions facilities can take to encourage vaccine uptake, testing, treatment and improve indoor air quality, including a Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Program that offers grant funds to purchase portable air cleaners to assist with improving indoor air quality.
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Join CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. for a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call. Long-term care providers, facility staff and resident advocates are encouraged to attend. This event is open to the public and registration is required.
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The Q4 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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A recent statement issued by the White House calls for a new CMS initiative "to identify problematic diagnoses and refocus efforts to continue to bring down the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications." Although there has been no announcement made by CMS to elaborate on this initiative, providers can anticipate a higher level of regulatory scrutiny related to use and reduction of antipsychotic medications in upcoming years.
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AHCA/NCAL recently hosted a member webinar focused on practical steps long-term care (LTC) facilities and assisted living (AL) communities can take to prepare for the increase in respiratory viruses anticipated this winter. Additional AHCA/NCAL webinars regarding bivalent vaccines and indoor air quality will take place this Thursday and Friday.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently held a webinar regarding up-to-date vaccination status. The up-to-date definition was updated in September 2022 to indicate individuals are considered up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines during the surveillance period of Sept. 26, 2022 – Dec. 25, 2022 (Quarter 4) if they meet certain criteria.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges post-acute care providers to heighten their awareness to the signs and symptoms of sepsis, which can often mimic other chronic conditions in older adults. Changes in cognition and function, even the most subtle, may indicate that something more serious may be lurking. Recently, in the nursing home sector, hospitalizations and deaths attributed to sepsis have been the focus of F-tag citations at F684 (Quality of Care) and F690 (Bowel and Bladder Incontinence).
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The November SNF survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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In the most recent Iowa Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was in the lead of respiratory illnesses in our state with over 1,300 new cases. Although influenza A and B are not topping the charts over RSV, the number of new cases is on the rise. IHCA has shared resources regarding the prevention and management of influenza outbreaks, as well as influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
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The Administration for Community Living (ACL) released its annual Summary of Statistics on Older Adults. The summary uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The report includes changing demographics of Americans aged 65 and older and includes key topic areas, such as population growth, income, living arrangements, employment and health.
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The Biden Administration has announced a six-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates. The campaign will focus on reaching seniors and other communities hardest hit by COVID-19, including a focus on nursing homes. As part of this campaign, CMS and the Biden Administration encourages providers to verify compliance with relevant QSOs, timely administer COVID-19 therapeutics when needed, verify accuracy of posted vaccination rates and more.
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Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are now required to submit an annual report summarizing influenza vaccination data for health care personnel (HCP) to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This requirement was released in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 SNF Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) Final Rule and published in the Federal Register in August 2022. Starting with this year’s influenza season, providers will be expected to gather influenza vaccination data for their employees, licensed independent practitioners, volunteers and adult students/trainees and report the information to NHSN through a one-time annual summary format.
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CMS has provided a summary of updated provider enrollment instructions for Medicare providers, including skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Specifically, it summarizes changes in Chapter 10 of the Medicare Program Integrity Manual instructions pertaining to ownership disclosures, electronic fund transfers (EFTs) and special payment addresses.
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The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA), in partnership with other clinical societies, created a toolkit for COVID-19 vaccination and treatment in long-term care settings, including many resources that are relevant to assisted living.
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Celebrating the holidays in a health care organization can be an uplifting experience for both residents and staff. However, decorating can oftentimes lead to some unintended consequences. Here are some quick tips to help ensure your organization maintains a safe environment that is compliant with the Life Safety Code this holiday season.
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Join IHCA tomorrow, Nov. 17, for its final 2022 in-person November District Education event, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services and VGM Education/CE Solutions. Attendees will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. Speakers will include DIA Director Larry Johnson Jr. and DIA Bureau Chiefs Vicki Worth and Catie Campbell. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend a breakout session specific to nursing facilities or assisted living/residential care facility topics.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hosting a webinar discussing enhanced barrier precautions (EBPs) in nursing homes on Nov. 15 at 12:00 p.m. CST. Discussion will include a detailed review of what EBPs are, why EBPs are recommended in nursing homes and how to be successful with implementation. Presentations will be followed by conversation with the experts about frequently asked questions from the field.
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Join IHCA on Nov. 10, 15 and 17 for its remaining in-person November District Education events, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services and VGM Education/CE Solutions. Attendees will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. Speakers will include DIA Director Larry Johnson Jr. and DIA Bureau Chiefs Vicki Worth and Catie Campbell. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend a breakout session specific to nursing facilities or assisted living/residential care facility topics.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration date for certain lots of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna has verified the new expiry dates and updated the Moderna Vial Expiration Checker. This update was also noted in a recent Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) vaccination information brief. Always be sure to check the manufacturer’s website to obtain the most up-to-date expiration dates for COVID-19 vaccines. It is important for health care providers to update vaccine expiration dates in Iowa's Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS).
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The Q3 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) is pleased to announce that a revised version of the IHCA Abuse Policy Template is available for member use. With updated interpretive guidance released in the recent requirements of participation, policy amendments were necessary. Members are encouraged to review the policy to ensure it meets their specific operational needs, customize the template with their logo or facility-specific information and adopt as their new policy. As with any policy change, members are reminded to provide employee education on changes that may impact their daily work.
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Join ICAL tomorrow for the Assisted Living (AL) Regulatory Class, sponsored by HealthCARE of Iowa. The AL Regulatory Class on Nov. 3 will provide nurses with the Iowa assisted living laws, rules and regulations, as well as a review of the survey process, the role of the nurse and health care assistant in AL settings and medication management.
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Join IHCA on Nov. 8, 10, 15 and 17 for its in-person November District Education events, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services and VGM Education/CE Solutions. Attendees have the opportunity to earn 4.0 CEUs and will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. This training is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses, social services staff, administrators, department heads and assisted living managers.
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On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, CMS released a new QSO memo with guidance for staff COVID-19 vaccination in all provider settings. IHCA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Guidance Summary has been revised with the updated guidance.
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CMS began enforcing new Phase 3 Requirements of Participation (RoP) on Oct. 24, 2022, including robust requirements related to skilled nursing facility (SNF) infection prevention and control programs. The new CMS Phase 3 guidance states that facilities should consider a backup infection preventionist (IP) when the primary IP is not available. IHCA also has long recommended that each SNF train at least two IPs, should one IP leave the facility or be unavailable.
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CMS finalized new mandatory values in August 2022 for the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES). This week, CMS released revisions to the FSES memo, which negate the need for a waiver and now allow skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to once again achieve a passing score on the FSES without any impact on the fire safety of the facility. Facilities may now use NFPA 101A, 2013 edition, of the FSES. As of Oct. 1, 2022, existing NF/SNFs certified and with a previously approved FSES prior to July 5, 2016, may now use the mandatory values in NFPA 101A, 2001 edition.
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CMS has released a revised Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program policy memo QS0-23-01-NH and updated the monthly SFF posting. These revisions are meant to increase the requirements for completion of the program and enforcement for facilities that do not demonstrate improvement. Key changes made in the revised memo include adding staffing levels as a consideration for SFF selection, increased criteria for completion of the program, involuntary termination, increasing enforcement actions and incentivizing sustainable improvements.
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Each week through October, IHCA highlighted specific F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. AHCA recently shared an F-tag update highlighting all of the Focus F-tag summaries, as well as updated CMS resources. CMS made updates to resources found on the nursing home website; specifically, the Medicaid and Medicare programs and reform of requirements for long-term care facilities portion of the website.
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The October 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Join ICAL next week for the in-person Assisted Living Management Certification (ALMC) Program and Assisted Living (AL) Regulatory Class, both sponsored by HealthCARE of Iowa. The ALMC Program on Oct. 31 - Nov. 4 will provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to practice as an assisted living facility manager in the state of Iowa. The AL Regulatory Class on Nov. 3 will provide nurses with the Iowa assisted living laws, rules and regulations, as well as a review of the survey process, the role of the nurse and health care assistant in AL settings and medication management.
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CMS recently updated the monthly Special Focus Facility (SFF) posting and released a revised version of the SFF Program policy memo QS0-23-01-NH. These revisions are intended to increase program completion requirements and enforcement for facilities that do not demonstrate improvement.
Key changes made in the revised memo include adding staffing levels as a consideration for SFF selection, increased criteria for completion of the program, involuntary termination, increasing enforcement actions and incentivizing sustainable improvements.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.60 — Resident Rights.
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The September 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) and October 2022 assisted living (AL) and residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Join IHCA on Nov. 8, 10, 15 and 17 for its in-person November District Education events, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services. Attendees have the opportunity to earn 4.0 CEUs and will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. This training is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses, social services staff, administrators, department heads and assisted living managers.
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists. This is effective Oct. 13, 2022, and will continue for 90 days, moving the expiration date to Jan. 12, 2023, pursuant to federal law. The PHE renewal through mid-January is welcome news. It provides for the uninterrupted continuation of several flexibilities that have protected beneficiary access to important services in as safe and effective manner as possible. Specifically, the three-day stay waiver remains in effect until the end of the federal PHE through this renewal action.
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With revisions to Phase 2 guidance and the release of Phase 3 Requirements of Participation (RoP), effective Oct. 24, 2022, members are encouraged to review resources to assist with achieving compliance. QSO-22-19-NH outlines CMS's announcement of the changes. To accompany the new guidance, CMS has published resources to provide insight and direction to surveyors and providers. Additionally, HealthCap is offering a free webinar, toolkit and a model agreement for IHCA members.
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CMS added new regulatory language to §483.60 — Food and Nutrition Services as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1765-F). IHCA has provided clarifications on several key points in relation to the director of food and nutrition services to assist providers with meeting this requirement.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.60 — Food and Nutrition Services.
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The State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) recently acquired a limited supply of Ellume COVID-19 home tests (rapid antigen [ag] tests), which are being made available free of charge for use in long-term care (LTC) facilities only. These tests expire Feb. 28, 2023. LTC facilities that utilize these tests for their staff or residents should have a CLIA certificate of waiver, and all positives should be reported to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The test is approved in use for both symptomatic and asymptomatic persons.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) are offering frontline health care workers a free Infection Prevention and Control Precautions webinar on Nov. 9 from noon to 1:00 p.m. This webinar will provide attendees with ways to familiarize the key differences between transmission-based and standard precautions in the health care setting.
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Maximus Clinical Services Division and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will offer free Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Road Show trainings in four communities throughout Iowa, as well as one virtual session, which will feature hosts Brad Goodin of Maximus and Lila Starr of Iowa DHHS. The 2022 Fall PASRR Road Show trainings begin on Oct. 25 and include the opportunity to earn contact hours or certificates of attendance.
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The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available in the facility-specific non-Validation Report (non-VR) folder found in the CASPER application. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the January 2023 refresh.
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Join IHCA on Nov. 8, 10, 15 and 17 for its in-person November District Education events, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services. Attendees have the opportunity to earn 4.0 CEUs and will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. This training is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses, social services staff, administrators, department heads and assisted living managers.
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CMS has rescinded QSO-22-25-CLIA, which barred the use of SARS-CoV-2 tests outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) test’s instructions for use. This comes after AHCA/NCAL strongly advocated that this memo should be rescinded, as it limited the use of the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen (Ag) Card being sent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to symptomatic individuals. This means the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card tests being sent to long-term care providers from the HHS program can continue to be used on both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals as they have been throughout the pandemic.
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AHCA has recently published an emergency preparedness resource to assist nursing facilities in their quest to be prepared even in the most unexpected circumstances. AHCA's Emergency Preparedness Plan: Best Practice Guide and Template is a comprehensive tool designed to assist long-term care organizations to develop and maintain an effective emergency program.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.12 — Freedom from Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation and the updated Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting the Iowa Infection Prevention and Control Conference on Nov. 8. This free virtual conference will feature updates related to ST-91 endoscopic reprocessing, environmental services in long-term care, water management and more.
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Maximus Clinical Services Division and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will offer free Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Road Show trainings in four communities throughout Iowa, as well as one virtual session, which will feature hosts Brad Goodin of Maximus and Lila Starr of Iowa DHHS. The 2022 Fall PASRR Road Show trainings begin on Oct. 25 and include the opportunity to earn contact hours or certificates of attendance.
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Join IHCA on Nov. 8, 10, 15 and 17 for its in-person November District Education events, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services. Attendees have the opportunity to earn 4.0 CEUs and will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. This training is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses, social services staff, administrators, department heads and assisted living managers.
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CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are hosting a National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call tomorrow, Oct. 6, at 3:00 p.m. The call will feature Senior Policy Advisor for the White House COVID-19 Response Team Thomas Tsai, MD, MPH. Registration is required.
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CMS recently released revised memos on COVID-19 testing and visitation that align with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. IHCA has updated its Clinical Guidance Summary to reflect these revisions. IHCA’s updated guidance for members covers testing, reporting positive tests, testing new admissions, visitation updates, mask usage and more.
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Members are reminded that established temporary nurse aides (TNAs) must become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) before the Oct. 6, 2022 deadline. After the deadline, TNAs will no longer be allowed to work as nurse aides unless they are listed on Iowa’s Direct Care Worker Registry.
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CMS released an update to QSO-22-25-CLIA, which rescinds enforcement discretion for the use of SARS-CoV-2 tests not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use among asymptomatic individuals outside of the test’s instructions for use. IHCA/ICAL/ICHC recommends that all providers operating with a CLIA Certificate of Waiver using SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care (POC) Antigen (Ag) tests check the manufacturer’s instructions for the tests they have on hand to ensure they are FDA approved for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. If not, they must restrict the use of the tests to situations consistent with FDA approval.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Vaccination Unit recently hosted a webinar for long-term care (LTC) facilities enrolled in the NHSN Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) Component. Facilities learned how to report health care personnel (HCP) flu vaccination data through the HPS Component. The CDC will replay this webinar on Oct. 19 at noon.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.21(b)(3) — Comprehensive Care Plans.
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Join IHCA on Nov. 8, 10, 15 and 17 for its in-person November District Education events, sponsored by HPSI Purchasing Services. Attendees will learn key information from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding ways providers can achieve and maintain substantial compliance to ensure resident outcomes are achieved and adverse events are prevented. This training is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses, social services staff, administrators, department heads and assisted living managers.
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Member facilities who are currently using temporary nurse aides (TNAs) that are unable to complete training/testing to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) by the upcoming Oct. 7 deadline due to backlogs in training/testing at community colleges should look into requesting an individual facility level waiver. AHCA has developed a resource to help facility members navigate the process of requesting a waiver at the individual facility level for training and certification of nurse aides in an effort to retain TNAs.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.25 — Quality of Care.
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Maximus Clinical Services Division and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will offer free Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Road Show trainings in four communities throughout Iowa, as well as one virtual session, that will feature hosts Brad Goodin of Maximus and Lila Starr of Iowa DHHS. In-person events will take place Oct. 25-28, and a virtual session will be held Oct. 27.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) announced updates and modifications being released for the long-term care facility component of NHSN. The changes will take effect after the September 2022 NHSN release and several are a result of AHCA/NCAL efforts.
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CMS has posted a revised advanced copy of Appendix PP as an attachment to QSO-22-19-NH. The advanced copy was revised to include new regulatory language, which was finalized in the FY 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Final Rule. CMS finalized changes to the requirements for the director of food and nutrition services, as well as physical environment.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.40 — Behavioral Health Services.
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CMS has revised QSO-22-15: Update to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Specific Providers to provide more information related to waivers of the nurse aide training competency and evaluation requirements. CMS has created a formalized process to submit a request for a time-limited waiver via two options: an individual facility waiver or a statewide or county waiver.
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Beginning Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, nursing facilities will no longer be able to use temporary nurse aids (TNAs) to meet the nursing care needs of residents. With the deadline quickly approaching, members are reminded to transition any current TNAs to certified nurse aide (CNA) status as soon as possible. Members are encouraged to communicate with Julie Adair or Brenda Irlbeck at IHCA should they experience scheduling barriers while working to get TNAs into testing sites or certification courses.
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On Aug. 18, 2022, CMS issued extensive materials that indicated the flexibilities currently allowing home health agencies and hospices to utilize telehealth for completion of their respective face-to-face encounter requirements would terminate with the end of the public health emergency (PHE). However, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (CAA 2022), Congress enacted provisions that extend the geographic and originating site requirement waivers and the waiver allowing use of telehealth to perform the hospice face-to-face encounter for 151 days following the end of the PHE. CMS officials have acknowledged the changes made by the CAA 2022 and have indicated that they are in the process of correcting the fact sheets to reflect that the home health and hospice face-to-face telehealth waivers will remain in effect through the 151st day following the end of the PHE.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.70 – Administration.
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AHCA has updated its flyer for its Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO), focusing on CMS Requirements of Participation (RoP) guidance covering training for these individuals in preparation for Oct. 24, 2022, when Phase 3 RoP take effect.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.80 — Infection Control.
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The August 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Phase 3 of CMS’ Requirements of Participation (RoP) for long-term care facilities takes effect on Oct. 24, 2022. IHCA's informative RoP Phase 3 Workshop on Aug. 31 will offer education, tools, resources and practical application of regulations for operational success, compliance and positive quality outcomes. This in-person conference is approved for 5.0 CEUs for nursing facility nurses, social services staff, department heads and administrators.
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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will host a one-hour webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at noon to discuss the expanded Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) guidelines for skilled nursing facility providers.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to §483.30 – Physician Services and §483.35 – Nursing Services.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 guidance for the public on Aug. 11. The CDC press release also revealed that the CDC plans to align stand-alone guidance documents, such as those for health care settings, with the new guidance for the public. IHCA members are encouraged to let the CDC and CMS know how the current guidance regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), screening, testing and quarantine is not sustainable and creates difficulty for residents, families and staff. Letters can be emailed to the CDC at
[email protected] and CMS at
[email protected].
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After many years of advocacy, reviews by CMS and multiple limited waiver extensions, CMS issued a final rule in July 2022 that essentially permits nursing homes that were Medicare or Medicaid certified before July 5, 2016, and previously utilized a Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) as a mechanism to determine equivalency, to utilize the mandatory values found in the 2001 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101A. The more restrictive mandatory values found in the 2013 edition of NFPA 101A will not apply. This is important since the 2013 edition of the NFPA 101A is the edition currently adopted by CMS.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the changes made to admission, transfer and discharge guidance.
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Phase 3 of CMS’ Requirements of Participation (RoP) for long-term care facilities takes effect on Oct. 24, 2022. IHCA's informative RoP Phase 3 Workshop on Aug. 31 will offer education, tools, resources and practical application of regulations for operational success, compliance and positive quality outcomes. This in-person conference is approved for 5.0 CEUs for nursing facility nurses, social services staff, department heads and administrators.
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IHCA requests that skilled nursing facility (SNF) provider members participate in a brief U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) survey regarding health information technology (HIT). To complete the survey, an individual from a facility needs to have specific knowledge of the electronic health record systems used within the facility. Survey results may impact future SNF HIT policymaking. The survey ends Aug. 31, 2022.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tags to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights the requirement to have a compliance and ethics program. The revision included the requirements for the compliance and ethics program at §483.85. Survey enforcement of these standards was delayed due to the pandemic, but will begin on Oct. 24, 2022.
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The second quarter 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) life safety survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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CMS will host an Open Door Forum tomorrow, Aug. 4, at 1:00 p.m. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care (LTC) facilities are encouraged to dial-in to the forum where updates will be given on various rules and guidelines, followed by an open question and answer session.
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As the CMS 1135 COVID-19 Emergency Blanket Waiver provision allowing Iowa providers to employ temporary nurse aides (TNAs) expired in June, members are reminded that established TNAs must become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) before the Oct. 6, 2022 deadline. After the deadline, TNAs will no longer be allowed to work as nurse aides unless they are listed on Iowa’s Direct Care Worker Registry.
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Each week through October, IHCA will highlight particular F-tag(s) to help providers break down the Phase 2 updates and Phase 3 new guidance. This week's edition highlights changes made to the resident call system and pharmacy services.
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The July 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Last Friday afternoon, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists. This is effective July 15, 2022, and will continue for 90 days pursuant to federal law. IHCA’s Regulatory Relief Summary highlights the elements of the CMS Coronavirus 1135 Emergency Blanket Waiver that remain in place, including the waiver of required three-day stay to access skilled nursing services.
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Coinciding with a new report on antimicrobial resistance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance on enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) for all health care settings, including nursing homes. The guidance expands to residents that trigger the use of EBP.
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The July 2022 skilled assisted living (AL) and residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is proud to offer a variety of online courses through its On-Demand Education Platform. The courses are available 24/7 and convenient for long-term care professionals to integrate into their busy schedules. The newest courses available on IHCA's On-Demand Education Platform include the free one-hour Mandatory Reporter Recertification Trainings for dependent adult abuse and child abuse.
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CMS recently issued QSO-22-19-NH, which outlines revisions to surveyor guidance for some Phase 2 and all Phase 3 Requirements of Participation, arbitration agreement requirements, investigating complaints and facility reported incidents and the Psychosocial Outcome Severity Guide. CMS also issued an advance copy of the State Operations Manual to clarify specific regulatory requirements and provide information on how compliance will be assessed. Surveyors will begin using this guidance to identify noncompliance on Oct. 24, 2022. Members are encouraged to review the publicly posted training on these changes for surveyors and the public on the Quality, Safety and Education Portal.
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The one-hour Mandatory Reporter Recertification Trainings for dependent adult abuse and child abuse are now available on IHCA's On-Demand Education Platform. Every individual required to report suspected abuse must complete two hours of mandatory reporter training within their first six months of employment or self-employment and one hour of additional training every three years, unless otherwise specified by federal regulations.
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CMS has provided new information on how it will survey for compliance of the staff COVID-19 vaccination requirement. CMS survey oversight of the staff vaccination requirement for Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers will continue to be performed during initial and recertification surveys, as originally stated. With the updated guidance, compliance will not be evaluated with every complaint survey. Instead, surveyors will review compliance only in response to complaints alleging non-compliance with the vaccination mandate requirements.
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CMS has rescinded guidance that expects surveyors to be fully vaccinated before participating in an on-site survey. In a memo published on June 16, 2022, CMS stated that confusion stemming from penalties for noncompliance and the prohibition of facilities’ request for surveyor vaccination status information was the basis for the recision.
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With the CMS termination of the waiver for nurse aide training and certification on June 6, 2022, facilities are reminded to begin transitioning temporary nurse aides (TNAs) to certified nurse aides (CNAs) prior to Oct. 5, 2022. To assist in preparing TNAs for the competency exams, IHCA is offering a series of foundational courses throughout the state on July 12, July 20 and Aug. 22.
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Due to the June 6, 2022, expiration of the CMS 1135 Emergency Blanket Waiver, any person serving as a paid nutrition assistant (PNA) must meet the traditional minimum training requirements. To meet compliance standards, PNAs must complete a minimum of eight hours of training from a Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) approved course. To help meet this requirement, members are reminded of IHCA’s on-demand Nutritional/Feeding Assistant - Train the Trainer Program. This course provides a facility-employed registered nurse with the knowledge to train PNAs within the facility.
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The June 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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Assisted living programs and residential care facilities continue to seek options to maximize quality of life for their tenants, staff and visitors, as the severity of COVID-19 infections wanes. While considering the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assisted living members are encouraged to review their program’s COVID-19 policies. ICAL has updated its ICAL Clinical Guidance Summary to assist members in the development of their unique plan.
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Members are reminded that in March 2021, the Iowa Board of Nursing updated verbiage contained within administrative rules outlining the scope of practice for licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Most relevant is 655-6.3(3)(b), where it is stated that an LPN "may participate in the nursing process by conducting a thorough, ongoing nursing assessment based on the patient’s needs after the initial assessment is completed by the registered nurse."
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On June 7, 2022, CMS released updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process (LTCSP) resources. Members are encouraged to download the updated “Survey Resources with Staff Vaccine Documents 06/07/2022” .zip file on the CMS website and review the changes. These resources, also used by survey teams to determine compliance decisions, are helpful for providers in their quest to prepare for survey entrance.
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The second quarter 2022 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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One of the many courses available on IHCA's On-Demand Education Platform is Life Safety - Fire Safety 2022, sponsored by Midwest Alarm Services. This on-demand training covers the latest life safety-fire safety updates for long-term care providers from the State Fire Marshal's Office. This training program is approved for up to 6.0 CEUs for environmental services staff, department heads, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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CMS has provided clarification on the in-service training requirements for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities. This requires nursing assistants to receive at least 12 hours of in-service training annually. This waiver requirement was terminated on June 6, 2022. However, CMS has provided clarification that it will allow staff to have 12 months after the termination of the emergency waiver on June 6, 2022, to complete the required 12 hours of in-service training.
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On May 26, 2022, CMS updated QSO-20-41, guidance related to emergency preparedness exercise exemption based on a facility's activation of their emergency plan. This update clarifies that providers are exempt from the 2021 and 2022 Full Scale Exercise (FSE) so long as the facility is still operating under an activated emergency plan or has reactivated its plan due to COVID-19.
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The Department of Labor's (DOL's) Wage and Hour Division is providing additional resources for workers on their rights to take leave for serious mental health conditions and for employers to better understand how to comply with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
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The May 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as it is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The CMS Kansas City Office is hosting Rural Health Week, a series of one-hour online sessions for rural health care providers in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, on June 13-17. Each session will take place from noon to 1:00 p.m. and will feature a 15-30 minute presentation followed by a listening session where providers can ask questions or inform CMS of challenges they face.
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Your Resident Profile is a LTC Trend Tracker publication that provides the information your skilled nursing center needs to begin the resident profile portions of components one and two of the annual facility assessment, required under the CMS Requirements of Participation.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) recently announced that nursing facility surveyors would be using a paperless entrance format for recertification surveys beginning May 2, 2022. DIA shared that surveyors would begin asking facility leadership to submit requested entrance information back to the survey team via email. IHCA has provided links to the entrance documents.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has recently welcomed Kristina Dolsen as program coordinator for the Adult and Special Services Bureau. While transitioning from her previous employment at Woodward Resource Center for the first few weeks, Kristina will be working with monitors in the field for assisted living facilities, residential care facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disability (ICF/ID).
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In recent conversations with the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), a plan to introduce contracted surveyors into Iowa facilities was shared. Contracting surveyors is part of DIA’s plan to reduce backlogged annual surveys and complaints. The contracted surveyors were introduced into Iowa facilities this week and will be present though the end of May. The goal is to complete approximately 110 annual surveys that are currently behind schedule.
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As a reminder, ICAL's Assisted Living Medication Manager Course only provides individuals the necessary tools to effectively and safely administer the many medications encountered in assisted living and residential care facility programs. This course is not a certified medication aide (CMA) course and does not allow employees to pass medication in a nursing facility.
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The April 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) and second quarter 2022 residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality as they are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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If you are new to Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) or would like to brush up on expectations of the PASRR program, Iowa PASRR offers a series of free webinars to support your learning needs. Multiple webinars are now scheduled through September 2022. Social workers, admission team members, nurse managers, minimum data set (MDS) coordinators, administrators and business office managers are encouraged to participate in the specific webinars that cover topics relevant to their area of practice.
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CMS recently announced its intent to end several waivers contained in the COVID-19 Emergency Blanket Waivers and Flexibilities for Health Care Providers. However, members are advised that the section of the CMS waiver related to the three-day hospital stay remains in place and is expected to continue until the federal public health emergency has ended.
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In early April 2022, CMS informed health care providers that many of the 1135 blanket waivers will sunset. Some waivers have a 30-day expiration, while others will end after 60 days. All the fire and life safety related waivers fall into the 60-day expiration period. IHCA has provided a list of the fire and life safety related blanket waivers that will expire on June 6, 2022, along with details around each waiver item.
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CMS released updated guidance on April 5, 2022, related to the Interim Final Rule for Health Care Staff Vaccination Mandate. The revisions were made to clarify the expectations for assessing compliance with the requirement to ensure all staff are vaccinated. IHCA has highlighted the key revisions; however, providers are encouraged to review the revised document and applicable memo for detailed changes.
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CMS has provided an update to the COVID-19 emergency declaration blanket waiver for specific providers, including nursing facilities. Of particular interest to nursing facilities are the waivers related to requirements for in-service training and training and certification of nurse aides. IHCA has provided details on which waivers will end and how members can prepare.
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The update to the COVID-19 emergency declaration blanket waiver has caused concern and confusion as to what it means for nursing facilities that employ temporary nurse aides (TNAs). To assist members, IHCA has provided clarification on the timeline for compliance and resources to transition TNAs into the certified nursing assistant (CNA) role.
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The April 2022 assisted living (AL) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality as this is a helpful resource when planning for future surveys.
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The March 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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Congratulations to our members who received deficiency-free surveys.
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Recently, the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) announced a plan to supplement the current surveyor workforce with contracted individuals. Due to the backlog of annual surveys, the DIA is seeking alternate methods to increase the number of surveys completed each week and return the average time between standard (annual) surveys to the pre-pandemic cadence of approximately every 12 months.
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CMS identified an iQIES system nuance that may affect the Home Health Agency’s (HHA's) Services Provided values that are displayed on the HHA Provider Preview reports for the April 2022 refresh.
CMS has told the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) that the services listed can only be updated with a recertification visit, which only takes place every three years. If your agency’s report is inaccurate and you have had a survey on Oct. 19, 2021 or after, the report can be corrected by contacting DIA's Barb Rasmussen at
[email protected].
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Congratulations to Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center on its deficiency-free federal lookback survey from CMS. As this is an intensive process, IHCA congratulates Scottish Rite Park Health Care Center on this outstanding accomplishment.
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The second deadline for compliance with the CMS Interim Final Rule for health care staff vaccination was March 15, 2022. To meet compliance expectations, existing staff members must have completed the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccination, have an approved medical or religious exemption or meet the qualifications for a temporary delay. Any newly hired employees must have the first dose of a two-dose series, a dose of the one-dose vaccine or have an approved exemption prior to providing care or services to residents of the facility.
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During a recent ICAL Assisted Living Provider Update Call, a question was asked about requirements surrounding background checks for volunteers in assisted living programs. Chapter 67.19 of Iowa Code outlines that assisted living staff members must have a background check completed prior to employment. Volunteers do not meet the definition of staff and do not require a background check.
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Congratulations to our members who received deficiency-free or insufficiency-free surveys from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA).
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On Thursday, March 10, 2022, CMS released updated requirements for testing staff and residents in nursing homes. Effective immediately, nursing homes are required to routinely test all staff who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, CMS updated its guidance surrounding visitation in QSO-20-39-NH. The changes in guidance are summarized in the updated IHCA Clinical Guidance Summary.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a three-month enforcement effort for focused inspections in hospitals, nursing facilities and assisted living communities treating COVID-19 patients. Inspections will be limited to organizations with prior COVID-19-related citations or complaints. Because Iowa is a state plan state, it is unclear at this time if Iowa OSHA will adopt this initiative. For now, the association believes there is minimal risk for OSHA COVID-19 surveys to occur in Iowa health care facilities.
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In an effort to improve efficiency, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) recently began piloting a paperless survey entrance format. Therefore, some member facilities may encounter surveyors who request documents to be emailed to them. Although there is no requirement to participate, members are encouraged, to the degree in which they are comfortable, to contribute to this pilot and offer feedback on the process.
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The first quarter 2022 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality as they are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA's in-person Nursing Facility Survey Preparedness 101 on March 15 will provide approaches to prepare for an upcoming survey with confidence. There will also be a discussion about the role of the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and a review of the top ten deficiencies cited by DIA in 2021. This event is approved for 5.0 CEUs for nurses, department heads and administrators.
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On Feb. 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it had changed the metrics used to determine personal and community COVID-19 prevention measures based on community spread. It is important to note that this change DOES NOT apply in health care settings because the consequences of spread and risk of triggering outbreaks are greater in the health care setting.
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IHCA presented several survey resources during today's special Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Survey Call. Critical element pathways are the tools surveyors use to evaluate compliance while in facilities. Members are encouraged to use these pathways to perform an assessment of compliance in their facilities. IHCA has provided links to the specific forms referenced in the call.
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The first deadline of the CMS Interim Final Rule for Health Care Staff Vaccination has passed, and IHCA has received feedback from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) on enforcement efforts. In a recent call with DIA, it was indicated that surveys were overall "going very well." As with any new rule, there is a learning curve that can be expected, and IHCA has provided additional information to guide ongoing preparation efforts.
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The Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has indicated its expectation that facilities in Iowa will be routinely testing health care personnel who are not fully vaccinated. Until further direction is given, providers are required to routinely test health care personnel who are not fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 primary series.
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On Feb. 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it had changed the metrics used to determine personal and community COVID-19 prevention measures based on community spread. It is important to note that this change DOES NOT apply in health care settings because the consequences of spread and risk of triggering outbreaks are greater in the health care setting.
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently published a menu of resources for nursing facilities to use in their efforts to track and trend COVID-19 vaccination administration data. Additionally, the tools are built to assist with reporting accurately to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
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CMS recently updated an FAQ outlining the availability of Civil Money Penalty (CMP) reinvestment funds to purchase in-person visitation aids. The update states that facilities may request the use of CMP funds to purchase portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air filters to increase or improve air quality. A maximum use of $3,000 per facility, including shipping costs, may be requested.
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The February 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality as they are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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Since surveys had been on hold for nearly a year while providers focused on managing COVID-19, IHCA has developed a workshop to help nursing facility members prepare for upcoming surveys. Presented by a former surveyor from the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), Nursing Facility Survey Preparedness 101 will provide a comprehensive understanding of the survey process, assist with the completion of entrance forms and review tools used by survey teams to determine compliance. This in-person event on March 15 is approved for 5.0 CEUs for nurses, administrators and department heads. Seats are limited and filling quickly.
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The CMS staff COVID-19 vaccination rule requires facilities to take additional precautions for staff who remain unvaccinated due to a medical/religious exemption or newly hired staff who only have the first dose of the two-dose series. CMS provides a list of additional precautions in the QSO memo and its related attachments - Attachment A-LTC for nursing facilities and Attachment G-HHA for home health agencies.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated the guidance to nursing homes and other health care providers, and CMS updated its Nursing Home Visitation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. IHCA’s Clinical Guidance Summary has been revised to incorporate the information contained in the updated CDC guidance and the CMS FAQ.
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ICAL updated its clinical guidance for assisted living programs this week to reflect the new guidance recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The guidance covers personal protective equipment guidelines, COVID-19 screening and testing, quarantine, return to work guidelines, documentation of vaccinations and more.
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Governor Reynolds publicly announced on Feb. 3 that the state’s Public Health Disaster Emergency Proclamation will end at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2022. Starting the following day, the Iowa COVID-19 Dashboard and Vaccinate Iowa websites will no longer be available to the public. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) will continue to gather and publish select COVID-19 statistics weekly on its website in a similar fashion as influenza data. IHCA has detailed how this announcement will bring operational changes for Iowa nursing facilities, assisted living programs and residential care facilities.
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With Governor Reynolds’ recent announcement that her Proclamation of Disaster Emergency will expire on Feb. 15, 2022, some out-of-state nurses working in Iowa will need to take action. The Iowa Board of Nursing is authorizing a grace period to resume compliance with its normal licensure requirements. Nurses who are presently working in Iowa based on the emergency-practice rule will have 90 days from Feb. 16, 2022, to obtain an Iowa nursing license or a multi-state license from a compact state. This means such nurses will have up to and including May 17, 2022, to obtain proper licensure.
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As an IHCA, ICAL or ICHC member, you receive access to legal and regulatory templates and documents that provide guidance to enhance quality and regulatory outcomes. IHCA worked with attorney Ken Watkins to update several legal and regulatory resources for nursing facilities and assisted living programs that are now available on the IHCA website.
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Providers wishing to learn more about the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process or how to manage PathTracker Plus are invited to participate in several free upcoming 90-minute webinars offered by Iowa PASRR. The first webinar is on Tuesday, Feb. 15, and will cover PathTracker Plus for nursing facility social workers, administrators and business office staff.
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CMS has issued memo QSO-22-10-ALL to all state survey agencies, requiring on-site surveyors – including CLIA and life safety surveyors – to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an acceptable medical or religious exemption. State survey agencies are responsible for compliance with this expectation. Therefore, certified providers and suppliers are still not permitted to ask surveyors for proof of their vaccination status as a precondition for entry. However, providers may ask surveyors their vaccination status should a resident request to only have vaccinated visitors.
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CMS has made updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide, effective Jan. 27, 2022. As part of these updates, CMS has provided several documents for providers to use in their efforts to prepare for enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
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The Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has provided the clarification that at-home test kits can be used to meet return-to-work testing requirements, testing of symptomatic staff or routine testing of unvaccinated staff as long as the kit is authorized for use. The individual being tested should provide an unopened, unused test kit for use during on-site testing at the facility. The test should be administered per the facility’s testing procedure and reported accordingly. Self-administered, self-reported tests are not recommended.
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In response to QSO-22-09-ALL, which included CMS guidance for the Interim Final Rule regarding the vaccine mandate for health care staff, ICHC has added updated resources to its ICHC Member COVID-19 Resources webpage. The IHCA/ICAL/ICHC Vaccination Mandate Guidance Summary has been updated, and ICHC has created a Home Health Vaccine Mandate Checklist to help home health members ensure they have the processes and policies in place that are needed to be in compliance.
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The January 2022 skilled nursing facility (SNF) and assisted living (AL) survey trend reports, along with the a trend report of residential care facility (RCF) survey data from September, October and November 2021, are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality, as they are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the preliminary injunctions against enforcement of the CMS interim final rule. This means CMS can enforce its vaccine mandate in states previously exempted due to the stay, including Iowa. CMS has released two QSO memos with separate deadlines for implementation. In Iowa, all health care staff are required to have received the first vaccine dose by Feb. 14, and the second dose by March 15.
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On Jan. 14, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that the federal public health emergency (PHE) would be extended an additional 90 days. IHCA has updated its Regulatory Relief Summary. Members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the current waivers and consider implementation of the flexibilities allowed to support ongoing operations.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently alerted the public that 3G cellular systems are being phased out of service. Any fire alarm system that uses a 3G connection must be updated to ensure uninterrupted service. Members are encouraged to review their current fire alarm system and communicate with their current alarm provider to determine if an update is required. If your facility is in need of new LTE dialers, contact Midwest Alarm Services, an IHCA associate member, to learn more about its discounts for IHCA members.
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On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, Iowa’s Labor Commissioner announced that the state of Iowa would not be adopting or enforcing the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccination mandate. This announcement was made public hours after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments related to the OSHA Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and the CMS Interim Final Rule mandating health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet rendered a decision on either case, the elements outlined in the ETS will not be enforced for employers with more than 100 employees in Iowa.
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Governor Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster Proclamation on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. The proclamation extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days, which is through Feb. 6, 2022. IHCA's understanding is that all remaining sections in the proclamation are not expected to be extended beyond Feb. 6, 2022.
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Since the start of the new year, members using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) vaccination tracking worksheets for residents or health care personnel to assist in vaccination and booster data management have faced technical errors. The previous workbooks did not allow the user to choose a date in 2022 to track the current week’s data. Early this week, NHSN posted updated data tracking worksheets for residents and health care personnel.
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently alerted the public that 3G cellular systems are being phased out of service. 3G service from some cellular providers will end as early as next month. This will impact any fire alarm systems that use a 3G connection to function and alert properly. Any system that uses a 3G connection must be updated to ensure uninterrupted service. Members are encouraged to review their current fire alarm system and communicate with their current alarm provider to determine if an update is required.
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Since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and CMS released the original versions of their mandates, they have met significant resistance, landing both in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments for the OSHA Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and the CMS Vaccination Mandate for Health Care Workers this Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. To prepare, IHCA has provided action items for compliance for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living programs and home health providers.
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On Dec. 28, 2021, CMS released guidance enforcing its interim final rule (IFR) issued Nov. 5, 2021, mandating the COVID-19 vaccine in health care settings. This rule only applies to the 25 states not covered under the injunction issued by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The guidance does not apply in Iowa. IHCA has provided guidance on what members should be doing now, with the expectation that the rule will become applicable to Iowa after the Supreme Court hears arguments on Jan. 7.
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On Dec. 27, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its website to withdraw the non-record keeping portions of the health care emergency temporary standard (ETS) issued in June. The ETS is no longer in effect, however, the record keeping requirements in the ETS, such as the COVID-19 log and reporting requirements, will continue as they were adopted under another section of the OSHA Act. Due to the withdrawal of the June health care ETS, health care employers, including all assisted living, nursing facility, home health or other long-term care providers, are now subject to OSHA’s vaccine mandate ETS.
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On Dec. 28, 2021, CMS issued a new set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the revised nursing facility visitation guidelines outlined in memo, “QSO-20-39-NH REVISED.” IHCA encourages providers to review the document, which contains valuable clarifications on communal dining, personal protective equipment (PPE) during visitation and vaccination.
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Starting Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, the Department of Inspections and Appeals’ (DIA's) website login function incurred a failure, rendering some providers unable to login using their facility-specific access to complete self-reports or to report direct care worker employment. DIA has provided IHCA with tips members can use to work around this issue until it is resolved.
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As COVID-19 case counts increase across the state, IHCA has worked in recent days with the Department of Inspection and Appeals (DIA) to confirm guidance pertaining to the eligibility of long-term care staff members who are COVID-positive but well enough and willing to work as a last resort in crisis capacity staffing situations. There has been no change in guidance from DIA, which continues to utilize Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance regarding mitigating health care personnel shortages.
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At the current time, CMS does not have the ability to enforce the COVID-19 vaccination mandate in Iowa and 24 other states, leaving 25 states subject to the terms outlined in the Interim Final Rule (IFR). As of Dec. 16, 2021, the future of the IFR is in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court as CMS applied for a stay of the injunctions issued by the lower courts. Additionally, CMS has not yet issued new guidance outlining its intent to implement and enforce the vaccine mandate. IHCA is monitoring this situation closely and will provide updates as they are available.
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Despite the CMS interim final rule being on a temporary injunction, members are encouraged to share feedback with CMS related to the vaccination mandates for health care workers just in case the injunction comes to an end. Comments should be submitted no later than Dec. 29, 2021, but can be submitted through Jan. 4, 2022. IHCA has provided a list of information to include in your email to CMS.
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The December 2021 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report, along with a trend report of life-safety survey data from April-November 2021, are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA reminds members that the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have advised facilities to have at least two individuals in the facility enrolled in SAMS Level 3 access for the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). SAMS Level 3 access is required to complete some elements of NHSN reporting. However, the CDC has granted a temporary allowance for facilities to continue reporting without Level 3 access. Members are encouraged to submit applications to upgrade their access as soon as possible, as the process can take up to four weeks. As a reminder, SAMS Level 3 access is specific to the individual, not to the nursing facility.
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Despite the CMS interim final rule being on a temporary injunction, members are encouraged to share feedback with CMS related to the vaccination mandates for health care workers. Comments should be submitted no later than Dec. 29, 2021, but can be submitted through Jan. 4, 2022. IHCA has provided a list of information to include in your email to CMS.
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Governor Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster Proclamation on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. The proclamation extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days, which is through Jan. 9, 2022. There are no changes from the prior proclamation for any IHCA, ICAL or ICHC provider groups.
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Celebrating the holidays in a health care organization can be an uplifting experience for both residents and staff. However, decorating may lead to some unintended consequences. IHCA has provided some quick tips to help ensure your organization maintains a safe environment that is compliant with the Life Safety Code this holiday season.
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The third and fourth quarter 2021 home health (HH) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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CMS has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the CMS interim final rule requiring health care worker vaccinations, pending future developments in the litigation. However, due to the potential reinstatement of the mandate, IHCA recommends a conservative approach to compliance. Members are encouraged to enforce all aspects of the vaccine mandate, short of terminating unvaccinated employees who do not have an approved medical or religious waiver. IHCA/ICAL/ICHC’s Vaccine Guidance Summary contains practice guidance to implement compliance measures in your organization. Additionally, the IHCA Vaccine Toolkit contains policy and exemption templates for your customizable use.
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Despite the CMS interim final rule being on a temporary injunction, members are encouraged to share feedback with CMS related to the vaccination mandates for health care workers. Comments should be submitted no later than Dec. 29, 2021, but can be submitted through Jan. 4, 2022. IHCA has provided a list of information to include in your email to CMS.
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The U.S. District Court in the Western District of Louisiana issued a nationwide injunction yesterday, Nov. 30, preventing the federal government from implementing the CMS vaccine mandate for health care staff. The decision will likely be appealed, and the stay can be lifted upon successful appeal. IHCA advises its members to view this development as a gift of time to get more employees vaccinated, not an end to the threat of the mandate.
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Since the start of the COVID-19 vaccination push, members have asked about managing information that is shared between the facility/program and its contracted partners, such as therapy providers and staffing agencies. IHCA has prepared a customizable contract addendum template for members to facilitate communication of their organization’s expectations related to sharing of vaccination documentation and approved exemptions.
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Members are encouraged to share feedback with CMS related to the Interim Final Rule vaccination mandates for health care workers. Comments should be submitted no later than Dec. 29, 2021, but can be submitted through Jan. 4, 2022. IHCA has provided a list of information to include in your email to CMS.
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In the recent QSO to state survey agencies, CMS asked for additional emphasis to be placed on sufficient and competent nursing staff, the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and other unintended outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. IHCA encourages members to review the critical element pathways for each of these topics to assist in preparation for upcoming survey visits.
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CMS is issuing a 1135 waiver for directors of food and nutrition services, granting an extension on certain requirements that previously would have had a deadline of Nov. 28, 2021. CMS is waiving this requirement due to the inability for individuals to enroll in, attend or complete a certification program during the pandemic. IHCA anticipates this waiver will be in place through the PHE, which is currently set to last through Jan. 16, 2022. Members should continue to pursue training for individuals serving in this role to be in compliance when the waiver ends.
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With facilities having significant personal protective equipment (PPE) quantities on-hand due to the pandemic, some organizations are forced to create new storage locations. This sometimes involves the repurposing of existing spaces that were utilized differently in the past. In many cases, this essentially creates “new” hazardous areas. IHCA has detailed the requirements in the Life Safety Code that relate to hazardous areas and how they may impact PPE storage areas.
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On Nov. 18, 2021, CMS updated its FAQs related to the Interim Final Rule for Health Care Staff COVID-19 Vaccination. The clarification provides that facilities are not bound to accepting medical or religious exemptions granted by their contracted partners. Members are encouraged to consider their organization’s process of reviewing these exemptions and communicate their expectations to the affected contracted entities. IHCA has drafted a contract addendum template for members to customize and apply in their organizations if they wish. These changes are reflected in the updated IHCA/ICAL/ICHC Vaccine Mandate Guidance document for member review.
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Members are encouraged to share feedback with CMS related to the Interim Final Rule vaccination mandates for health care workers. Comments should be submitted no later than Dec. 29, 2021, but can be submitted through Jan. 4, 2022. IHCA has provided a list of information to include in your email to CMS.
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The November 2021 nursing facility (NF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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After the first publication of the Interim Final Rule related to the vaccination mandate in health care facilities across the nation, CMS made one small, but potentially impactful, change. The new deadline for compliance with Phase 1 of the vaccine mandate was updated to Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. This deadline had previously been stated to be Dec. 5, 2021.
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On Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, CMS updated its guidance for nursing home visitation. Visitation is now allowed for all residents at all times, in accordance with adherence to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention and control to mitigate the risk of infection spread. IHCA’s Clinical Guidance Summary has been updated to reflect the new guidance.
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Assisted living programs and residential care facilities in Iowa are able to craft their own COVID-19 visitation plans, but must not be more restrictive than what CMS is requiring in the nursing home setting. Assisted living and residential care facility members are encouraged to review and update their policies to align with the newest CMS guidance, released last Friday. ICAL’s Clinical Guidance Summary has been updated and reposted to the IHCA website under COVID-19 Resources for member review.
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Shortly after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 vaccination and testing was released on Thursday, Nov. 4, lawsuits were filed across the nation claiming that OSHA had overreached its authority to protect workers. In the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, a stay was accomplished, placing the components of the OSHA vaccine mandate on a temporary hold.
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CMS has released QSO-22-02-ALL, "Changes to COVID-19 Survey Activities and Increased Oversight in Nursing Homes." The QSO announces steps to assist state survey agencies (SAs) in addressing the backlogs of complaint and recertification surveys, including revising criteria for conducting Focused Infection Control (FIC) surveys and guidance for resuming recertification surveys, as well as temporary guidance monitoring flexibilities related to complaint investigations.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has suggested that individual facilities address the use of beauty salons in the case of a facility outbreak investigation in their COVID-19 plans or policies. Therefore, IHCA encourages members to review and update policies to include this information. While doing so, members are encouraged to refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.
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Governor Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. The proclamation extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days, which is through Dec. 12. There are no changes from the prior proclamation for any IHCA, ICAL or ICHC provider groups.
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IHCA's Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Survey Committee is looking for additional members who wish to participate in monthly survey reviews. This is a great opportunity for leadership to get a bird's-eye view of what is occurring on the enforcement front. The committee meets the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. at the IHCA office in West Des Moines. If an individual from your organization wishes to assist the committee, please complete an application form on the IHCA website.
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IHCA has developed new resources to assist IHCA, ICAL and ICHC member providers with the CMS rule and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on vaccination mandates released last week. Please share this information with anyone on your staff who is responsible for personnel matters at your organization.
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The assisted living (AL) and residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports for October 2021 are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, eye protection should be worn during all patient care encounters in facilities located within an area of substantial or high community transmission. Therefore, individuals whose primary duties do not include patient care would not need to wear eye protection at all times. However, it would be recommended that eye protection is readily available if a resident encounter might occur.
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IHCA has received questions about unvaccinated staff being present in the dining room or during communal activities. IHCA reminds members that all health care personnel should be wearing source control (masks) at all times while in patient care areas of the facility. There is no guidance indicating that unvaccinated staff should not be assisting with dining. However, each facility should consider if it can accommodate dining activities with vaccinated health care personnel to provide heightened protection from transmission due to residents being unmasked.
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CMS announced it is granting a two-year extension to a specific group of existing Time Limited Waivers (TLW). This benefits providers who have historically utilized a Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) to show equivalent compliance with the Life Safety Code, and to meet fire safety requirements for certification with Medicare and Medicaid programs. By granting the extension, providers will now have until Nov. 1, 2023, to come into compliance with the Life Safety Code.
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The September 2021 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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On Oct. 15, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. The new expiration date for the COVID-19 PHE is now set for mid-January 2022. Any decision to allow the PHE to lapse would come with 60 days of notice.
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Governor Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. The proclamation extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days, which is through Nov. 14. There are no changes from the prior proclamation for any IHCA, ICAL or ICHC provider groups.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) recent update to infection control guidance for health care facilities states that eye protection should be worn during all patient care encounters for health care personnel working in facilities located in counties with substantial or high levels of COVID-19 community transmission. The Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) recently stated that it expects facilities to be in compliance with this guidance and will be surveying to that standard.
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CMS has launched an added feature to Nursing Home Compare to allow the public to more readily identify nursing homes’ vaccination rates for residents and staff. CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are also using this data to monitor vaccine uptake among residents and staff and to identify facilities that may need additional resources or assistance to respond to the pandemic.
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During a call with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), ICHC learned that beginning Oct. 18, DIA will begin using the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) system to deliver 2567 reports to providers, and providers will use iQIES to submit plans of correction.
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IHCA and ICAL members can save $50 on AHCA/NCAL’s popular Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO Version 2) by using promo code IPCO2021 at checkout through Oct. 31. This training is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long-term care settings.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is hosting training webinars directed toward specific facility types that will cover the new updates to the COVID-19 vaccination modules. The webinar for long-term care facilities is tomorrow, Sept. 23, at 1:00 p.m. The webinar for dialysis facilities is Friday, Sept. 24, at noon.
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Last week, President Biden released his COVID-19 Action Plan, which included mandates for COVID-19 vaccines and/or testing. OSHA will release an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in the next two to eight weeks for this mandate and will release an FAQ prior to issuing the ETS. In the meantime, an FAQ addressing some of the common employer concerns regarding Biden’s plan and the upcoming OSHA ETS is available.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) recently shared that it had received a directive from CMS to resume Focused Infection Control (FIC) surveys. Members are encouraged to review their COVID-19 response plans and infection control practices in preparation for an FIC survey. To assist members in survey preparation, IHCA updated its FIC survey resources on Sept. 13. The resources can be found on the IHCA website.
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Governor Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster Proclamation on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. The proclamation extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days, through Oct. 17. There are no changes from the prior proclamation that affects IHCA, ICAL or ICHC members.
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On Sept. 9 the Biden Administration announced that it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement. IHCA, ICAL and ICHC have created action items that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), assisted living (AL) programs and home health (HH) organizations should complete in order to prepare for this mandate that is expected to go into effect mid-October.
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On Sept. 10, 2021, CMS updated its previous requirements around testing. The CMS memo updates the testing summary, including if the facility has the ability to identify close contacts of the individual with COVID-19, the facility can choose to conduct focused testing based on the known close contacts. Also, the levels of COVID-19 community transmission were updated to now include four colors instead of the previous three.
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A discrepancy has been detected between Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals' (DIA’s) rules for assisted living programs in Chapter 69 and Iowa Board of Nursing’s Scope of Practice. DIA has determined that the registered nurse in an assisted living program is not able to delegate the initial assessment to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). DIA has indicated that it will begin surveying to this standard immediately. ICAL encourages its members to review their policies and procedures related to the admission screening and assessment process to ensure that a registered nurse is completing all initial assessments moving forward.
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IHCA is hosting a Mandated Vaccines and the New Requirements from CMS and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Webinar for nursing facilities tomorrow, Sept. 2, at 10:00 a.m. The webinar will be recorded, and all registrants can access the webinar recording on-demand until Sept. 17, 2021.
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On Aug. 18, President Biden announced that all nursing home staff will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in an upcoming emergency regulatory action which would take immediate effect. While IHCA and AHCA have submitted letters expressing concerns about this mandate, CMS has asked to hear from providers. All nursing home providers are encouraged to send an email to CMS sharing their facility’s story and perspective. Providers should submit their emails no later than this Friday, Sept. 3. IHCA and AHCA have provided tips for composing these messages.
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To anticipate recommendations for additional COVID-19 vaccine series, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is updating its COVID-19 vaccine data collection forms and tables of instruction to reflect the latest recommendations for additional doses. Data collection forms for residents and health care personnel are available on the IHCA COVID-19 resources webpage.
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CMS has released the interim final rule, “COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Requirements for Clients and Staff in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID).” ICFs/IID are encouraged – but not required – to report COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics treatment information to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) National Healthcare Safety Network.
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Earlier in the pandemic, Governor Reynolds had issued a state-specific waiver for nursing facilities to allow employees to work without tuberculosis (TB) testing being completed. That waiver has since expired. However, the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has indicated that it is taking into consideration the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) recommendations for timing of TB testing as it relates to COVID-19 vaccination during the survey process. IHCA has provided TB testing recommendations for nursing facilities, assisted living programs, home health agencies and residential care facilities.
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IHCA has worked closely with both the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to secure two exceptions to policy regarding the ability of facilities to continue using temporary nurse aides (TNAs). Both exceptions to policies have been signed and allow members to continue using TNAs through the duration of the federal public health emergency, currently set to expire on Oct. 18, 2021. The Iowa exception to policy would allow providers four months after the federal public health emergency is over to make sure their TNAs are registered with the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry.
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The August 2021 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is hosting a Mandated Vaccines and the New Requirements from CMS and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Webinar for nursing facilities next Thursday, Sept. 2. Submit questions related to the vaccine mandate to
[email protected] by Aug. 31, and they will be answered during the webinar. The webinar will be recorded, and all registrants can access the webinar on-demand until Sept. 17, 2021.
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In response to the increasing COVID-19 case counts due to the delta variant, President Biden has asked CMS to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for staff in nursing facilities across the nation. CMS has indicated that it is in the process of writing a new rule that is likely to be released in mid to late September. IHCA has provided vaccine mandate resources on its website, including a FAQ, media talking points, best practices and more.
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IHCA President and CEO Brent Willett has provided a video update on national and state association efforts to push back against a proposed national skilled nursing facility (SNF) staff vaccination mandate, and what IHCA members should be communicating with their staff members right now. Additionally, IHCA, with help from Brighton Consulting Group, has created a toolkit on the IHCA website to help explain the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act's vaccine tax credit program.
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Iowa’s recent vaccine passport prohibition law explicitly excludes health care facilities, and the law does not list employees in the category of people who are protected from having to show proof of COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, the recent CMS directive that will require vaccinations of nursing facility employees will not be affected by this law. The law only applies to businesses in Iowa, as the law cannot extend to other jurisdictions. The law does not impact out of state organizations, such as AHCA, from holding conventions or educational seminars outside of Iowa and requiring proof of vaccination. In addition, the law does not apply to Iowans who attend these out of state conventions.
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On Aug. 19, Governor Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days. The section in the prior Public Health Disaster proclamation that aligns Iowa’s waivers to the federal blanket waivers was set to expire on Aug. 22, but was left in the new proclamation that was issued on Aug. 19, with no end date.
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As some facilities across the state and nation are noticing a rise in county positivity rates, IHCA/ICAL reminds its members to monitor county positivity rates and adjust testing frequencies accordingly. Testing frequencies are different and dependent upon the presence of positive staff or resident cases, county positivity rates and the presence of COVID-19 symptoms. IHCA has provided a summary of CMS' testing guidelines.
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OSHA has extended the initial comment period for its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to Aug. 20, 2021. IHCA and AHCA have issued statements to OSHA, and members are also encouraged to participate in providing comments. AHCA has provided a comment guide and comments can be submitted to OSHA online.
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By giving necessary information up-front to the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) through the self-reporting process, facilities and programs may minimize the risk of on-site investigations. IHCA has provided a review and reminders on the self-reporting process and encourages members to complete timely, fact-based and thorough self-reports.
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In June, Iowa welcomed Angela Van Pelt as the new State Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman. Members should have recently received an introductory email from her. In that communication, a request was made that email communication of monthly reporting and any notices regarding involuntary discharges be sent to their office at
[email protected].
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OSHA has extended the initial comment period for its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to Aug. 20, 2021. IHCA and AHCA have issued statements to OSHA, and members are also encouraged to participate in providing comments. AHCA has provided a comment guide and comments can be submitted to OSHA online.
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Each facility is required to submit accurate Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) data to CMS quarterly. For the time period of April 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021, the submission deadline is Saturday, Aug. 14. Members are encouraged to review their data uploads for accuracy before the closing of the submission timeline, as failure to submit accurate data has the potential to cause ill effects on the facility’s CMS Five Star Rating.
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On April 27, 2020, the governor’s proclamation waived the requirement for employees of health care facilities and assisted living programs to complete two hours of mandatory reporter training within six months of hire. The current proclamation does not extend that waiver past July 25, 2021. However, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has indicated that it will allow a grace period to providers before enforcement begins. On Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, survey teams will begin assessing providers for compliance. IHCA now offers free mandatory reporter training to assist in meeting this requirement.
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The COVID-19 Status of Regulatory Relief document has been updated on IHCA's COVID-19 Member Resources webpage to reflect the changes of both the Iowa proclamation of disaster emergency and the federal blanket waivers.
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On April 27, 2020, the governor’s proclamation waived the requirement for employees of health care facilities and assisted living programs to complete two hours of mandatory reporter training within six months of hire. The current proclamation does not extend that waiver past July 25, 2021. However, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has indicated that it will allow a grace period to providers before enforcement begins. On Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, survey teams will begin assessing providers for compliance. IHCA now offers free mandatory reporter training to assist in meeting this requirement.
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On July 28, 2021, CMS released QSO-21-20-NH, stating its intent to remove prior guidance from the guidance repository. The removed guidance, issued in July 2017, gave direction to issue per-instance (instead of per-day) Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) to providers who were found to have prior noncompliance. With the removal of this guidance, CMS Regional Offices, now known as CMS Locations, are allowed to decide when circumstances may warrant a per-day CMP for instances of prior noncompliance.
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The July 2021 skilled nursing facility (SNF), July 2021 assisted living (AL) and third quarter residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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In May 2020, CMS released QSO-20-29-NH, outlining the requirement to notify residents, their representatives and families of residents of COVID-19 infections within the facility. Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has clarified that the expectation for notification of confirmed cases, or when three or more residents or staff have new-onset of respiratory symptoms within 72 hours of each other, should be by 5:00 p.m. after the first case(s) is found and weekly thereafter only if subsequent cases are recognized. Facilities without positive COVID-19 cases in their current resident or staff population are not required to continue providing weekly cumulative updates.
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The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) renewed the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on July 20, 2021. The PHE renewal also extends all Section 1135 waivers; irrespective of a state’s PHE status – the federal waivers remain in place. Recently, IHCA has received questions related to this topic, as waivers from the state and federal level have been phasing out at different intervals. IHCA has compiled clarifications and resources regarding this issue.
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ICHC spoke with Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) this week regarding specific details on expectations for home health providers in regard to eye protection and conventional usage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Information on community transmission, how to determine county positivity rates and implementing universal use of PPE have been provided.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days, with the new expiration date set for Oct. 18, 2021. Currently, it is expected that HHS will continue to renew its declaration of the PHE every 90 days through the end of 2021 and will provide 60 days’ notice prior to ending it. As long as the PHE is in place, CMS may retain its 1135 waivers. However, CMS could decide to phase out other waivers prior to the end of the PHE if it determines they are no longer needed.
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On July 15, IHCA submitted a comment letter to OSHA, offering recommendations on how OSHA's COVID-19 healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) could be improved to be more feasible for long-term care providers. At this point, compliance dates remain as originally posted by OSHA. July 6 is the compliance date for most elements of the ETS, and July 21 is the compliance date for ventilation, physical barriers and training.
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IHCA has sought clarification from Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) on the Governor's proclamation regarding the sections relating to certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and temporary nurse aides (TNAs) that state, "Iowans should not expect that this suspension will be extended beyond July 25, 2021.” DIA clarified that once the state waiver ends, the federal waiver will remain in effect and cover all the current CNA waived provisions.
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Now that personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages are less common, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that facilities return to conventional PPE use guidelines. To assist with the transition back to conventional PPE use, IHCA has issued conventional PPE strategy guidelines for member use.
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Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently released an updated version of its outbreak checklist for nursing facilities. The current guidance recommends that employees are screened for symptoms of COVID-19 at the start of their shift. Previously, this document recommended facilities screen employees both at the beginning and end of their shift. Recommendations from CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and IDPH are now in alignment that screening should be done at the beginning of an employee’s shift regardless of the presence of positive COVID-19 cases within the facility.
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On July 8, OSHA announced that it has extended the comment period on its COVID-19 healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) until Aug. 20, 2021, to allow stakeholders additional time to review and collect necessary information for comment. At this point, compliance dates remain as originally posted by OSHA. IHCA has developed several tools, including a guidance summary and a compliance checklist, to assist members with compliance efforts.
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The second quarter 2021 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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On June 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in health care settings. Compliance is required by July 6 for most items and July 21 for a few requirements. If you are working to understand your organization’s level of compliance, IHCA has developed a checklist to assist members.
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The June 2021 skilled nursing facility survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. Survey trend reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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Effective June 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in health care settings. Compliance is required by July 6 for most items, with a few requirements going into effect on July 21. IHCA and ICAL have compiled resources from AHCA/NCAL and OSHA to assist members in complying with these new standards.
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CMS updated QSO-20-41-ALL on June 21, providing new guidance on when a provider may be exempted from its next required full-scale emergency preparedness exercise. If a facility is still operating under its activated emergency plan, it is exempt from performing the next full-scale exercise in its 12-month cycle. If the facility has resumed normal operations, the exemption does not apply. Additionally, clarification was provided that a second exercise of choice is still required annually.
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Nursing facilities that are not successfully completing the required weekly submission of vaccine data for staff and residents to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will begin receiving federal fines, effective June 21. AHCA and IHCA have provided tips for successful submission of this data.
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IHCA has been notified that Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has updated its map and contact list for long-term care providers that outlines the territories covered by each program coordinator and bureau chief.
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It was announced on June 14 that nursing facilities that have not reported required resident and staff vaccination rates to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will get a one-week reprieve before CMS begins assessing penalties. Providers who do not report information by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 20, will be subject to penalty. The original submission deadline was June 13.
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Governor Reynolds renewed the official public health emergency declaration on May 27, 2021, extending the end date to at least June 26, 2021. The declaration, while keeping intact most of the waivers that long-term care providers have depended on during the pandemic, did eliminate some waivers for nursing facilities (NFs), assisted living (AL) programs and residential care facilities (RCFs), effective June 1, 2021.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in health care settings. The ETS addresses the development and implementation of a COVID-19 plan, personal protective equipment (PPE), physical distancing and barriers, patient screening and more.
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On June 14, CMS will begin enforcing compliance with QSO-21-19-NH, requiring facilities to offer COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccine education, as well as reporting vaccination data to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). To assist members with the reporting component of this new rule, IHCA is hosting an Office Hour Q&A Call tomorrow and has developed an NHSN vaccine reporting FAQ document.
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An After-Action Report (AAR) template, provided by AHCA/NCAL, is now available for member use. Skilled nursing facility members should be prepared to provide a completed AAR during their next survey and identify any revisions to the organization’s emergency plan as a result of the after-action review process. While CMS regulations regarding emergency preparedness do not apply to Iowa assisted living programs, ICAL members may find the template useful as an exercise of their required emergency preparedness plan.
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IHCA has developed an educational document on informal dispute resolution pointers for skilled nursing facility members. The document covers the informal dispute resolution process, supporting documentation, timelines, strategies, appeal rights and more.
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In May, CMS released QSO-21-19-NH to state agencies, outlining new requirements in the Interim Final Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements. The rule was scheduled to go into effect on May 21, 2021. However, CMS has publicly stated that it will not enforce compliance until June 14, 2021. IHCA has provided guidance on actions that members should implement before June 14 to ensure compliance with this new requirement, as well resources to assist in these efforts.
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With infection control citations being at the forefront of survey citations, IHCA members are encouraged to enroll and complete CMS's targeted COVID-19 training for nursing homes to assist with ongoing preparedness measures. With two free, on-demand and tailored modules available, one specific to leadership and the other for frontline staff, all participants will have the opportunity to enrich their understanding of CMS expectations for infection control practices.
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The May 2021 skilled nursing facility survey trend report, as well as the Q2 2021 assisted living and residential care facility survey trend reports, are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are member-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA has created guidance to assist providers in complying with QSO 21-19-NH. This QSO requires that providers offer COVID-19 vaccines and education about the benefits and side effects of vaccines, and IHCA has provided best practices for what topics should be covered in these policies. The guidance also covers the new requirement that facilities report resident and staff vaccination rates in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), effective June 13, and answers some frequently asked questions.
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IHCA has received a number of questions relating to HF 847, which, among other things, bans mask mandates in certain settings. This bill only applies to schools and local and county governments. It does not apply to any health care setting or private entity. This means that private entities and health care providers can continue to impose their own mask policies. IHCA members and their staffs should continue to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all CMS and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommendations.
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IHCA, ICAL and ICHC are now offering free Mandatory Reporter Training, sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP. This online and on-demand training will give providers the tools necessary to effectively identify and report suspected child or dependent adult abuse. This online training is available in both English and Spanish and is approved for 2.0 CEUs for nurses.
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CMS issued QSO 21-19-NH on May 11, 2021, in conjunction with a proposed rule by CMS, regarding vaccine and reporting requirements. The QSO becomes effective on May 21. IHCA will have guidance for providers about best practices for vaccine documentation on its COVID-19 member resources webpage by the end of this week. IHCA will also cover this topic in full during its Monthly Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Update Call on Tuesday, May 25.
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With infection control citations being at the forefront of survey citations, IHCA members are encouraged to enroll and complete CMS's targeted COVID-19 training for nursing homes to assist with ongoing preparedness measures. With two free, on-demand and tailored modules available, one specific to leadership and the other for frontline staff, all participants will have the opportunity to enrich their understanding of CMS expectations for infection control practices.
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Join ICAL for its Assisted Living Nurses Digital Conference, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, tomorrow, May 13. This live virtual training program will be recorded, and registered participants will receive a link to the recording that can be accessed until June 30, 2021. This digital conference is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses, administrators and assisted living managers.
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On May 11, CMS published an interim final rule on COVID-19 vaccine requirements. This rule applies to residents, clients and staff of nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs-IID). CMS also published a QSO memo to state survey agencies on how to operationalize this new requirement, which is scheduled to go into effect on May 21, 2021.
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Late last week, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) updated its Health Facilities Division website to improve functionality. To gain access to the new database, facility administrators should register for an account using their current work email address. Members are encouraged to complete the registration process as soon as possible in order to avoid any delays in reporting or search access.
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The clinical guidance summaries for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living programs have been updated to reflect the newly-released guidance set forth by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Members are encouraged to review the summaries and consider how to best make changes to their testing and visitation practices in accordance with the new expectations. Additionally, IHCA and ICAL have released updated outbreak checklists, a QSO FAQ and an updated visitor log for member use.
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Revised QSO 20-38-NH and QSO 20-39-NH have created a lot of questions relating to how facilities should discuss and utilize information relating to the vaccination status of their residents, staff and visitors. IHCA has provided a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, which provides guidance on when it is appropriate to ask for proof of vaccination.
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On April 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its recommendations for fully vaccinated residents and staff members in long-term care (LTC) settings in an updated guidance document, and CMS released revised versions of QSO 20-38-NH and QSO 20-39-NH. Members are urged to read the newly released guidance in entirety before implementing changes in facilities.
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ICHC has partnered with the Oregon Association for Home Care to offer a four-part interactive series on May 4, 6, 11 and 13, that will explain changes made to emergency preparedness plans due to the Public Health Emergency and CMS's recent release of updated guidance. The series will also cover the implementation process and discuss the plan changes necessary for state and federal surveyors. This virtual series is approved for 4.0 CEUs for nurses and administrators.
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Updated IHCA and ICAL clinical guidance summaries for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living programs are now available for members. The clinical guidance summaries are a compilation of COVID-19 practice guidance from Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CMS. Updates include links to the recent QSOs, IDPH guidance and CDC’s infection control guidance.
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During the governor's Public Health Emergency (PHE), nursing home administrator licenses were not required to be renewed. If your nursing home administrator license expired in the year 2020 and you have not renewed already, you have until June 30, 2021, to complete your continuing education and renew your license. IHCA strongly recommends all administrators who have not submitted their renewals do so now to ensure they do not miss the renewal timelines.
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While nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) with out-of-state licenses, expired licenses, etc., may work at this time, members should note that all emergency licenses will expire upon 60 days after the end date of the public health disaster proclamation. Members should actively monitor the various licensure statuses of their staff to ensure they can maintain adequate staffing at the end of the pandemic.
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Join IHCA next Tuesday for its Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Update Call and ICHC's Quarterly VA/Optum Update Call for home health (HH) members. Recordings from last week's Assisted Living (AL) Provider Update and the monthly Managed Care Organization (MCO) calls are now available on the IHCA website.
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The April 2021 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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Join IHCA for its Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Elderly Waiver Program virtual training on May 4 and the Assisted Living Nurses Digital Conference on May 13. IHCA’s Leadership Academy kicks off in-person on June 8-9 and applications are due May 21. Additionally, IHCA has several digital trainings available on-demand now, covering topics such as dementia, infection prevention and control and nurse leadership.
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Join IHCA for its monthly SNF Regulatory Update Call, sponsored by Lee Agency, tomorrow at 11:30 a.m., and ICAL's monthly Assisted Living (AL) Provider Update Call is this Friday at 11:00 a.m. Recordings of yesterday's Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Update Call and last Thursday's Home Health (HH) Provider Update Call are now available on the IHCA website.
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The March 2021 skilled nursing facility (SNF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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The latest Your Resident Profile publication for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is now available on LTC Trend Tracker. Your Resident Profile is a LTC Trend Tracker publication that provides the information skilled nursing facilities need to begin the resident profile portions of components one and two of the annual Facility Assessment, required under the CMS Requirements of Participation (RoP).
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There's still time to earn 10.0 CEUs to renew your license at IHCA's Digital Spring Quarterly Conference, available now on-demand through April 30. IHCA also has additional education opportunities available, including its Dementia Care Digital Training Series that's available now on-demand, as well as the Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver Review on May 4, Assisted Living Nurses Digital Conference on May 13 and in-person District Education and Meetings in four locations on May 11-12 and 18-19.
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Join ICHC for its monthly Home Health (HH) Provider Update Call tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Additionally, IHCA's Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Update Call is next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and IHCA's Monthly Managed Care Organization (MCO) Calls are next Wednesday.
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In response to an IHCA request for clarification regarding the current use of eye protection in long-term care environments, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) have provided information regarding eye protection and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care personnel working in facilities located in areas with substantial, moderate, minimal and no community transmission.
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On March 31, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted a new FAQ document that covers questions on dining, visitor personal protective equipment (PPE), isolating and quarantining residents, quarantining staff, screening for COVID-19, new admissions and visitation. IHCA and ICAL members are urged to read this new document.
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OSHA has created a national emphasis program related to workplaces that present a high risk of employees getting or being exposed to COVID-19. The program provides additional inspection opportunities and resources to OSHA enforcement. Providers should prepare by accessing the AHCA/NCAL webinar relating to this topic, as well as ensuring they have a respiratory protection program in place and are prepared to respond to OSHA inquiries relating to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
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Governor Reynolds has extended the State Public Health Disaster Proclamation until May 2. This extends current state regulatory waivers for providers.
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CMS has posted a QSO memo updating the State Operations Manual Appendix Z, outlining emergency preparedness (EP) requirements. This guidance is effective immediately. The changes are extensive, and members are encouraged to review the complete QSO memo. AHCA has provided a high-level summary, as well as a list of notable changes for members.
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The Iowa Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) support team at Maximus has developed a comprehensive series of informative webinars designed to walk providers through many key aspects of the PASRR process and maximize their use of Iowa's assessment management system, AssessmentPro. The series starts in April and ends in October.
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It's not too late to register for IHCA's Spring Quarterly Conference that is available on-demand until April 30. Additionally, IHCA is offering an on-demand Infection Prevention and Control course that's available now, Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver Review on May 4, Assisted Living Nurses Digital Conference on May 13, as well as in-person District Education and Meetings in four locations on May 11-12 and 18-19. Also, save the date for IHCA's 2021 Annual Convention and Trade Show on Sept. 27-29.
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A recording and links referenced during yesterday's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facility (SNF) members are now available on the IHCA website. There will not be a SNF Provider COVID-19 Update Call next Tuesday, and the next call will be on April 13. Additionally, new infection prevention and control guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that was released on March 29 is now available on the IHCA website.
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Join ICAL for its Assisted Living Regulatory Class next Wednesday, April 7. This virtual online training, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, will cover topics related to medication management, administration rules, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) survey process and nurse delegation of responsibilities in assisted living. This course is approved for 7.0 CEUs for nurses, administrators and assisted living managers.
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It's not too late to register for IHCA's Spring Quarterly Conference that is available on-demand until April 30. Additionally, IHCA is offering an on-demand Infection Prevention and Control course that's available now, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15, Recruiting and Retention During and After the Pandemic on April 21, Minimum Data Set (MDS) 101 and 201 on April 27-28, Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver Review on May 4, Assisted Living Nurses Digital Conference on May 13, as well as in-person District Education and Meetings in four locations on May 11-12 and 18-19.
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A recording of last Friday's ICAL Assisted Living COVID-19 Provider Update Call is now available on the IHCA website. IHCA's next Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) COVID-19 Provider Update Call will be next Tuesday. Additionally, IHCA has updated its COVID-19 member resources webpage with links to free mental health resources for certified nursing assistants (CNAs), as well as educational resources on the COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy for IHCA members to share with their staff.
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IHCA has updated its IHCA Clinical Guidance to include an updated version of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) discharge to long-term care document from March 18. A link to the updated IHCA Clinical Guidance is now available on IHCA's COVID-19 member resources webpage.
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AHCA/NCAL is hosting a webinar next Tuesday, March 30, that will review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) new National Emphasis Program (NEP) and what it means for members.
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The March 2021 home health (HH) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. The reports are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is offering several new education events, including its on-demand Infection Prevention and Control course, the Assisted Living Regulatory Class on April 7, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15, Recruiting and Retention During and After the Pandemic on April 21, Minimum Data Set (MDS) 101 and 201 on April 27-28, and Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver Review on May 4.
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Recordings and links referenced during yesterday's Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) COVID-19 Provider Update Call and last Thursday's Home Health (HH) Provider Update and Quarterly Regulatory Call are now available on the IHCA website. IHCA's monthly SNF Regulatory Update is tomorrow and ICAL's monthly Assisted Living (AL) Provider COVID-19 Update is this Friday.
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CMS issued revised QSO 20-39-NH on March 10, vastly increasing visitation for nursing facility residents. As a result of this change, IHCA has updated its clinical summary and guidance and developed new screening forms for staff and visitors that are compliant with the revised QSO.
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IHCA is offering several new education events, including ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30-April 1, the Assisted Living Regulatory Class on April 7, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15, Recruiting and Retention During and After the Pandemic on April 21, Minimum Data Set (MDS) 101 and 201 on April 27-28, and Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver Review on May 4.
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A recording and links referenced during yesterday's IHCA COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facility (SNF) and assisted living (AL) members is now available on the IHCA website. The call covered visitation issues, guidance, frequently asked questions and more. ICHC's Monthly Provider Update and Quarterly Regulatory Call for home health providers is tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., and IHCA's SNF Provider COVID-19 Update Call is next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
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With the dramatic decline in COVID-19 cases in nursing facilities and assisted living programs, IHCA has received clarification from Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) on important infection control issues for members, including eye protection for health care workers, as well as COVID-19 screening for residents, tenants and employees.
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IHCA is offering several new education events, including its Digital Spring Quarterly Conference that launches on March 22, ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30-April 1, the Assisted Living Regulatory Class on April 7, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15, Recruiting and Retention During and After the Pandemic on April 21, Minimum Data Set (MDS) 101 and 201 on April 27-28, and Medicaid HCBS Elderly Waiver Review on May 4.
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Join IHCA for its COVID-19 Update Call for skilled nursing facility (SNF) providers next Tuesday. Additionally, IHCA's monthly calls with Iowa's managed care organizations (MCOs) are next Wednesday, and ICHC's monthly COVID-19 Update and quarterly Regulatory Call for home health (HH) providers is next Thursday.
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The February 2021 nursing facility (NF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. This report is a member-only resource that provides listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share this report with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality as the reports are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is offering several new education events, including its Digital Spring Quarterly Conference that launches on March 22, ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30-April 1, the Assisted Living Regulatory Class on April 7, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15, Recruiting and Retention During and After the Pandemic on April 21, as well as Minimum Data Set (MDS) 101 and 201 on April 27-28.
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Call recordings and links referenced during yesterday's IHCA COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facility (SNF) members and last Friday's ICAL COVID-19 Provider Update Call for assisted living (AL) members are now available on the IHCA website. There will not be a SNF COVID-19 Update Call next Tuesday, March 2, and the next call will be Tuesday, March 9.
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IHCA is offering several new education events, including ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30-April 1, the Assisted Living Regulatory Class on April 7, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15, Recruiting and Retention During and After the Pandemic on April 21, as well as Minimum Data Set (MDS) 101 and 201 on April 27-28.
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IHCA's Life Safety - Fire Safety Conference, sponsored by Midwest Alarm Services, will be offered virtually on Feb. 23-24. This virtual course is approved for up to 6.0 CEUs for environmental services staff, department heads, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers. This virtual conference will be recorded, and registrants will receive a link to the recording that can be accessed until April 30, 2021.
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Recordings of yesterday's IHCA's COVID-19 Update Call for skilled nursing facility providers (SNF) and last Thursday's COVID-19 Update Call for home health providers are now available on the IHCA website. IHCA's monthly SNF Regulatory Call is tomorrow, ICAL's monthly COVID-19 Update Call for assisted living providers is on Friday, and the weekly COVID-19 Update for SNF providers and the quarterly Iowa Council for Activity Professionals (ICAP) calls are next Tuesday, Feb. 23.
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IHCA is offering several new online education opportunities, including the Infection Prevention and Control in LTC webinar on March 3, the 2021 Digital Spring Quarterly Conference that launches on March 22, ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30-April 1, the Assisted Living Regulatory Class on April 7, ICD-10 Coding in a Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) World on April 14-15 and the Long-Term Care Nurse Leadership Training Series that is available now on-demand.
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A recording and links referenced during yesterday's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facility (SNF) members, sponsored by Right Dose, are now available on the IHCA website. ICHC's monthly Home Health Provider COVID-19 Update Call is tomorrow, Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m.
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IHCA is offering new upcoming virtual education opportunities, including the Life Safety-Fire Safety Virtual Conference on Feb. 23-24, the Infection Prevention and Control in LTC Webinar on March 3, the 2021 Digital Spring Quarterly Education Conference that launches on March 22, as well as ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30 - April 1 and ICD-10 Coding in a PDGM World on April 14-15.
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AHCA/NCAL’s new and expanded version of its popular online Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO Version 2) is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long-term care settings, including assisted living. IPCO Version 2 includes updated regulatory requirements and added course content, including multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), enhanced barrier precautions (EBPs), Candida Auris, water management and COVID-19.
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A recording and links referenced during yesterday's IHCA COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facility (SNF) members, sponsored by Lee Agency, is now available on the IHCA website. IHCA's next weekly SNF Provider COVID-19 Update, sponsored by Right Dose Pharmacy, will be next Tuesday. IHCA's monthly Managed Care Organization (MCO) Calls are next Wednesday, and ICHC's monthly Home Health Provider COVID-19 Update is next Thursday.
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IHCA's Life Safety - Fire Safety Conference, sponsored by Midwest Alarm Services, will be offered virtually on Feb. 23-24. Submit questions to be answered by the fire marshal during the presentations by emailing
[email protected] by this Friday, Feb. 5.
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IHCA is offering new upcoming virtual education opportunities, including the Infection Prevention and Control in LTC Webinar on March 3, the 2021 Digital Spring Quarterly Education Conference that launches on March 22, as well as ICD-10 Coding Essentials for Post-Acute Care on March 30 - April 1.
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Yesterday, Jan. 26, IHCA held its COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), sponsored by NuCara Long-Term Care Pharmacy, as well as its quarterly VA/Optum Update Call for home health members. Recordings of both calls are now available on the IHCA website. IHCA's next SNF Provider COVID-19 Update Call, sponsored by Lee Agency, is next Tuesday, Feb. 2.
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On Jan. 22, 2021, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) provided guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding tuberculosis (TB) testing and COVID-19 vaccinations.
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OSHA recently released a report indicating that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic through Dec. 31, 2020, OSHA has assessed more than $3,930,381 dollars in fines for violations relating to COVID-19. OSHA is becoming more active in overseeing health care entities, such as long-term care, assisted living and home health. Facilities should ensure their 300 logs are accurate and that they have a respiratory protection program in place.
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This week, IHCA spoke with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) on members' inability to get staff members recertified for CPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. DIA Bureau Chief Vicki Worth advised that staff members needing to renew a health care provider CPR certification should complete the written portion of the course online when possible.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has notified IHCA that it is revising its approach to annual recertification surveys. Beginning Feb. 1, DIA will begin conducting surveys at all long-term care facilities due for recertification, including those with a positivity rate above 10%, except for those in Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) outbreak status.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) is no longer recording survey exit conferences since not all surveyors have the capability to use CD recording. IHCA has asked DIA to find a different method to record these conferences and to provide both the facility and the department with a copy of that recording. DIA officials have agreed to research methods to create digital recordings that could be emailed to providers post survey.
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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced two new items of interest to ICHC home health members. One is an audit of home health telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), and the second is a report on the challenges faced by home health agencies (HHAs) in responding to the PHE and the strategies used to respond.
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The January 2021 nursing facility (NF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. Please share survey trend reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is offering new virtual education events, including the Life Safety-Fire Safety 2021 Virtual Conference on Feb. 23 - 24, sponsored by Midwest Alarm Services, and a webinar titled, Infection Prevention and Control in LTC: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic, sponsored by Medline, on March 3. Additionally, IHCA's Leadership Academy, sponsored by Healthcare of Iowa, will begin on June 8.
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Recordings of recent COVID-19 Provider Update Calls for skilled nursing facility (SNF), assisted living (AL) and home health (HH) members are now available on the IHCA website. Additionally, call-in details have been provided for tomorrow's monthly SNF Regulatory Update call, sponsored by Lee Agency, as well as next Tuesday's SNF Provider COVID-19 Update Call, sponsored by NuCara Long-Term Care Pharmacy, and quarterly VA/Optum Update Call for home health members.
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Iowa Fire Marshal Special Agent in Charge Kyle Gorsh provided guidance to IHCA stating that on Oct. 24, 2021, providers located in the 515 and 319 area codes that have auto dialing fire and other alarms systems will have to switch their systems to 10-digit local dialing.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has published new food rules, including the adoption of the 2017 food code. Of particular note to assisted living members are the provisions relating to certified food managers. Assisted living providers with a food service license may continue to employ a single certified food manager who is not present at the establishment during all hours of operation so long as they meet certain requirements, which are listed in this article.
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The January 2021 assisted living (AL) and January 2021 residential care facility (RCF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. Both reports include October and November 2020 data. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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Sleeping rooms at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown are now available to reserve for IHCA's 2021 Annual Convention and Trade Show on Sept. 26-29. The room rate at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown is $130 per night. Additionally, IHCA has several upcoming education offerings available, including a Life Safety-Fire Safety Virtual Conference, On-Demand Assisted Living Management Certification Course, IHCA Leadership Academy and more.
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A recording and links referenced during yesterday's Skilled Nursing Facility Provider COVID-19 Update Call are now available on the IHCA website. ICHC's monthly Home Health Provider COVID-19 Update Call is tomorrow, Jan. 14, at 2:00 p.m. IHCA has also provided the call-in details for all of its member-only calls for the month of January.
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Updated versions of the IHCA and ICAL Outbreak Checklists are now posted on IHCA's member-only COVID-19 webpage. The updated checklists clarify new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance relating to the quarantine needed for COVID-19 exposed individuals, particularly when staff shortages occur during facility outbreaks.
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In an effort to improve public reporting during the pandemic, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has made additional updates to its online long-term care (LTC) dashboard. Effective Jan. 8, 2021, the LTC public portal dashboard will now reflect individuals who have died as a result of COVID-19, using the new methodology announced in December.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Alex Azar has extended the Public Health Emergency. This extension is effective Jan. 21, 2021 and extends for 90 days. The next potential expiration date is in April. A number of emergency-based waivers, including the Section 1812(f) Waiver and the Section 1135 National Blanket Waiver, remain in place.
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IHCA is offering several new digital education opportunities, including the RAC-CT Virtual Training Program, Activity Professionals Qualification Course, a Life Safety-Fire Safety Virtual Conference and more.
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A recording and links referenced during IHCA's COVID-19 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Update Call yesterday are now available. Additionally, IHCA has compiled the call-in details for member-only calls happening this month, including next Tuesday's COVID-19 SNF Provider Update Call and next Wednesday's Managed Care Organization (MCO) Calls.
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The amount of focused infection control surveys occurring is expected to be significantly reduced due to Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) extending its look-back from two to three weeks. Additionally, in counties with a less than 10% positivity rate, DIA has resumed recertification surveys and plans to conduct some surveys this week.
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IHCA is offering new virtual education events, including the Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Webinar Series starting Jan. 20, Prepping for Life After COVID-19 Webinar Series starting Jan. 21, RAC-CT Virtual Training Program on Jan. 26 and the Life Safety-Fire Safety 2021 Virtual Conference on Feb. 23 - 24. Additionally, IHCA's Leadership Academy will begin on June 8.
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IHCA's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for Skilled Nursing Facilities, sponsored by Lee Agency, is next Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 10:00 a.m.
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There was a possibility the COVID-19 related mandatory paid leave and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provisions would be extended past their original expiration on Dec. 31, 2020. The new COVID-19 stimulus bill, however, did not extend these provisions but employers may choose to voluntarily extend them and receive the same tax credit through March 31, 2021.
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ICAL is reminding members that unlicensed personnel passing medication in assisted living programs have until March 1, 2021 to complete and pass an Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) approved medication aide or medication manager course. The original deadline of Jan. 1, 2021 was extended due to the continuing public health emergency.
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IHCA's new Prepping for Life After COVID-19 three-part webinar series, sponsored by Lee Agency, begins on Jan. 21 and the RAC-CT Virtual Training Program starts on Jan. 26. Additionally, ICAL's Assisted Living Management Certification Course, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, is available on-demand.
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A recording of IHCA's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facility members is now available on the IHCA website. Please note that there will be no weekly COVID-19 Provider Update Call for SNF members next week. The SNF weekly calls will resume on Jan. 5.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) released a statement on Dec. 18, urging nursing facility staff, residents and visitors to follow visitation guidelines.
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IHCA has received written confirmation from Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) that recovered COVID-19 patients in their 90-day recovery period who are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms may participate in visits off-site without being quarantined.
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Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) have worked together to determine that DIA will resume infection control assessment and response (ICAR) assessments. Additionally, DIA has hired several new surveyors and IHCA's December 2020 nursing facility survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website.
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IHCA's new Prepping for Life After COVID-19 three-part webinar series, sponsored by Lee Agency, begins on Jan. 21 and the RAC-CT Virtual Training Program starts on Jan. 26. Additionally, ICAL's Assisted Living Management Certification Course, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, is available on-demand.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for Friday's ICAL COVID-19 Provider Update Call for assisted living members and next Tuesday's IHCA COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facilities. A recording of yesterday's IHCA COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facilities is now available on the IHCA website, along with links to documents referenced on the call.
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The COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) fact sheet has been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This document should be given and explained to residents and staff to satisfy informed consent requirements of the federal government in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine.
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During the Dec. 14 Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) long-term care webinar, IDPH officials made several significant announcements and changes to its guidance. IHCA has provided an overview and links to these changes, including shortened quarantine time, PCR positive confirmation needed before a move to a COVID-19 unit, guidance for recovered residents and Infection Control and Assessment Response (ICAR) assessments being conducted with focused infection control surveys.
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Assisted living providers may conduct Point-of-Care (POC) antigen testing in their certified programs if the program has a CLIA waiver. For assisted living programs attached to nursing facilities, testing may be conducted using the nursing facility CLIA waiver. All COVID-19 POC testing requires that the program have a physician’s standing order to conduct tests for tenants and staff. Testing results are required to be reported within 24 hours to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) REDCap Portal.
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In a recent call with Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), ICHC received confirmation that home health providers no longer need to report positive COVID-19 cases for staff or patients.
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The November 2020 nursing facility (NF) and December 2020 home health (HH) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are members-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies.
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Join ICAL for its digital and on-demand Assisted Living Management Certification (ALMC) course, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners. The ALMC online course is made up of 19 online modules and a final in-person classroom training session, and is approved for 30.0 CEUs for nurses, administrators and assisted living managers.
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Join IHCA and Jo Ellen Whitney, J.D., of Davis Brown Law Firm on Dec. 10 for the Bonus Pay, Tests and Vaccines Webinar. The focus of this webinar will be on HR topics, including wage hour issues for COVID-19 testing and follow up, COVID-19 bonus pay, vaccination policies and more. This digital training event will be recorded and is approved for 1.0 CEU for nurses, department heads, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA and speaker Barbara Speedling are hosting the Making Spirits Bright Webinar on Dec. 10 and will cover how to celebrate the holidays safely during COVID-19. This digital training event will be recorded and is approved for 1.0 CEU for activity professionals, social services staff, nurses, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for rest of December, including tomorrow's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for home health members and next Tuesday's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living programs.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidance relating to reducing the length of time for quarantine in certain scenarios. Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has not yet updated its written guidance, but will do so shortly and has indicated that the new quarantine guidance from the CDC should be applied in the long-term care setting and can be adopted immediately.
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AHCA Requirements of Participation (RoP) eCompetencies is a comprehensive tool that helps facilities train, evaluate and document key skilled nursing facility staff. This program is designed specifically to help skilled nursing facilities comply with F-Tag 726 under CMS’ RoP. The program offers an extensive library of evidence-based skills checklists that allow evaluators to assess and document staff skills in real time.
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With the holidays coming up, families may want to bring food to residents. There are no restrictions on providing residents with food brought from outside of the facility due to COVID-19. Facilities should comply with traditional food safety rules and may, as an extra precaution, serve the food in a different container.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the month of December, including tomorrow's quarterly Home Health Regulatory Update Call, where the latest survey trends will be discussed, and next Tuesday's COVID-19 Provider Update Call for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living programs.
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IHCA is hosting Managing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care, a three-part webinar, on Dec. 9. The webinar will include a review of the IHCA and ICAL Outbreak Toolkits, how to protect resident rights during COVID-19 and a panel discussion on outbreak experiences from IHCA members. This digital training event is approved for 2.0 CEUs for nurses, department heads, social services staff, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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From September 2020 through December 2020, nursing facilities can qualify for Quality Incentive Payments (QIPs) based on their performance of managing the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities and mortality rates, both compared to county positivity averages. One area that can automatically prevent a provider from receiving QIPs is if they do not complete the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reports in their entirety.
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IHCA has recently received questions relating to the receipt of large fines, particularly those related to infection control. Under QSO 20-31 which sets forth the rules for “Enhanced Enforcement” of infection control violations, facilities face scaled penalties which increase based on the scope of the violation and the facilities' infection control history in the last two survey cycles.
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OSHA has recently reaffirmed that while the annual N95 fit testing requirement for employees is currently suspended due to the pandemic, the initial fit testing requirement for N95 use is still required. Providers are also required to have a respiratory protection plan in place. OSHA has indicated plans to increase the number of inspections in health care facilities. In response, AHCA has developed a number of tools for member use.
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As nursing facility outbreak numbers rise each day, IHCA reminds members that the association and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) both have tools that may be critical to your success. IHCA has provided a list of documents and steps that members should use to minimize outbreaks.
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Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has released informational letter 2191 announcing an updated version of the Department’s incident reporting training for all Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) providers. Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 77 requires that HCBS providers must report any major incidents that involve Medicaid waiver recipients in their respective organizations.
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Join IHCA and Jo Ellen Whitney, J.D., of Davis Brown Law Firm on Dec. 10 for the Bonus Pay, Tests and Vaccines Webinar. The focus of this webinar will be on HR topics, including wage hour issues for COVID-19 testing and follow up, COVID-19 bonus pay, vaccination policies and more. This digital training event will be recorded and is approved for 1.0 CEU for nurses, department heads, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA and speaker Barbara Speedling are hosting the Making Spirits Bright Webinar on Dec. 10 and will cover how to celebrate the holidays safely during COVID-19. This digital training event will be recorded and is approved for 1.0 CEU for activity professionals, social services staff, nurses, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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Join IHCA next Tuesday, Dec. 1, for its COVID-19 Provider Update Call, sponsored by VGM Education/CE Solutions. Additionally, ICHC is hosting its Home Health Regulatory Update Call next Thursday, Dec. 3, to discuss the latest survey trends.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) have provided guidance for nursing facilities and assisted living programs regarding waste management of point-of-care (POC) testing.
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According to AHCA, CMS is using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data to identify facilities that are reporting cases of COVID-19 but are not reporting any testing results. Staff from the CMS Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement and the local quality improvement organizations (QIN-QIOs) may call facilities to inquire about these discrepancies. CMS advised AHCA that these calls are meant to be helpful to facilities that lack testing materials or have reporting problems, rather than being focused on regulatory compliance and facility sanctions.
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Bamlanivimab is now authorized for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in non-hospitalized adults who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. IHCA has been in discussion with Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) on making this treatment available in nursing facility settings. Facilities interested in offering this treatment should set up an account with AmerisourceBergen, the contracted distributor of bamlanivimab.
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IHCA is hosting Managing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care, a three-part webinar, on Dec. 9. The webinar will include a review of the IHCA and ICAL Outbreak Toolkits, how to protect resident rights during COVID-19 and a panel discussion on outbreak experiences from IHCA members. This digital training event is approved for 2.0 CEUs for nurses, department heads, social services staff, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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Join IHCA and Jo Ellen Whitney, J.D., of Davis Brown Law Firm on Dec. 10 for the Bonus Pay, Tests and Vaccines Webinar. The focus of this webinar will be on HR topics, including wage hour issues for COVID-19 testing and follow up, COVID-19 bonus pay, vaccination policies and more. This digital training event will be recorded and is approved for 1.0 CEU for nurses, department heads, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA and speaker Barbara Speedling are hosting the Making Spirits Bright Webinar on Dec. 10 and will cover how to celebrate the holidays safely during COVID-19. This digital training event will be recorded and is approved for 1.0 CEU for activity professionals, social services staff, nurses, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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Join IHCA this Friday, Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m. for its Skilled Nursing Facility Regulatory Call, where the latest survey trends will be discussed. During the call, association staff will share updates from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals that will be helpful during the survey process.
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IHCA encourages skilled nursing facilities, assisted living programs and intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) facilities to complete an AHCA/NCAL survey regarding the COVID-19 impact on their organization. The 15-20 minute survey is due by the end of the day on Friday, Nov. 20.
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Skilled nursing facilities must upgrade to SAMS Level 3 access by Nov. 20 to avoid enforcement penalties. Nursing facilities that have achieved upgraded SAMS Level 3 status and are now reporting all point-of-care (POC) antigen testing results to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) are no longer required to report those same results to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) REDCap portal. IHCA recommends that nursing facilities that are conducting POC testing in attached or affiliated assisted living programs under the nursing facility CLIA waiver should separate the test results for the two levels of care.
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IDPH has revised its guidance for point-of-care (POC) antigen test results that are suspected to be “false negative." Effective immediately, tests conducted on asymptomatic employees or residents in facilities that are not currently in outbreak status will require only one confirmatory PCR test to be conducted within 48 hours of the antigen test. Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) advises that a facility not currently in outbreak status may delay resident testing and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting of a potential “false positive” until receiving PCR confirmation.
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IHCA has drafted a template letter for members relating to holiday visitation to use as a tool to talk with families and educate them about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and potential risks of offsite visits. The letter also serves as an opportunity to inform residents and their families about holiday plans at the facility, and the types of visitation options that continue to be available for them to connect with their loved ones.
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All providers were to enter into a Pharmacy Partnership for the distribution of the vaccine. IHCA understands that these partnerships with the pharmacies are for distribution of the vaccine for residents of the facilities. Nursing facilities should work with their local public agencies to coordinate vaccine distribution for staff. If you were not able to register for the vaccination program, you should reach out to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by emailing
[email protected].
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The association is currently in the development phase of a web-based tool to provide more current bed availability data for hospital discharge planners to prioritize in pursuing discharge locations. Additionally, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released updated information regarding the discharge of COVID-positive and other patients to long-term care facilities.
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CMS Administrator Seema Verma has announced that CMS or state surveyors will be calling nursing facilities that report new cases of COVID-19, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) or staffing to offer assistance. Facilities will be asked several questions to see how they can be assisted in acquiring resources, such as staffing, PPE or testing supplies.
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IHCA members may have seen news articles or received questions relating to a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which references the nursing home community and some specific facilities. This complaint was brought by ACLU against Iowa OSHA and is not directed against the facilities or industries in the complaint.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) reports that in the last week, three more nursing facilities have reported elopements. Most seem to be related to fire door closures to isolation and quarantine units, creating challenges for staff to hear door alarms when they are activated.
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CMS will publish a list of facilities that have completed the three to four-hour CMS Quality Improvement Organization Infection Control Trainings. Given the emphasis that CMS has put on this program, ICHA recommends that facilities consider using this training for all nursing facility staff. Additionally, AHCA/NCAL recently announced the release of a new training series, AHCA/NCAL Infection Control Certificate Program, for both skilled nursing facilities and assisted living programs.
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In March of 2020, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) authorized Maximus to change all face-to-face Level II Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) assessments to be conducted telephonically or by other electronic means, such as secure video conference, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) has provided excerpts from its COVID-19 frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding PASRR.
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IHCA is hosting Managing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care, a three-part webinar, on Dec. 9. The webinar will include a review of the IHCA/ICAL Outbreak Toolkit, how to protect resident rights during COVID-19 and a panel discussion on outbreak experiences from IHCA members. This digital training event is approved for 2.0 CEUs for nurses, department heads, social services staff, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the month of November, including tomorrow's Home Health COVID-19 Provider Update Call and next Tuesday's COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are hosting two educational webinars this week on how to report point-of-care (POC) antigen testing to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The webinar, titled "Reporting Results of POC Testing for COVID-19: A New NHSN Pathway," will be held Thursday, Nov. 12 at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 13 at 11:00 a.m. - noon. Both webinars are identical in content, so plan to attend once.
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AHCA/NCAL has been notified that a vital component in ensuring that point-of-care (POC) testing result information is submitted correctly depends on the accuracy of the CLIA identification (ID) number listed for the facility in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system. Without an accurate CLIA ID number, facility data cannot be submitted to the state health department. AHCA/NCAL has provided instructions on how to correct and update the CLIA ID number in NHSN.
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Many IHCA members have questioned the need for N95 masks when conducting aerosol generating procedures, such as the administration of nebulizer treatments, to protect staff from potential COVID-19 exposure when the resident is not suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive. IHCA has compiled guidance and resources on this issue.
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Yesterday, Nov. 10, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the public health emergency for another 30 days. Due to increased COVID-19 activity in Iowa, IHCA and ICAL have developed COVID-19 outbreak checklists for nursing facilities and assisted living communities. The checklists cover determining outbreak status, notifications and reporting, screening and testing, infection control, outbreak crisis staffing, memory care unit considerations, visitation and more.
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CMS has launched the Nursing Home Resource Center, a new online platform that will serve as a centralized hub for the latest information, guidance and data on nursing facilities. The center will contain information that is important to facilities, frontline providers, residents and their families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (OSLTCO) has reported that some nursing facilities are considering clergy calls on residents as social calls, therefore impacting the number of visitors that a resident can receive according to facility policy. OSLTCO has clarified that clergy calls should not be considered social calls, as clergy are specifically referenced as service providers on page six of CMS' QSO-20-39-NH, released on Sept. 17.
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The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (OSLTCO) is reminding facilities that the government stimulus checks sent to residents and tenants earlier this year belong to residents and tenants to be used as they choose to use them.
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IHCA is hosting Managing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care, a three-part webinar, on Dec. 9. The webinar will include a review of the IHCA/ICAL Outbreak Toolkit, how to protect resident rights during COVID-19 and a panel discussion on outbreak experiences from IHCA members. This digital training event is approved for 2.0 CEUs for nurses, department heads, social services staff, nursing facility administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA has been notifying nursing facility (NF) and assisted living (AL) members appearing on a list generated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of providers who had not selected a pharmacy partnership for long-term care program distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. IHCA has been notified by AHCA/NCAL and CDC that there may be a lag in processing the bulk entries that were submitted via email, which could have impacted submissions from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2. IHCA has provided guidance on what members should do now.
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IHCA held its COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call yesterday, Nov. 3, sponsored by Encounter Telehealth. A recording of the call and links referenced during the call are now available on the IHCA website. IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the month of November, including Friday's Iowa Council of Nurse Leaders Call and next Wednesday's Managed Care Organization (MCO) Call with Iowa Total Care and Amerigroup.
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Iowa Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) is hosting its Technical Assistance Webinar Series, offering providers the opportunity to learn more about PASRR. The next webinar will be Tuesday, Nov. 10 and is titled, "Deep Dive into PASRR Abbreviated Level II Outcomes: Exemptions and Categorical Outcomes."
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The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Vaccine Planning and Distribution Workgroup continues to plan for vaccine arrival in Iowa late this year. IDPH has released an updated COVID-19 Vaccine Information Brief and COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ for Health Care Providers.
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Iowa Department of Public Health hosted its Long-Term Care (LTC) webinar on Monday, Nov. 2, and a recording and slides from the webinar are now available. IHCA members are encouraged to the view the recording, which covers vaccination updates, an outbreak checklist, respiratory illness during influenza season, reporting and more.
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Skilled nursing facilities are now required to report point-of-care (POC) test results performed under their CLIA waiver to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system. Due to high call volumes, IHCA members are advised to not call the NHSN Help Desk when experiencing problems with upgrading to SAMS Level-3 access. Members should email
[email protected] with their difficulties and patiently wait for a response.
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At this point, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is still requiring facilities to report all point-of-care (POC) testing through the REDCap Portal, even if facilities have access and are reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Members should ensure they have complete records of testing results and documentation of when the results were reported.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) Director Larry Johnson advised IHCA that surveyors began monthly COVID-19 testing last week. IHCA reminds members that surveyor screening upon facility entrance should always be a priority. If you have questions about a symptomatic surveyor or their use of personal protective equipment (PPE) according to your required standards and protocols, you should address this with your respective program coordinator.
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IHCA wishes to correct an answer provided on the Nov. 3 IHCA COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call regarding quarantine guidance related to international travel. On Oct. 6, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) updated its guidance to local public health authorities that eliminates the need for quarantine related to domestic or international travel.
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The October 2020 nursing facility (NF) and October 2020 assisted living (AL) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are members-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) Adult Services Bureau Chief Linda Kellen advised ICAL this week that Catie Campbell has resumed the program coordinator duties for assisted living programs starting with the letters A-L. Deb Dixon will remain the program coordinator for programs beginning with the letters M-Z.
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In light of recent developments regarding outbreaks, vaccines and a new reporting mandate, IHCA held a special COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call yesterday, Oct. 27. A recording is available on the IHCA website. Additionally, a recording of the Oct. 19 Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Long-Term Care (LTC) webinar is now available on YouTube.
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An updated U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) memo released last week states that all point-of-care (POC) testing results will now be required to be reported through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system. IHCA has received confirmation that this does not apply to assisted living programs.
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IHCA has provided guidance and resources on emergency preparedness pandemic planning during a COVID-19 outbreak, including a crisis staffing plan, personal protective equipment (PPE) use and more.
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Providers now have until Friday, Nov. 6 to select their preferred method of COVID-19 vaccine delivery. If selecting to work with an existing pharmacy partner or a hospital health care system, AHCA/NCAL strongly recommends providers first ask to see a signed copy of that entity's provider agreement with their state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), otherwise they run the risk of not being included in early rounds of vaccine delivery and distribution.
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CMS has not issued any detailed instructions and has not specifically prohibited the use of heaters for outdoor visitation. However, many state and local jurisdictions have specific permitting requirements for constructing temporary structures, such as tents, and heating sources beyond what is found in the Life Safety Code. Kyle Gorsch from the State Fire Marshal's Office has provided a list of actions that are currently approved by the State Fire Marshal.
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In a recent meeting with Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), ICAL learned that unlicensed personnel passing medication in assisted living programs now have until March 1, 2021 to complete and pass a DIA-approved medication aide or medication manager course. The original deadline of Jan. 1, 2021 has been extended due to the continuing public health emergency.
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Last week IHCA resumed its in-person survey committee and had a productive Skilled Nursing Facility Regulatory Update Call. IHCA has compiled highlights from the surveys and call in this article.
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The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) reports that it has received multiple reports of facilities holding mail for up to 72 hours due to caution during the pandemic. DIA advises facilities to not hold mail, as this is especially critical right now as many residents need to return their absentee ballots in time for the general election.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls, including tomorrow's Skilled Nursing Facility Regulatory Call at 11:30 a.m., where the latest survey issues will be discussed. Home health members should join the VA/Optum call next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and activity professionals are invited to the Iowa Council of Activity Professionals (ICAP) call on Tuesday at noon.
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Iowa Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) is launching its Technical Assistance Webinar Series, offering providers the opportunity to learn more about PASRR. The first of these live sessions, Overview of PASRR and Nursing Facilities for Persons with Mental Illness (NFMI) and Individuals Who Meet NFMI Level of Care, will take place next Tuesday, Oct. 27.
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On Oct. 16, the White House announced the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program—a national vaccine distribution program for long-term care residents. Long-term care facilities must register with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by Oct. 29 on how they want to receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Nursing facilities must register through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) and assisted living facilities should register through the REDCap Portal.
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Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has submitted its COVID-19 vaccine strategy to the federal government. At this time, IHCA members should complete the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement, ensure enrollment in Iowa's Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS) and register with the CDC for access to the long-term care vaccine distribution program.
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IHCA has recently received a number of questions pertaining to hospital admissions and their impact on a facility’s outbreak status. The CMS definition of an outbreak is only triggered by a new nursing facility onset case. A nursing facility onset case would not include someone who was COVID-positive on admission or within the first 14 days while in quarantine. These individuals would not trigger outbreak testing.
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CMS has recently clarified with Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) that QSO 20-39-NH does not prohibit outdoor visitation during outbreak status. Also, allowing compassionate care visitation is required during outbreak status. While outdoor visitation may be permitted during outbreak status, IHCA would urge caution and a thoughtful assessment on a facility-by-facility basis to determine if this can be accomplished safely in your facility.
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IHCA held its bi-weekly COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call yesterday, Oct. 20. The call was sponsored by Encounter Telehealth and topics covered include ICAL's new visitation guidance, IHCA's new clinical guidance, an update on resident voting for the upcoming general election, COVID-positive transfer issues, updates on the COVID-19 vaccine, upcoming Project ECHO webinars and the Phase 3 General Distribution.
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AHCA/NCAL has created three new online programs that cover CMS' Requirements of Participation (RoP), infection prevention and control, and the impact of COVID-19 grief and trauma on residents and staff.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the next month, including this Friday's Assisted Living Regulatory Call, where the latest survey issues will be discussed.
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IHCA has prepared a summary of recently revised documents from CMS, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) that have altered visitation and testing guidance for nursing facilities (NFs). IHCA's summary provides clinical guidance on testing, cohorting and dedicated staffing, conducting indoor visits, operationalizing different outbreak definitions, compassionate care visits and more.
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New guidance for ICAL members on assisted living (AL) and residential care facility (RCF) visitation is available on IHCA's member-only COVID-19 resources webpage in both PDF and Word document formats for member use.
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AHCA/NCAL updated the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on testing in nursing facilities and assisted living communities. The updates include information on the Abbott BinaxNOW shipments and further clarity on CMS testing requirements. While there is a section on discordant antigen tests included in the new guidance, IHCA members should follow the antigen testing guidance approved by Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).
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CMS is confirming that Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) certifications are up- to-date to ensure U.S. laboratories are fit to deliver reliable, accurate and timely patient test results for COVID-19. Every facility that conducts COVID-19 testing is considered a “laboratory” and must be certified under CLIA.
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An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respiratory protection plan template, developed by OSHA experts, is now available through AHCA/NCAL. If respirators are being used, such as N95s, providers must have a respiratory protection program in place to comply with OSHA standards.
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CMS' Quality, Safety and Oversight Group (QSOG) recently released a memo providing guidance on meeting emergency preparedness testing requirements in light of many of the response activities associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).
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The Secretary of State Office has released guidance regarding assisting residents of long-term care facilities with voting in the Nov. 3 general election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing efforts, county auditors are unable to send in bi-partisan teams to assist residents with absentee voting. Instead of sending a bi-partisan team to the facility, the county auditor will now mail absentee ballots directly to residents who request them. Residents are required to request a ballot in order to receive one.
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IHCA has compiled a list of upcoming webinars and recordings relating to COVID-19, including tomorrow's Project ECHO introductory webinar on infection control, and recordings of AHCA's Office Hours on the provider relief fund and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the next month, including next Wednesday's calls with Iowa's managed care organizations (MCOs). These calls are an exclusive member benefit for IHCA, ICAL and ICHC members.
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IHCA has compiled the most important long-term care news from this week relating to COVID-19, including testing updates and outbreak definitions, reporting, compassionate care visits, new visitation guidance, Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 General Distribution, OSHA reminders, vaccination preparations, the nursing facility ECHO Project, an Abbott BinaxNow training webinar and more.
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Since the Oct. 1 launch of AssessmentPro, the new platform for Iowa's Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR), a technical issue has been discovered relating to PathTracker Plus historical records of admission, transfer and discharge notices. ASCEND asks, at this time, that providers do not attempt to address or fix this issue. Providers will be notified once it has been fixed. Updates will also be shared during question and answer (Q&A) webinars tomorrow and Friday.
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Now more than ever, an Infection Prevention Control Officer (IPCO) is critical to have in your building or organization. AHCA has released IPCO Version 2, which incorporates information on COVID-19, candida auris, multi-drug resistant organisms, enhanced barrier precautions and an effective water management program. Registrants can save $50 off the regular registration price until Oct. 31 by using promo code IPCO2020 when they register.
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IHCA members should take advantage of two AHCA webinars tomorrow, one covering influenza vaccination and one on COVID-19 testing. ICHC members should also take advantage of the Home Health Member COVID-19 Update Call tomorrow. IHCA's next bi-weekly COVID-19 Member Provider Update Call will be Tuesday, Oct. 6, sponsored by Exceltox Laboratories.
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Iowa's new online Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) platform, AssessmentPro, will launch tomorrow, Oct. 1, 2020. There are several steps each facility needs to take to avoid any potential delays to new PASRR screens and assessments after the launch date, including attending upcoming training webinars, creating new user accounts, reviewing the transition guide and knowing how to contact the PASRR help desk.
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IHCA has compiled the most important long-term care news from this week relating to COVID-19, including revised nursing facility visitation and testing guidance from Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), IDPH reporting of antigen testing, clarification on the need for assisted living Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) waivers, additional Provider Relief Fund reporting guidance, an upcoming COVID-19 vaccine needs assessment survey, considerations when testing residents and employees for COVID-19, as well as upcoming COVID-19 webinars and calls.
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The September 2020 nursing facility (NF) and September 2020 home health (HH) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are members-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies.
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IHCA has compiled the most important long-term care news from this week relating to COVID-19, including testing updates for nursing facilities, assisted living communities and home health agencies, as well as an IHCA summary of CMS's new visitation guidance, an updated to the nursing facility Provider Relief Fund, resident and tenant voting guidance, call-in details for IDPH's LTC webinar this Friday and more.
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Iowa's new online Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) platform, AssessmentPro, will launch on Oct. 1, 2020. There are several steps each facility needs to take to avoid any potential delays to new PASRR screens and assessments after the launch date, including attending upcoming training webinars, creating new user accounts, reviewing the transition guide and knowing how to contact the PASRR help desk.
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As of Jan. 1, 2021, all unlicensed personnel passing medication in assisted living programs will be required to have successfully completed a medication aide or medication manager course approved by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) prior to administering medications in the assisted living setting. ICAL’s new hybrid online Medication Manager Curriculum, approved by DIA and sponsored by Right Dose Pharmacy, meets this requirement.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the month of September, including tomorrow's Home Health Regulatory Call and next Tuesday's COVID-19 Provider Update Call.
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IHCA is offering new exciting online education opportunities, including tomorrow's webinar on Bronze Award applications. Also, don't forget to register for IHCA's on-demand 2020 Digital Convention, launching on Sept. 28.
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Join IHCA tomorrow, Sept. 17, for a free Bronze Award Application Webinar that will help members compose their first AHCA/NCAL 2021 Quality Award application. After participating in the webinar, attendees should have an understanding on how to access AHCA/NCAL’s video series and successfully write their Quality Award application using the step-by-step method provided by the video instructions.
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As of Jan. 1, 2021, all unlicensed personnel passing medication in assisted living programs will be required to have successfully completed a medication aide or medication manager course approved by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) prior to administering medications in the assisted living setting. The ICAL Assisted Living Medication Manager Curriculum, sponsored by Right Dose, a Guardian Pharmacy, gives care providers the necessary tools to effectively manage medication administration in Iowa assisted living programs. ICAL's course has received approval from the DIA and is now available.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the month of September, including next Wednesday's member-only Skilled Nursing Facility Regulatory Call, which covers the latest survey, reimbursement and regulatory issues.
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IHCA has compiled the latest COVID-19 news for long-term care providers, including Provider Relief Fund updates for nursing facilities and assisted living programs, new county COVID-19 positivity test rates posted by CMS, testing and reporting updates, IHCA COVID-19 Provider Update Call recordings and more.
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IHCA is offering new exciting online education opportunities, including the new ICAL Assisted Living Medication Manager Curriculum that launched yesterday and next Thursday's webinar on Bronze Award applications. Also, don't forget to register for IHCA's on-demand 2020 Digital Convention, launching on Sept. 28.
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The Interim Final Rule requiring COVID-19 testing of all nursing facility staff and residents goes into effect today, Sept. 2. The reporting requirements for use of point-of-care (POC) antigen testing machines in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived facility are rigorous and somewhat complex. All providers that plan to use POC testing machines should immediately watch the reporting instructional video from Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), which will go through the exact steps needed to complete the registration for reporting.
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Yesterday, Sept. 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that private-pay assisted living/memory care providers will be eligible to apply for CARES Act Provider Relief Funds under the current Phase 2 General Distribution round of funding. It was also announced by an HHS official yesterday that the federal government plans to ship rapid COVID-19 tests to assisted living communities across the country.
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IHCA has compiled the latest COVID-19 news for long-term care providers, including the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Nursing Home – Infection Control Distribution, new data elements added to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting, a new eviction moratorium that goes into effect on Sept. 4, as well as upcoming member-only COVID-19 calls.
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IHCA has compiled the latest COVID-19 news for long-term care providers, including the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Nursing Home – Infection Control Distribution, new data elements added to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting, a new eviction moratorium that goes into effect on Sept. 4, as well as upcoming member-only COVID-19 calls.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for its upcoming member-only calls for the month of September, including tomorrow's Home Health COVID-19 Provider Update, next Tuesday's all-member COVID-19 Provider Update and next Wednesday's calls with Iowa's managed care organizations (MCOs).
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IHCA was notified today, Sept. 2, that 10 additional counties that were impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho have been approved for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program. Individuals and business owners in Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story and Tama counties may now apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program. FEMA Individual Assistance can provide disaster-affected homeowners, renters and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement and medical expenses. Linn County was approved for Individual Assistance on Aug. 20.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities through a wide range of courses, including the new ICAL Assisted Living Medication Manager Curriculum that launches next Tuesday, Sept. 8. Also, don't forget to register for IHCA's on-demand 2020 Digital Convention, launching on Sept. 28.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact long-term care providers, including a new testing rule from CMS, antigen testing guidance, news on survey prioritization and enforcement cases, Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals' (DIA's) personal protective equipment (PPE) policy, an update on hospital discharges, vaccination planning guidance, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data insight, a reminder of the Provider Relief Fund Phase 2 deadline this Friday, a reimbursement opportunity through ECHO and IHCA COVID-19 Update Call details.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact long-term care providers, including a new testing rule from CMS, antigen testing guidance, news on survey prioritization and enforcement cases, Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals' (DIA's) personal protective equipment (PPE) policy, an update on hospital discharges, vaccination planning guidance, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data insight, a reminder of the Provider Relief Fund Phase 2 deadline this Friday, a reimbursement opportunity through ECHO and IHCA COVID-19 Update Call details.
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As cleanup and repairs continue due to the Aug. 10 derecho, IHCA has compiled information and updates to assist members in their storm recovery efforts, including IHCA's storm disaster recovery guidance for impacted members, federal relief resources available for Linn County and a drive-through food pantry schedule to support disaster relief response efforts.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities through a wide range of courses covering reimbursement, Bronze Quality Awards, assisted living medication management and more. Also, don't forget that IHCA's on-demand 2020 Digital Convention and Trade Show launches on Sept. 28.
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Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced this week that steps are being taken to prepare for the receipt and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. It is anticipated that IDPH will be responsible for directing the shipment of the vaccine and ancillary supplies in the state of Iowa. IDPH is extending the opportunity to receive and administer pandemic vaccines to all interested health care providers in the state, including nursing facilities, assisted living programs and home health agencies. Any IHCA, ICAL or ICHC members interested in offering pandemic vaccines should take action now by completing the required forms.
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IHCA has compiled the call-in details for the remaining August member-only calls, including the Iowa Council of Nurse Leaders (ICNL) Member Update Call this Friday, and next Tuesday's All Member COVID-19 Provider Update Call and Iowa Council of Activity Professionals (ICAP) Update Call.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact long-term care providers, including updated ICAL reopening guidance, state survey news, updates to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) instructions, changes to return to work criteria, COVID-19 grants for Home- and Community-Based Service (HCBS) providers, a Crisis Relief Fund reminder from the IHCA Foundation, a hand sanitizer alert and more.
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As power outages, building repairs and cleanup from the Aug. 10 derecho continues, IHCA has developed additional guidance to assist members in their storm recovery efforts. Additionally, Governor Reynolds has formally requested an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) has provided information on how the storm has impacted nursing facility transfers and case activity reports.
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The August 2020 nursing facility (NF) survey trend report is now available on the IHCA website. These reports are members-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. Please share these reports with the individuals at your facility involved with managing survey quality. They are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities through a wide range of courses covering the Five-Star rating system, reimbursement, Bronze Quality Awards, assisted living medication management and more. Also, don't forget that IHCA's on-demand 2020 Digital Convention and Trade Show launches on Sept. 28.
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Join ICAL tomorrow, Aug. 13, for a live stream version of its Assisted Living Regulatory Class, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners. The course will provide nurses with the Iowa assisted living laws, rules and regulations. This education will offer seven CEUs for nurses, administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact long-term care providers, including a $5 billion distribution for nursing facilities, updates on Point-of-Care testing equipment, screening, surveys, reopening guidance and more.
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Severe storms ravaged most of the state on Monday, creating substantial property damage, leaving over 300,000 Iowans without power and resulted in Governor Reynolds declaring several Iowa counties as disaster areas. To help you navigate this latest disaster, IHCA has developed August 10 storm response guidance for its members.
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The list of approved third-party background check vendors for members wishing to utilize the third-party background check system is now available on the Department of Inspections and Appeals website. Be sure to review the IHCA Member Bulletin next week for an article detailing the third-party vendor background check process and how members can utilize this new process to provisionally hire employees, speeding up the employment process.
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The second quarter home health (HH) and July 2020 nursing facility (NF) survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. These reports are members-only resources that provide listings of the most frequently cited tags and most common insufficiencies. The survey trend reports only include data on infection control, Immediate Jeopardy or actual harm level surveys, as recertification surveys have not yet resumed.
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As part of a nationwide outreach effort, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is visiting nursing facilities. There does not appear to be an underlying claim or existing investigation against the providers, as the focus of this organization is Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Waste and Abuse. IHCA has not yet heard of any of these visits occurring in Iowa, but want members to be aware that they may receive a visit.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities through a wide range of courses covering reimbursement, assisted living regulations, social services, the Five-Star rating system and more.
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Join ICHC for tomorrow's Home Health COVID-19 Provider Update Call. Topics covered will include an update on the emergency declaration and waiver extensions, home health survey updates, Medicaid nurse practitioner and physician assistant signature authorizations and more. IHCA has also compiled the call-in details for all of the member-only calls this month, including next Tuesday's All Member COVID-19 Provider Update Call.
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Join ICAL next Thursday, Aug. 13, for a live stream version of its Assisted Living Regulatory Class, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners. The course will provide nurses with the Iowa assisted living laws, rules and regulations. This education will offer seven CEUs for nurses, administrators and assisted living managers.
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IHCA has compiled the latest COVID-19 updates that nursing facilities should be aware of, including an update on National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting issues, important information regarding point-of-care testing equipment and the release of a skilled nursing facility public health emergency tip sheet.
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In response to many questions and concerns from members, ICAL has revised its reopening guidance to provide recommendations for assessing the risk of allowing beauticians or barbers to provide services in Phase 1. This revised guidance applies only to assisted living programs, not nursing facilities.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact all long-term care providers, including the Phase 2 General Distribution deadline extension, updates on payments for providers that had a change in ownership, CPR certification extension, best practices for personal protective equipment (PPE) vendor vetting, the IHCA Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund, upcoming COVID-19 calls and more.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities in August through a wide range of courses covering reimbursement, fall investigations and interventions, assisted living regulations, social services, the Five-Star rating system and more.
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IHCA has compiled the latest COVID-19 updates that nursing facilities should be aware of, including the release of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on transmission-based precautions and return to work criteria, new CMS strike teams and testing equipment, as well as an inquiry from IHCA to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding beautician and barber services in nursing facilities.
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IHCA has compiled the latest COVID-19 updates that nursing facilities should be aware of, including the release of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on transmission-based precautions and return to work criteria, new CMS strike teams and testing equipment, as well as an inquiry from IHCA to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) regarding beautician and barber services in nursing facilities.
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Due to the fact that Iowa assisted living programs do not have formal guidance on reopening from either Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) or Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), ICAL has revised its reopening guidance to provide recommendations for assessing the risk of allowing beauticians or barbers to provide services in Phase 1. This revised guidance applies only to assisted living programs, not nursing facilities.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact all long-term care providers, including the renewal of the national Public Health Emergency (PHE) through Oct. 23, the updated U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FAQ on auditing and funds transfers, price increase guidance and recent and upcoming COVID-19 calls.
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IHCA has compiled a list of recent updates that impact all long-term care providers, including the renewal of the national Public Health Emergency (PHE) through Oct. 23, the updated U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FAQ on auditing and funds transfers, price increase guidance and recent and upcoming COVID-19 calls.
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The April/May 2020 nursing facility (NF) and June 2020 NF survey trend reports are now available on the IHCA website. The survey trend reports only include data on infection control, Immediate Jeopardy or actual harm level surveys, as recertification surveys have not yet resumed. These reports are members-only resources that are helpful resources when planning for future surveys.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities in August through a wide range of courses covering dementia care, reimbursement, fall investigations and interventions, assisted living regulations, social services, the Five-Star rating system and more.
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On July 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted substantial changes to the transmission-based precautions. During the July 21 Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) webinar, the state agency confirmed that it will follow this guidance. IHCA has provided summaries of these updates.
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On July 14, CMS announced a plan to eventually provide point-of-care testing equipment to every nursing facility in the U.S., along with a limited supply of tests. While the CMS announcement holds promise for Iowa facilities, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) will need to approve the testing process in Iowa facilities. IHCA is already communicating with the state agency regarding the use of point-of-care for testing staff, residents and visitors to nursing facilities.
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Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities (NFs) must have a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) Certificate of Waiver to perform COVID-19 testing authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in point-of-care or waived settings, such as the test models (Quidel Sophia2 and BD), being sent to all nursing homes to test residents and staff. Under CLIA, facilities are prohibited from testing any human specimens for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, treatment or health assessment without a valid CLIA certificate.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) updated the instructions for completing the NHSN pathway for supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE). A summary of changes made to the instructions has been provided.
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has identified a few hundred nursing facilities that are submitting confirmed and suspected COVID-19 data incorrectly. Facilities that are receiving citations should immediately view the NHSN COVID-19 data quality webinar to review the commonly identified errors in submission data and follow the data quality slides to ensure that their information is being submitted correctly.
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On July 20, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance for recipients of federal financial assistance, including skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and assisted living facilities that receive federal assistance, among others. The guidance reminds recipients of federal financial assistance of their obligation to ensure they are complying with federal civil rights laws and regulations that prohibit “discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin."
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IHCA has compiled the details on upcoming conference calls and webinars relating to COVID-19, including Iowa Department of Public Health's (IDPH’s) next COVID-19 Long-Term Care (LTC) webinar on Monday, July 27, IHCA's COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call on Tuesday, July 28 and ICHC's COVID-19 Home Health Update Call on Thursday, Aug. 6.
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AHCA/NCAL has developed two COVID-19 trainings, one designed for leadership and one designed for all staff. AHCA has also developed a series of infection prevention and control action briefs to help facilities develop and improve their infection prevention and control programs.
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This past week, AHCA/NCAL continued to issue national updates, including new infection prevention and control training, the extension of the deadline for the Medicaid application for the Provider Relief Fund, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) updates and more.
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IHCA is finalizing the blended online ICAL Assisted Living Medication Manager Course, sponsored by Right Dose, a Guardian Pharmacy, to give care providers the necessary tools to effectively manage medication administration in Iowa assisted living programs. ICAL's course has received approval from DIA, and is expected to go live at the beginning of September. More details will be provided prior to the launch of the course.
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IHCA is offering a wealth of online education opportunities in August through a wide range of courses covering dementia care, reimbursement, fall investigations and interventions, assisted living regulations, social services, the Five-Star rating system and more.
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During this time of social distancing and lack of in-person education events, IHCA members still have access to a variety of online education through AHCA/NCAL, including the new Infection Preventionist Specialized Training Version 2.
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CMS Administrator Verma has scheduled a call for all nursing facilities today at 4:30 p.m. CST. Verma will share updates for nursing facilities regarding CMS's recent announcement on COVID-19 testing in nursing facilities in hotspot geographic areas.
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Join ICAL next Tuesday, July 21, for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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The number of Iowa facilities that did not report to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for the period ending June 28 increased by 8.6% from the previous week. While this may have been an anomaly attributed to the July 4 holiday, IHCA advises members to be sure to complete this reporting process and has provided the basic rules for submitting the required COVID-19 data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CMS.
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CMS announced that it is providing additional resources to nursing facilities in hotspot areas and plans to deploy Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) to provide immediate assistance in those areas. The agency announced it is implementing an “enhanced” survey process tailored to meet the needs of hotspot areas and will coordinate with state and local officials to assist these facilities.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has indicated to IHCA that it will be conducting COVID-19 outbreak surveys, which is covered in QSO 20-31- ALL. The state will be required to perform on-site surveys within three to five days of any new outbreak. Facilities will begin seeing the new outbreak surveys this week or early next week as DIA received the list of facilities from CMS last Friday.
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Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) has indicated to ICHC that it will conduct on-site focused infection control surveys for all provider types accepting Medicare outside of skilled nursing providers, including home health care providers, with a history of infection control violations in the last three years. It will also resume surveys for non Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) complaints.
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As many facilities are now allowing outdoor visitation under certain circumstances, it is important that facilities have a process and documentation procedures in place for visitors. Iowa Department of Human Services (IDPH) guidance requires that facilities maintain a log of visitors for contact tracing purposes in case the individual may become ill. IHCA has created a simple template that can be used or modified to fit a facility’s needs. View IHCA’s reopening toolkit for updated AHCA screening checklists for staff and visitors.
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On June 30, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) released revised reopening guidance for long-term care facilities. The revisions made some fairly significant changes in regard to personal protective equipment (PPE) and outdoor visitation. As a result, IHCA and ICAL have revised and updated its reopening toolkit for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities.
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IHCA's COVID-19 webpage includes the latest information you need to know about COVID-19. This past week, a number of new updates have been made to the reopening toolkit and personal protective equipment (PPE) vendor page, and a new frequently asked questions (FAQ) webpage has been added.
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IHCA has compiled the following details on recent and upcoming conference calls and webinars relating to COVID-19, including the IHCA COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call, ICHC COVID-19 Home Health Update Call, Iowa Department of Public Health's (IDPH) long-term care webinar and an AHCA/NCAL webinar on communicating during COVID-19.
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This past week, AHCA/NCAL continued to issue national updates, including a webinar on communicating during COVID-19, updates to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) resident impact and facility pathway instructions, information on the Provider Relief Fund application deadline and more.
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IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series, sponsored by PCA Pharmacy, will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned during COVID-19. The series begins next Wednesday, July 15, and parts two and three are scheduled for July 22 and 29.
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IHCA has compiled a the latest updates on the reopening of nursing facilities and assisted living communities, including news on revised reopening guidance from Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), resident and visitor and screening forms from AHCA, revised ICAL reopening guidance and a media statement issued by IHCA.
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This past week, AHCA/NCAL continued to issue national updates, including the updates to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and a webcast on the Provider Relief Fund.
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IHCA has compiled the details on upcoming conference calls and webinars relating to COVID-19, including tomorrow's ICHC COVID-19 Home Health Update Call, next Monday's Iowa Department of Public Health's (IDPH) COVID-19 Long-Term Care (LTC) Webinar and next Tuesday's IHCA COVID-19 All Member Provider Update Call.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including reopening, personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing updates, the regulatory relief waiver extension, a documentation tip on staff screening and more.
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IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series, sponsored by PCA Pharmacy, will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned. The webinars will take place on July 15, 22 and 29.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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ICHC is hosting its biweekly Home Health Member COVID-19 Update Call tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Topics covered will include a legislative wrap-up, COVID-19 legal liability immunity, a survey update, CARES Act Medicaid provider relief and portal, economic incentive payment guidance and more. Call-in details for all IHCA COVID-19 member calls are included as well.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including legal liability immunity guidance, personal protective equipment (PPE) and reopening update, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Medication Allocation application tutorials and more.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged care facilities to make modifications to their day-to-day care and services, and has had a significant impact on the psycho-social wellbeing of residents and staff. IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series, beginning on July 15, will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned.
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Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) is launching a new mandatory reporter training platform via their website later this month. As this update occurs, the Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training and Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training will not be available from June 19, 2020, until June 29, 2020.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including IHCA and ICAL reopening toolkits, personal protective equipment (PPE) standards expectations, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting citations, CARES Act Medicaid provider relief and portal and more.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged care facilities to make modifications to their day-to-day care and services, and has had a significant impact on the psycho-social wellbeing of residents and staff. IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series, beginning on July 15, will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned.
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IHCA and ICAL members have access to a wealth of online education through AHCA/NCAL. A new webinar is now available that offers insight from four AHCA members who share their experiences with COVID-19 telehealth waivers. This webinar is free to members and is viewable on-demand. Other online education include courses on functional outcomes and improvement, infection prevention, ICD-10 and more.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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IHCA is also hosting a call on reopening guidance for skilled nursing facility and assisted living members tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m. Also tomorrow, ICHC is hosting its biweekly Home Health COVID-19 Update call at 2:00 p.m. Topics covered will include the governor’s proclamation on waiver extensions, CMS’s enhanced enforcement announcement, the passing of IHCA’s background check bill and more.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including the IHCA Foundation COVID-19 Fund Crisis Relief Fund, reopening guidance, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), CMS scam calls and more.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged care facilities to make modifications to their day-to-day care and services, and has had a significant impact on the psycho-social wellbeing of residents and staff. IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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Join IHCA for its monthly member calls with Iowa's managed care organizations (MCOs) next Wednesday, where Iowa Total Care and Amerigroup will share recent news and answer providers' questions about claims processing and reimbursement. Submit questions or issues to discuss by tomorrow to Brandon Hagen, VP, Managed Care and Reimbursement, at
[email protected]. Call-in details for other June member-only calls are also provided.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including enhanced CMS enforcement actions, Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) surveys, testing guidance, reopening plan update, outdoor visitation and more.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged care facilities to make modifications to their day-to-day care and services, and has had a significant impact on the psycho-social wellbeing of residents and staff. IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AHCA is extending the expiration date of its Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) certificate by three months for all IPCO 1 certificate holders whose certificates expire in 2020. To renew a certificate, participants must successfully complete the IPCO competency renewal exam or take the IPCO Version 2 course, and pass either exam with a score of 80 or greater.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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ICHC is offering a call tomorrow, May 28 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for home health care providers related to COVID-19. This call is a critical opportunity to get the latest updates, important information on what home care providers should do to ensure patient and staff safety.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including the joint testing proposal presented to state officials, reporting baseline testing data, the extension of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund attestation window and more.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged care facilities to make modifications to their day-to-day care and services, and has had a significant impact on the psycho-social wellbeing of residents and staff. IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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AHCA/NCAL has launched a new Functional Outcomes Improvement course that provides specialized online training offered through ahcancalED for all staff who have a role in improving patient functional outcomes quality and services.
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AHCA/NCAL's new and expanded version of its popular Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO Version 2) in now available. The online training is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long-term care settings, including assisted living.
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IHCA activity professionals are invited to join the Iowa Council of Activity Professionals (ICAP) call next Tuesday at noon to discuss summer activities and outing safety. Call-in details for other provider and member conference calls taking place in May are also available.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including CMS preliminary facility reopening guidance, new testing information, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) registration issues, Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) retainer payments, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personal protective equipment (PPE) deliveries and more.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged care facilities to make modifications to their day-to-day care and services, and has had a significant impact on the psycho-social wellbeing of residents and staff. IHCA's three-part COVID-19 Pandemic Digital Training Series will offer guidance on adapting care and services to achieve compliance with regulatory directives, while maintaining quality of life for all concerned.
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Join ICAL for the New Assisted Living Rules Review webinar, sponsored by Assisted Living Partners, on July 21. Starting in August 2020, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) will begin surveying on new regulation requirements for assisted living facilities. The webinar will review the new regulation changes and provide best practice recommendations on implementing systems and strategies to meet the new regulation requirements.
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ICAL is currently developing an Assisted Living Medication Manager Course, sponsored by Right Dose, a Guardian Pharmacy. The course will help members meet the new rule that goes into effect on Sept. 1, 2020, requiring all newly hired unlicensed personnel passing medication in assisted living programs to successfully complete an Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) approved medication aide or medication manager course.
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AHCA/NCAL's new and expanded version of its popular Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO Version 2) in now available. The online training is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long-term care settings, including assisted living.
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ICHC is offering a call tomorrow, May 14 at 2:00 p.m. for home health care providers related to COVID-19. Call-in details are also available for other provider and member conference calls taking place in May.
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Here is the most important information long-term care providers need to know this week related to COVID-19, including Strike Team testing, case reporting, the home health blanket waiver, extension of attestation window, Civil Money Penalties (CMP) communication technology funds and more.
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AHCA/NCAL’s new and expanded version of its popular Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO Version 2) in now available. The online training is recommended for individuals responsible for infection prevention and control in all long-term care settings, including assisted living.
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Join IHCA next Wednesday for a webinar on infection prevention and control, part one of IHCA's Long-Term Care (LTC) Health Care Professionals Webinar Training Series sponsored by Assured Partners. The second training in the series will cover how to avoid unplanned re-hospitalizations on June 10.
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As the number of COVID-19 cases in Iowa continues to grow, so does the amount of information long-term care providers need to know in order to prepare and respond. Below is a summary of new information and resources from the past week to help you keep up to date.
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IHCA members have access to a wealth of online education through AHCA/NCAL. Online courses feature live and pre-recorded events, toolkits and resources, covering a wide range of timely topics. CEUs are also available, depending on the course.
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Join IHCA tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for a webinar to hear how three of the first Iowa long-term care (LTC) organizations that experienced cases of COVID-19 in their buildings handled the situation. T