Dear members: Your association serves many functions, encapsulated in the three pillars of WHCA/WiCAL: Advocacy, Education, and Excellence. The last two are critically important, and we are always thriving to provide current, useful Educational opportunities, as well has working with providers (SNF and AL) to advance high standards of Excellence for the care and services you provide.
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On May 31, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a
final rule,
“Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Policy and Regulatory Changes to the Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements; Additional Policy and Regulatory Changes to the Requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Offer Vaccinations to Residents, Clients, and Staff; Policy and Regulatory Changes to the Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 Testing Requirements.” Read More
Sponsored by our national partner, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the National Quality Awards Program is a progressive, quality improvement program that is based on the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence. It is with great pleasure that WHCA/WiCAL congratulates and presents Wisconsin’s 11 2023 bronze Quality Award recipients!
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As announced last week at the WHCA/WiCAL Spring Conference, we have worked with our colleagues at the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA) on a great WiCAL member tuition discount on WALA’s Chapter 83 CBRF Administrator Training Course.
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WHCA/WiCAL is attempting to work through the state's licensing agency, the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), as well as the NHA Examining Board, to see growth in the number of mid-career educational opportunities available to satisfy educational requirements for NHA licensure.
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Wisconsin’s Quality Improvement Organization,
Superior Health Quality Alliance/Metastar, continues to be a valuable
and free resource to members. Superior will be offering a series of “office hour” sessions focused on National Health Safety Network (NHSN) reporting post-Public Health Emergency. Additionally,
Navigator can be a partner to supply you with COVID testing and related supplies.
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On April 3, 2023, CMS released important changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and Resident Assessment Instrument Training Manual (RAI). These changes will take effect on October 1, 2023. Our national partner, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, has assembled a multi-part training curriculum to help you prepare. Installment #1 is set forth below.
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On May 5, 2023, the Division of Quantity Assurance (DQA) released memo 23-001 titled
CBRF: Requirements for Newly Licensed Existing Structures. This memo replaced DQA Memo 14-007 with updated direction and contacts. The purpose of this memo is to provide the regulatory requirements regarding the conversion of an existing building or structure to a newly licensed CBRF.
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Quality Assurance (DQA), is hosting the 23rd annual FOCUS Conference for health care providers and DQA staff on November 15th and 16th, 2023. The 2-day conference will be held at the Kalahari Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells. The Focus 2023 Conference is being developed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care, health care providers, and provider association representatives.
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CMS has
directed Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to audit 5 Medicare claim submissions from
every SNF as part of a widespread review to lower the SNF improper payment rate (likely due to unintentional increases brought forth by PDPM). This will be implemented in waves over the next year beginning June 5, 2023, so be on the lookout for these record requests.
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